Member profile - Steve Birkett.

Member profile.

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This week our spotlight and questions fall on long standing club membership secretary Steve Birkett.

Here is what he had to say.

1. Please Briefly introduce yourself.

Hi I’m Steve Birkett, probably best known to most of you over the past ten years as the Membership Secretary, the man who hassles you for money each year, and who circulates info about the club through Footprint. Believe or not I did use to run a bit. After over 30 years of hockey, I joined the Thrift Green Trotters 25 years ago this September. I know we have changed our name to the Brentwood Running Club, but I still feel a Trotter!

2. What events if any do you have coming up?

The calendar used to be full of races, but my last race was the Billericay 10K in 2017. However these days I get great satisfaction in running the beginners groups, couch to 5K, over the past 3 years, and seeing former non-runners achieve a personal goal

3. What does running mean to you?

That has changed over the years. Initially it was a means of keeping fit in the open air and challenging oneself over different terrains and distances to go faster and further. Looking back now, it was all those things but done in a great spirit of camaraderie, and the joy of running is in the togetherness rather than the loneliness of the long distance runner.

4. What is your best BRC memory?

Wow so many over the years, from the simplicity of the mile loop we all used to run together from the Courage Hall at the start of a Wednesday evening, to the various club marathon trips to Dublin, Berlin and Lanzarote, and coach day trips to places such as Whitstable where Annie would sing her heart out from an improvised stage after a few (too many) bevies. Probably the best memory has to as a Gamesmaker at the London Olympics, helping to marshal the marathon alongside fellow Trotters

5. Proudest running moment?

That probably has to be reserved to my first London Marathon in 2001. Four newbies to marathon running – Barry McDonough, Roger Stevens, Steve Rich and myself – trained for and ran the marathon together with the aim of getting under four hours. Great joy in getting over the line in 3:59:26, but probably the proudest moment was on the train coming home was when a little old lady congratulated me and gave up her seat for me

6. Best bit of running advice you could give or have been given.

The best advice I’ve been given is Steve Rich’s famous line – ‘hooold it back’, but mine would be ‘give it all you’ve got, but enjoy it’

Member profile - Phil Olsen

This week our spot light falls ipon regular group leader and pale run aficionado Phil Olsen.

1. Please introduce yourself.

I'm Phil Olson, currently taking Group B.

I joined TGT/BRC around 2003, I was one of those that thought that everyone at a running club was almost at elite level so it took a while to be persuaded to try the club out. I had already run the London Marathon a few times, but training with the club made it so much easier.

2. What events, if any do you have coming up?

No events entered, but probably some of you know I do the odd parkrun here and there. I'm not the furthest travelled nor have I done the most number of parkruns in the club but I might have done the most venues, currently at 112.

1. What does running mean to you?

Running takes me to all sorts of different places physically and mentally, so for me I find it relaxing .😁

4. What is your best BRC memory?

Best BRC memory has to be running past our drink station at the London Marathon and being deafened by all the cheers. I always wonder what the other runners think!

5 . What is your proudest running moment?

Proudest running moment is split over quite a few years. I remember my daughter running around the living room while the marathon was on the TV when she was about 3 years old saying I've run a marathon, jump forward to 2019 and there she is finishing in a time quicker than most of mine.

1. What’s the best running advice you could give, or have been given?

Just enjoy running, sometimes it's nice to be competitive , but it's also great to chat and listen to the birdsong.

P.s. I did set a Guinness World record a few years back which was great fun (fastest marathon runner dressed as a chef).

Club news

FOOTPRINT Special

The (former) monthly newsletter for the Brentwood Running Club (BRC)

May 2021

Resumption of Full Groups

The next destination on the Government’s roadmap from Monday 17 May means that the club can now go to full groups, and for the first time since early March last year can meet together at the Brentwood Centre on a Wednesday evening, tomorrow (19 May) at 7:30 pm

Caution is still very much the watchword, as it is nationally for all activities, and tomorrow’s next step, will operate under the following conditions:

1.​Groups – see below for which groups are running, but for the first time there is no limit of 6, and therefore no need to pre-book a slot, although this will vary from group to group. It would be still helpful to the Group Leader to let them know in advance if you are running, but you can turn up on the night and run

2.​Paid membership – we are still required to provide a Covid-secure environment, and therefore for the benefit of Group leaders and insurance purposes, it remains club policy for the time being that only paid members of the club can run with the club. That will include anyone who paid last year (20/21) and/or anyone who has paid this year (21/22), but see membership section below. It means that we cannot operate our usual policy of letting non-members run with the club for a trial period of 2-3 weeks

Payment accepted up to the start of the runs tomorrow night, or indeed any night you wish to run

3.​Risk assessment waivers – any member wishing to run needs to have signed the ‘acceptance’ shown below. Copies will be available on club night for anyone who has yet to do so

4.​Brentwood Centre – for the time being we are meeting outside, but club members do have limited access to the Centre (now run by the Council), so if you need the facilities, just ask

5.​Hygiene – please bring mask and sanitiser to use where appropriate

Groups operating

All groups will run from the Brentwood Centre at 7:30, unless otherwise stated:

A Group – Leader - Terry Allen, at better than 7 min mile pace. Meeting at 7pm at King George’s (Rugby Club car park). Please text Terry if you wish to run, so that he will know to wait for you

B Group – Leader - Ben Whateley-Harris, at 7:30 to 8:15 pace

C/D Group – Leader – James MacNish Porter (for this week), at 8:15 to 9:00 pace. Meeting at 7pm in BC car park by the big Brentwood Town FC sign on the path to the BC entrance. Please pre-book with James if you wish to run

E Group – Leader - Paul James, at about 10:00 pace. This group will run from the BC at 8pm, for this week

Slow Group – for this week, Brian Harding will be taking out a slow group from the BC at 7:30 if there is sufficient demand

Run details will vary from week to week, so you will need to check with the Group Leader

Risk assessment waivers

Please send the acceptance email set out below to Ken Bench at ken40eve@talktalk.net. stating your normal group or leader

Acceptance email as follows: I ________ (runner) have read the covid-19 stage 2 information pack and agree to abide by the guidance within it under the supervision of the group leader/committee member. I _________ also agree to pre-book any organisedgroup sessions, to be in good health (covid symptom free or any other illness) and/or not shielding a person at risk of covid under GP guidance within the same household. I understand I must maintain social distancing with any runner or member of the public at all times. (FULL name of runner and date)

Waivers will be available to sign on the night

BRC Membership 2021/22

Membership payments were due on 1 March so please pay as soon as possible if you have not already done so. England Athletics have extended the affiliation period for last year through to August 2021, but for the benefit of our records (and club finances!) I would be grateful if anyone who has not renewed for 21/22 could do so before the end of June. The following rates are at a bargain low this year:

Full member renewal​-​£20

Second claim renewal​-​£5

New member​​​-​£30

New second claim​​-​£15

Social​​​​-​£5

Fee payment

Our preferred method of payment, and by far the most practical in current circumstances, is:

• By Bank Transfer – to the Club’s Santander account. Remember to ensure that the transfer contains your full name so that it can be identified

Account Number 73777309​​Sort Code 09-01-51

Please note that anyone who joined from August 2020 onwards, and there are a few of you, does not need to renew as their membership is valid until the end of February 2022. If anyone does not wish to renew can they please let me know so that I can amend our database

Steve Birkett(stev.birkett@gmail.com)​​​​​18 May 2021