12 RUNNERS RAN 5K TO SPRING CLEAN AT MENCAP

Our task this week was returning to one of our regular missions and giving the rooms in Mencap a thorough good cleaning. As usual we met at Anglia Ruskin University at the sports hall, as we left the building there was a netball game going on and we could see Rachel eyeing it up enviously as thats her favourite sport. The task is about 2km away so we stepped out into the cold and did some Toe Touches *and keeping on the move with *Walking Lunges, then into Walking Calf raises on toes and heels. Into a jog to the traffic lights by the police station, hit these wrong and you wait ages for them to change, so we got one Squat in before they changed much to Kate’s *delight! But all we had to do was to cross the road where a lovely bit of pavement beckoned to resume our *Squats, it kept the waiting traffic amused! Arriving at the top of the high street trying to keep up with **James! (Marathon training is paying off!) Star Jumps to start, then proceeding down the high street with High Knees, Back Pedals and also with torso twists. More lights at Parkway meant more Squats with a couple of toots on car horns in encouragement. (I think!) Arriving at Mencap we were met by Grace who already had a meeting on the go. So straight into the provided cleaning materials, splitting them up amongst everyone and we set to work. Kate, Caroline and Leanne tackled the radiators and skirting boards, Rachel and Laurie the woodwork, Roger and Barbara tackled the high to reach places (they are the tallest) David and Joel hit the corridor, meanwhile Catherine was waving some flowering plants around reminding everyone it’s Valentines day next week! Task over and we retraced our steps back to the High Street, we found some seats and Tricep Dips and Press ups ensued. I just happened to have a ball in my back pack so we had an impromptu game of ball keep, two teams trying to get the ball off each other with Rachel in her element! It was pretty competeitive! That’s enough fun for one evening and we headed back to the Uni. With Squats at those pesky lights again, once we hit the Uni we did Sprints in-between lamp posts to finish. Finally those important stretches to finish and a recap of the nights task and efforts, well done everyone. David is run leading next week on Valentines day so I think he will find it difficult running with bunches of flowers! Gerry