Between a Lock and a Hard Race

4 runners ran a mile to support the Stonebridge Lock Coalition's effort to clean up the River Lee Navigation.

Dave started the day with a fairly muddy Ally Pally Park, before adding a few more kilometers to Haringey's challenge total, by jogging east to the Canal.

The volunteers at the Coalition gave us our health and safety briefing. Followed by the exciting news that there's been evidence of water voles found along this stretch of the river recently, so this clean-up is more important than ever. The river is bit high from the rain, so no waders today, the focus was getting deep into the undergrowth while it's winter, and pulling out the rubbish.

The four us then ran down river, and worked on some tendon toning toe lifts and high knees (to engage those glutes) to help with form, and improve our running efficiency.

We then donned our high-vis and glove, grabbed the litter pickers, and set off to find the Canal River Trust's support barge. We filled a few bags with such bizarre detritus as * a 1996 cola can * a bottle of perfume * a cupboard door * 1 glove * 1 shoe * 1 sock. (Someone must have a very cold left hand side.)

Then our time was up, and Pennie talked a couple of us into taking a magical mystery tour that ended up at the Barnett task.