BRC member profile

Jo Day

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1. Please introduce yourself.

I joined Thrift Green Trotters, as BRC was known then, in May 2005. I don’t think it was long after that I became known as ‘the chatty one’!

I was on the committee for a number of years and along with Melvyn Cooper, set up and assisted him coaching the TGT Youth Group. Melvyn, Steve Smith and myself also set up the Becket Keys Satellite Club which Melvyn and others have continued to coach. I am a LIRF and Athletics Coach at Havering AC. I have run the Benfleet 15 twice, the Full Grizzly once, and four London Marathons, raising money for personal charities which has meant so much.

2. Do you have any events coming up, if any?

I have been running a few ‘virtual’ races during lockdown which has kept me motivated and gets me out running during this freezing weather.

Plus, I receive fab medals and who doesn’t love a medal to post on FB!

My next virtual run is called the Winter Half Marathon and I’m going to run it on my birthday at the end of this month.

I also hope to do the Chelmsford Half in October.

3. What does running mean to you?

I have been a competitive runner since school and represented London in the English Schools XC Champs. Wherever I’ve been in the world, even top deck on a cruise ship, I have put on my trainers and run. Running makes me feel healthier, freer and gives me a feeling of accomplishment when it’s over!

It also means meeting up with BRC club mates for fantastic social events and weekends away as well as races in the heat, cold, mud and hills of XC leagues. The feeling of achievement and support from our ladies XC teams whilst maintaining our promotion with the best in Essex, makes the pain all worthwhile and not forgetting the CAKE afterwards!

4. What’s your best running memory?

Organising our fantastic 24hr Spitfire Scramble ladies’ team in July 2019 has definitely been a highlight. From pitching up our tents, laughing, hardly sleeping, except Marijke! We ran with torches during the night, stressed whether Mary and Lorna will get back from the Brentwood Festival in time to run their next leg! And were ecstatic to be Runners up in the our category, all added up to two days I’ll never forget – roll on 2022.

I must mention two of my funniest race memories: collecting our Ladies Team Winners medals at the 2017 Billericay 10K and the Royal Parks Half Marathon bra-gate affair!!

5 what’s your proudest running moment?

Completing my first London Marathon in 2006 – turning the corner from Buckingham Palace and seeing the finish brought tears streaming down my cheeks, thinking how proud my ‘sporty’ dad would have been if he was there. A similar sense of achievement is when I ran down that last road at Seaton in pelting rain to finish the Grizzly, sadly the firefighters had gone!

Also crawling up that One Last Hill of the Benfleet 15 – the pain in my calves lasted for days! Not forgetting coming first in the 55+ age group in the 2018 Thames Chase 10K.

6. What’s the best bit of running advice you have received?

Advice I would give is to mix up your training with speedwork, hills as well as long and short runs. If you are finding it hard to get motivated during these strange times, run with somebody living close by and in a group when we can again. Contact a group leader or committee member if you are struggling, we are all here to support each other’s mental health.

Advice given to me by my South Weald Coach, Keith Thornton is: stop talking when you’re training and you’ll run faster!

BRC MEMBER PROFILE

This week.

Barney McCarthy 💚🏃🏻‍♂️

1. Please briefly introduce yourself.

I’m Barney McCarthy and I’ve been a member of Brentwood Running Club since 2009. I’ve been a regular since then, save for a spell when I lived in Australia and another period when apathy (and new parenthood) took over. I’m one of the LiRFs in A Group and I’ve got 10 marathons under my belt.

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

The Peterborough Marathon is my current target race, although it’s just been pushed back six weeks into May. I was also down for the Chelmsford Half, but that’s now been postponed until October. At this point, I’ll just be grateful to race again and I promise never to moan again when the going gets tough…

3. What does running mean to you?

It’s a massive part of my life and I’ve been particularly thankful to have it at my disposal over the past year. It keeps my body and mind healthy and allows me to escape from the world for an hour or so. I also love how positive and supportive the running community is; both within the club and beyond.

4. What is your best BRC memory?

There have been lots over the past decade or so, but being one of the scorers that helped the club win the men’s team category at the Brentwood Half Marathon in 2010 was a highlight. The social side is a positive too; A Group is currently bigger than it has been in years and it’s great to learn from all the new joiners.

5. Proudest running moment?

In terms of specific performances, I’m probably proudest of my half-marathon PB; 81:05 at the Brentwood Half in 2012. It’s also been great to add some showpiece races to the CV such as the London Marathon (three times), the New York Marathon and the City2Surf in Sydney.

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

There are a few soundbites that have stuck with me. I’ve always liked “someone busier than you is running right now”. People often cite a lack of time as a reason for not exercising more, then tell you about the latest Netflix series they’ve binged in the next breath. You hear of CEOs doing triathlons and other endurance events, so I figure if they have the time then so do I! “You never regret a run” is another mantra that helps get me out of the door in the dark winter mornings.

In terms of advice I would give someone else; it would be to do your own thing. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to running, but people sometimes get caught up trying to outdo other people’s mileage or replicate their training plans. Work out what works for you and the rest will fall into place. It applies to events too – run your own race and don’t fall into the trap of trying to beat a particular person.

Vijay Gungabissoon

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of former club member Vijay Gungabissoon.

Vijay was a beloved club member during the 1980s and 90s before relocating to Mauritius.

Every time he came back he reconnected with the clunks daughter said he often spoke highly and lovingly of the club and out

members.

He sadly passed away on 23rd January 2021.

Rest in peace.

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