Six runners ran 5km to help Sustrans keep National Cycle Network Route 63 tidy

Litter we wanted, litter we got, big time! After an afternoon exploring the NCN I am delighted to report that the Great Central Way section of Route 6 was immaculate! However, the same can't be said for Route 63 from Rally Park up through Stokeswood Park. Every silver lining has a cloud but at least it gave us work to do!

After sharing news of Jen's failed attempt at the Great Eastern Run, Jimmy's season's best at parkrun (life in the old dog yet) and Michaela's success in the London Marathon ballot, we ran up to the top of Rally Park to commence our first attempt at plogging. For the uninitiated plogging is the combination of picking litter and jogging. We planned to hoover up all the trash on a 1.5km section of NCN Route 63 so jogging between litter was crucial. However, the sheer density of litter per square metre meant that managing to jog between discarded beer cans proved tricky! Nevertheless, our fearsome squad of litter obliterators succeeded in clearing nine bin bags full of junk and completing the whole planned section bang on time! Great work everyone. That was the easy bit done though.

For our fitness session we tackled a hill, aptly named as a Strava segment as Apples and Pears. 170m long and mighty steep we put a great effort in getting up it, recovering on the way down. Brilliant work from everyone!

We then coasted back to base to stretch off and planned our trip to Braunstone parkrun for the weekend. Thank you to Sharon for taking on the job of photographer tonight in Mel's absence, a super job done although you didn't have to start "immediately" after I suggested it at the traffic lights!

As a final note, I reached my 50th good deed tonight. Thank you to everyone who has got me this far on my GoodGym journey, it's such a privilege to run with a great group of people every week doing good in our local community. Next up should be Michaela's 50th (hopefully) next week where we could sneak to the pub to celebrate. There is also something special in store next week as we run to help the Canal & River Trust so make sure you sign up!

Happy running, HD