18 amazing runners ran 5k in the POURING RAIN to transform the gardens at the MEfA Montessori in Westcombe Park!

OH MA GADDD I can't believe how many of you turned up on such a wash out of an evening! You guys are hardcore!!! No newbies this evening but we did welcome back Elliot after a little break! Great to have you back! And the boys' housemate Matthew was also back for more after his first run with us last week. Well done getting that paint out of your hair!

Flagging already...

Fave thing this week was favourite FLAG. Yes, times are getting tough over in the favourite things department. From next week I'll be taking requests! And Alex in case you were wondering, the Djibouti flag looks like this.

We went round the corner to drop off our stuff, Vickie had a bit of an altercation with the security guy and her bike, classic Vickie.

We did a little warm up in the sheltered bit, trying to stay dry for as long as possible but everyone was fully ready to embrace the rain. Nina made an appearance just in time for a group photo and then we headed off!

The Montessori route involves a bit of elevation but nothing too scary. After 15 minutes we had arrived and were greeted by the SWEETEST lady I have EVER met, the super cute, super lovely.. WENDY :) We came to the Montessori a few times before in the summer but when the group was A LOT smaller so I wasn't sure if there would be enough for everyone to do but Wendy had a big list and we weren't even sure we were going to get it all done!

Things that needed doing included weeding the paving stones, clearing the trench area in the front garden, filling the trench with woodchip, cutting down the ivy in the back garden and clearing all the weeds from another area with steps in the back garden. So lots to do!

George got stuck in and started moving the big bags of wood chip from the back garden through to the front, and maybe got a little carried away as he was absolutely covered! Helen, Ben and Clare armed themselves with black sacks and got going with weeding the steps. Nina, Vickie, Alex, Elliot, Yaz and Amy M got started with the weeds on the paving slabs in the front garden while Christian and Matt tackled the trench. Which left the others to attack the HUGE bush of super stubborn ivy. Amy B queen of the loppers got straight in there, Steve too with his saw. Matthew, Laura and James were also part of team ivy and each began to hack away at it bit by bit.

Looking good

Twenty minutes down and things were looking AMAZING. A huge pile of bin bags was forming out the front and the garden was looking neater by the second. With 5 minutes to go, the only thing that was still causing issues was the pesky ivy!!! But these guys and girls were not going to leave that job unfinished, that ivy was going down, literally. Wendy didn't even care if half the fence went with it too! With 30 seconds left, they had done it! What an achievement!!!

Everyone peeled off their gloves, put the tools away and gathered around (in front of the Montessori sign of course) for a photo. We said our goodbyes to our favourite lady and Ben led us into the underpass...... ;)

It was STILL pouring at this point, my weather app was right when it said 95% chance of rain after 5pm but there was a nice little bit of shelter that Ben had found for us to do the fitness session! A little lower body circuit consisting of some fast foot taps on the step, some squats and side lunges. Amy B and Yaz had some lovely coordination going on with their lunges, but Nina felt like she couldn't do the exercises properly without her leg warmers and a leotard, she just about managed though. 2 rounds and then we headed back for a stretch! :)

Amazing job last night everyone! Thanks for coming out in the rain, I know it was miserable but it is quite liberating at the same time right?? Anyway, you got SO much done. That would have taken Wendy literally a whole day to do herself and you did it all in 30 minutes. She emailed me this morning and was so thankful so give yourselves a pat on the back! Good luck to those racing at the weekend and I shall see you next week!