Member profile - Julie Buckley

This week our spotlight falls on Super Julie Buckley.

Fundraiser extraordinaire and marathon legend.

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1) please introduce yourself?

I’m Julie Buckley, aged 55, married to Simon with 3 grown up children and have lived in Brentwood all my life.

I work as a Police Community Support Officer in Loughton, which I love.

2) what events, if any do you have coming up?

I am currently training for the London Marathon which I am running for St Francis Hospice, and as part of my training I am also running the Havering half marathon.

3) what does running mean to you?

Running to me means so many things - firstly the time and space out in the fresh air, giving me time to process my thoughts, clear my head and appreciate our beautiful world - some of my favourite sights are sunrises and sunsets which I would never have seen had I not been out running.

I also get a massive sense of achievement from running, anyone who knows me will know I’m not built to be a natural runner so every mile I run is an achievement!

My medal collection is something I am really proud of and look forward to sharing with my grandchildren when the time comes!

Every single medal tells a story!

Last but by no means least running to me means Friendship- I have just celebrated 18 years of running friendship with BRC and there is no greater friendship than a common love for running and hours of happiness chatting about every subject under the sun while you put in the miles of training for a particular event.

4) what is your best BRC memory?

I have a few best BRC memories but the ones that stand out for me are the numerous London Marathon water station coach trips, the day trips to Whitstable 10k enjoying the run and the fish and chips afterwards and the marshalling of the Brentwood half marathon when I’ve not been running it!

5) what is your proudest running moment?

My proudest running moments (and again I have several!) are my first London Marathon in 2006 which is my PB of 5:15 never to be beaten yet!

Another is the Brentwood half marathon the same year, another PB of 2:10 when I knocked off 30 minutes of the previous year’s time! I am also really proud to be a fundraiser for the wonderful St Francis Hospice and am very proud of my two marathons last year in lockdown (one on my treadmill and the other virtual round the streets of Brentwood and Shenfield!) I am very proud to be running my last London Marathon for SFH this October and trying to raise as much money as I can.

6) what is the best piece of running advice you could give or have been given?

The best advice I can give any runner starting out on their journey is - enjoy every moment, it is a privilege to be able to run - no matter how slow you are, savour every minute breathe in the fresh air, make new friends and forget about time!

The only people who ever ask about times are those who have never even run for a bus!

You’re out there lapping everyone on the couch so just enjoy it!

PS Vaseline is your friend so stock up and use it everywhere!!

Member profile- Lisa James

Member profile time.

This week our spotlight turns its shine on Lisa James.

Fresh from smashing the North downs 30 last Sunday.

Here’s what she had to say.

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1. Please Briefly introduce yourself.

Hi I’m Lisa James. I have been a member of BRC for a few years now. I usually run with Diane Fairchild and a few willing others on a Sunday morning. I also run with Keith Thornton and the Merrymeade ladies on a Monday.

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

I have the North Downs 18 mile run this Sunday and I have a place in the London Marathon this October for SFH if it happens!

3. What does running mean to you?

Running has been a huge part of my life. It helped me through some really tough times when I lost my brother. It kept me sane during lockdown. I have met lots of fantastic positive people through running and achieved things I never thought possible (thanks Keith for your help with this).

4. What is your best BRC memory?

I think it has to be the camaraderie of the team BRC Cross Country runs.

Everyone from the club of all different levels running and supporting each other in the coldest (Cambridge), muddiest (Writtle), hilliest (Hadleigh Park) wettest (Hadleigh Park) conditions ever!

Running through a field of cow poo in Writtle is also up there! As well as completing the Grizzly with Diane which was just the most fun!

5. Proudest running moment?

It has to be completing my first London Marathon ever in 2018 in the hottest conditions they have ever experienced- I know how to pick them! The support at the 10-mile water station and at the end of the race was amazing from everyone at BRC.

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

Get together regularly with a group of runners. For me having running buddies helps keep me motivated, I always feel happier and more positive after a run with them. When you’re socially and emotionally invested in your runs it’s harder to skip them.

Member profile - Peter Tree

Member spotlight.

This week we highlight the encyclopaedia of footpaths and trails, Peter Tree.

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1. Please Briefly introduce yourself.

I've been running regularly with the club since January 1989, taking a group on a Wednesday for several years and currently serving my second stint as Treasurer ( though this is due more to the Chairman's skills of persuasion than any great altruistic intent on my part ). I've completed 9 London Marathons - I've run at least one in my 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.

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

I'm looking forward to the resumption of parkrun and the opportunity to wear my 100 parkruns T-shirt for the first time!

I completed 100 parkruns just before parkrun closed down last year. Curiously my last parkrun was in New Zealand.

3. What does running mean to you?

I think for me it's had a very positive effect on both my physical and emotional wellbeing. Fortunately apart from a few niggles ,I've been relatively injury free and so able to run on a regular basis for over 30 years.

It's great to run in a group but I'm content to do long runs on my own as well. I particularly enjoy the off road routes we used to do from the Brentwood Centre during the summer months and the opportunity to run in different surroundings if I'm away anywhere, either in the UK or abroad.

Running has wide appeal and I'm always impressed by those who maybe aren't ' natural' runners in the conventional sense but put in a fantastic effort to take part.

4. What is your best BRC memory?

The camaraderie on the coach to the start of the London Marathon is unique, it's like heading to your own personal cup final.

Warm Wednesday evenings running through the local countryside from the Brentwood Centre are also a pleasure.

5. Proudest running moment?

At risk of being repetitive, completing my first marathon in 1990 would be up there and also my last in 2015, which went remarkably according to plan. It always feels special when my daughter and granddaughters join parkrun and I have a niece and nephew who are also regular runners.

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

Enjoy it as much as you can and don't worry too much about times, distance etc, especially as you get older! ( though individual targets can be a great motivator and I do remember my pbs!)

Also, if you can, it's well worth using a physio to sort minor niggles and be cautious about trying to ' run it off ' - advice from the legendary Alan Shirley many years ago