Ten runners met at ARU and signed the register with the rain pouring down outside! We welcomed Rachel & Joel back to their first group run from their honeymoon in Thailand, clearly they didn't bring the weather back with them! But they seemed to have had a great time.

Welcome back to Jennifer, Hannah and Paul as well.

No major news to report this week but I did get on BBC Essex radio on Sunday to talk about Goodgym, you can listen on this link from 2hrs 10mins in...https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0765sjw

Tonights task was plogging in the rain around the streets of Chelmsford. Braving the rain we headed out towards the city centre, grabbing a few respites under the railway viaduct and in front of the bathroom shop while we waited for the lights to change. Quickly we sped off to the Army & Navy roundabout and into Princes Road to start the litter pick, we seemed to amuse the commuter traffic with us wandering in the rain picking litter up.

Lots of litter was picked up in a short part of the road but as our run was planned for 9k we had to press on towards the park.

A quick stop outside the BBC studios for a group photo, with the rain starting to ease we made good time to get into the park. Great running by Julie, Hannah and Jennifer. Into the park and dropping off the litter pickers and grabbing some cones for our "hill session" on the parkrun hill.

When we got to the hill, a Bootcamp session was going on so we had to show what we were made of by powering shuttle runs up and down the hill! Hill sessions are a great way to increase endurance and speed ready for the Baddow 10 in a few weeks. Don't forget to sign up or come and support? Russell led the way up the hill quickly followed by Andy, Paul and Joel, great effort by the ladies as well. Our last sprint was a handicap one with the girls setting off first and the boys in sequence to speed last, well done.

Time to head back to ARU and our warm down and then heading home before the next downpour.