Running is going very well - I did my four miles on Wednesday, and my five miles on Thursday. The five was actually a LOT better, and I’m not sure if it is because I went a better route - I combined two routes that I normally do. I had already done two miles when I started up my regular route (where I usually run), so it kind of felt like I had just started my run, when really I had already ran two miles! Then I just had my regular 3 mile run to do, for a total of five!
Tomorrow is 8 miles, and I’m a bit worried about where to go. Roots, my local organic foods store is 4.5 miles away. I can run there, and run 3.5 miles back, and then walk the last mile. Or, I could try to run the whole thing, or stop when I’m almost at Roots. Or, I could figure out another route all together. I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do. I do, however, want to be completed with my run by noon. I’m dragging the whole family off to pick up trash in the afternoon!
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Speaking of trash, my trash pickup afternoon yesterday was FANTASTIC. Niles and I headed out, but not before I facebooked my friends Bria and Rob to ask them to help. I also ran into Rob while I was running and told him to join, he promised he would after he got out of work. I dragged a wheel barrow and trash can on wheels (I had the trash can in the wheel barrow, which was also filled with orange DPW cones) the .6 miles to Pearl Street, where the clean up was to be held. On my way, I called my friend Dave and asked him to help.
Niles and I started, and one of the neighbors asked if we were on parole. No, just cleaning up the environment. He watched us for a little while, then started picking up trash in front of his house, then slowly moved across the street to help us. His name was Scott, and he’ll be important later.
A local jogger ran by and told us we were doing a great job. Then he paused, and said “You know, I’ll help you out.” He grabbed a trash bag and headed up the hill. Then were then joined by Bria and Rob. Then Dave stopped by after a bit. At one time, there were SIX of us cleaning up Pearl Street. It was absolutely wonderful. There were several other people who stopped and asked why we were cleaning up the streets. One of Rob’s friends pulled over in his car, and when he asked “For what?” I replied “For the environment.” Everyone thought we were in a club, or were a part of a program. Really, we were just kids who wanted to clean up the street.
(This is Rob)

The afternoon ended with Bria, Rob, Niles and I, and we were left with many trashbags. We had spent two hours picking up trash.


Bria ran down to get her car, but on the way stopped and asked Scott if he could help us. He didn’t hesitate, and pulled his station wagon around and loaded everything inside, including my wheel barrow, my trash can, and me! He drove everything back to my house, because my trash day was the next morning.

We talked about looking at what trash day it is in the city, and doing that area the day before. That way, we don’t have trash sitting around for a long time. Thursdays seem to be a good day for everyone, so we might make it Trash Thursday. Bria and I were trying to think of a slogan, and I thought of “We’re Young, But We Care.” We should get it printed on T-shirts we wear while out. And we can make them bright neon so we stand out and don’t get struck by traffic.
Nice and clean. I walked by there today with my mom (she was going to City Hall, I was walking to the grocery store), and I felt so proud of what we had accomplished. I really do have great friends.

When I got home, Niles grabbed a table from the neighbor’s house to put in his backyard (reuse), and as I went to drive him home, I REALIZED I HAD LOST MY KEYS PICKING UP TRASH.
I grabbed my spares, and Niles and I went to look for them. We were climbing up and down that hill (see photo above), and Niles and I went and searched the hill. We had given up and were returning to my car when I looked up and spotted them!!!!! See the boulder? And then that tree right above the boulder? They were up near that tree!!! I took a picture of them before I grabbed them:

Thank God I have that bright green Vera Bradley wallet thing attached, or they would be long gone. It was easy to spot now that the hill was so clean.
Thanks to my friends who helped me clean up Fitchburg. It makes me feel proud not only as a person, but as a citizen of this town. If anyone wanted to help tomorrow afternoon, I think I’ll be picking up trash around 1pm, and dragging my mom, dad, and brother with me! Feel free to join in. More people really does make it go by a lot quicker, and you certainly get more done.