1. Please Briefly introduce yourself.
Brian Harding – runner and Club Chairman
Introduction.
I joined Thrift Green Trotters over 20 years ago.
I played Saturday afternoon football for years and eventually the time came to “hang up my boots.” To keep fit I took up running and was a regular at the Late Entrants Desk at events all over Essex.
It was during a TGT 10K at Herongate that I received the full TGT PR treatment from a cyclist whilst suffering up Botany Hill.
I cannot repeat what I told him to do and never did identify the culprit!
Anyway, sometime later I duly arrived at TGT Headquarters in Brentwood School.
They were the friendliest and most supportive group of people you could wish to go running with.
They got me through 3 London Marathons and 2 New York Marathons plus numerous races over the years.
The generation has changed now as well as the club name but the ethos of the club and the people who give up their time to help others has remained the same.
They are Brilliant!
2. What events if any do you have coming up?
Don’t have any events lined up but may be available for BRC Team Z should Essex Way 2021 happen.
What does running mean to you?Running was and is a means of keeping fit and controlling weight these days rather than seeking PB’s. I miss the motivation of getting ready on a Wednesday BRC Club Night and going to the Brentwood Centre whatever the weather to see friends and join the Groups. Something I trust we shall be doing again in a few months.
What is your best BRC memory?
There are so many given my time at the Club. Personally - my first London Marathon even though I hit “the wall” at 20 miles.
That experience meant I was better prepared for later marathons by always running 26.2 miles in training. Experts say no but for me it was good for my mindset.
BRC memories go beyond just running to the many highlights the club has contributed to on an international stage.
The London Olympics 2012 could not have happened without this clubs support as “Gamesmakers!”
Likewise our annual contribution to the London Marathon and Ride London Cycle Event.
Everyone can and has enjoyed our Christmas Parties; Summer Balls; Overseas trips etc. plus the long term friendships forged over time.
Vijay, a class runner who pre-dated me at TGT and passed away in January 2021, remained one of my closest friends even though he returned to Mauritius some years ago after a long career in the NHS.
What is your proudest running moment?
Thinking about it, I believe it is yet to come.
I have long believed that this community based club and the Brentwood Half Marathon were made for each other.
In 2022 BRC is going to be a main player alongside Brentwood Rotary in staging one of the biggest road races in Essex.
Ask me again after 20 March 2022 and I trust BRC will meet the challenge and we can all be proud of the club’s achievement.
Best bit of running advice you could give or have been given?
Ensure Rest and Recovery forms part of every running week.
