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.
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