Beyond enemy pines

Covering 5km, ten runners scooped and gathered discarded Christmas trees and crossed borders to a neighbouring borough.

Thanks this week go to Stuart, who came up with this super title pun as we ran! I must declare straight away that Lewisham are not in fact the enemy but, for the purpose of a fine pun, we'll go with it.

We had a few challenges before we even started tonight's group run. We meet in the garden of a pub (the Bridge House) and normally saunter in through the gate, but today it was locked (cue shouts of 'Go round the front!'). We hang around this area because it's where the door to our storage area is...but this was also locked. It was fine though, we're a resourceful bunch and managed perfectly well by shouting, going the long way round and putting our belongings away from inside. Phew.

We didn't have any newcomers this week, but it was good to see Harriet back again, even after the rainiest group run ever last Tuesday! She's clearly made of tough stuff. Talking of tough stuff, we seem to be using all our might to work our way to the top of the leaderboard for Division B in the GoodGym January challenge, smashing! You can see all the results here and keep track of our position, as the week goes on and other areas join in the fun.

Tonight's task was a bit different. I had noticed discarded Christmas trees as I cycled along last week and wondered where people take them in Bromley. It seems there is one weekend (last weekend) and very specific recycling centres that will take receipt of them. What about those who don't have a car though, or older people? Our goal for the evening was to spot, gather up and carry any trees we saw and take them to nearby Mayow Park, where a mass of green is growing nicely. Yes, this is, strictly speaking, Lewisham, but we are so very close to the border here that we weren't going to fuss about the details. Ahem.

Fir better, fir worse

First to spot a tree was Ian, so he's our winner, or is he? It turned out to be the smallest, barest tree but also the most heavy! It had been in a pot, which seemed not to be filled with compost, but with cement. Yikes! A top team took it in turns to carry this one, puffing and panting as their run was combined with some heavy weight-lifting. Next up was Tim, who tugged a very tall, wide tree from a front garden and proceeded to run with it hooked over his shoulder. He certainly wins tonight's medal for determination, eventually sprinting up hill with it, undeterred by the weight! As he raised it in the air, a forgotten cracker fell to the ground, quickly picked up and pulled by Hannah and Molly, with Hannah winning the coolest walking Santa toy and proudly wearing her red crown for the rest of the run. Soon almost everyone had hold of all or part of a tree, prompting a bystander to take a photo, we must have looked pretty odd!

Spruced up

Harriet and I ran ahead, still treeless but determined to find one. I'm pleased we found ours quite close to the park, because it was super heavy! It is quite delightful though, running along carrying a Christmas tree, puffing and panting and pausing every so often to swap sides. On reaching the first gate, we realised we might end up completely blocking the path, so continued on to the next one, happily heaving then depositing our finds, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, yes, seven trees! Rolling our shoulders, we turned and ran with a new lightness.

On the high street, we made use of some steps, aiming to complete 100 toe-taps. As everyone caught their breath, Tim suggested we also use these for tricep-dips. On we went, until we reached a well-lit spot in Alexandra Rec, perfect for some more strength work. Here our runners smashed a few rounds of lunges, jumping squats, high-knees and burpees. Our run back to base included an up-and-over at Penge East station, with a pause to make use of the empty bike stands, they were just made to be pressed-up on! As we stretched I realised we were back early and had run possibly the furthest we've ever run, good work everyone!

Next week is still being confirmed, but we think we will be revisiting Melvin Hall, to continue our painting journey, moving on from the peach room and into the corridor. A nice indoor task, though tonight's pine-scented outdoor task was quite refreshing!