Nine runners ran 4.4km to clear a section of National Cycle Network Route 63 of litter

Now there are litter picks and there are litter picks. Sometimes we find litter right next to bins, sometimes we find unusual items that cause a little titter among the group. But tonight's litter pick was rare simply in terms of the quantity of litter we discovered! Litter, pick it up. Move half a yard, more litter. Repeat, repeat, repeat until our 500m section was complete.

Once more tonight we split into two groups, six runners in the shape of Dave, Huw, Jeanette, Jimmy, Rob and Sheila with Lindsay, Mel and Sharon walking. The runners headed 2.2km along the river, up through Rally Park to Stokewood Park along route 63 of the National Cycle Network to collect the litter pickers and bin bags before running back down the the cycle path to meet the walkers in a perfectly timed commute to our task.

We set to work amazed, appalled and aghast at the sheer volume of cans, bottles, wrappers and erm...doggy bags that we discovered. Never fear, GoodGym were here and within half an hour we had loaded 15 bin bags full of junk and turned the path into something more presentable for the passers by. One cyclist noted as he passed us that our job was akin to painting the Forth Bridge, the famously never-ending task. With the path between Rally and Stokeswood Park looking inordinately better, the runners deposited the bags and tools back to Huw's cunningly placed car (at the top of a hill) while the walkers set off back to DMU, still armed with litter picking tools successfully filling our 16th bag on their walk back. The runners stopped off in Rally Park to make use of the outdoor gym equipment (yippee for daylight in the evening!) with a rotation of 90 second workouts, two of which could be traded for running a lap of the park if desired.

On our return we stretched off and wished Jeanette the very best of luck for her maiden marathon voyage on Sunday in Peterborough. Everyone is right behind you Jen, you'll smash it!

Back to Saffron Acres next week so anyone who is able to actually use the padlock on their gate effectively please make sure you sign up!

HD