With spring in the air and a spring in our step, we headed off for our task for the evening at Strand-on-the-Green school.

It was great to have Ijo along for her first session in Hounslow, welcome! Also fantastic to hear all the news of the exciting events coming up as we ran along. From Alan and Stef taking on the Queen of the Suburbs challenge this weekend, Florian getting ready for the Kew Half next weekend, and all those training for the Paris marathon, there is so much going on. Well done on all that training, it takes a lot and you should all be proud of yourselves.

We arrived at our task and I could tell everybody settled in for the usual fight with the gate. Somehow, however, we got in first time! Maybe our run of bad luck with keys and locks is finally over?

We quickly found the barrow of tools left for us to complete the job, which was to remove ivy from the back fence along the wall. First we had to identify the problem areas using the photos we had been sent, and having cracked that we divided up into teams and began de-ivying. It was satisfying work as it came off pretty easily, but the challenge came when we had to stuff it into the flimsy bags. However, a bit of elbow grease, perseverance and experience soon meant we had most of it tidied away.

That left us just enough time for our fitness session which involved some cards, a stopwatch and more power squats that you could shake a stick at. Great work everybody.

After a nice steady run back we finished the night with stretches and a debate over which pub to head to now that the regular has shut for a very inconsiderate refurb. Next week we're off to Gunnersbury park, hope to see you there!