It's a game of 2 halves, brushing up on our skills, weeding out the opposition, they think it's all GoodGym... IT IS NOW
25 GoodGymers made their way 11.7km to help the Bowthorpe Heritage Community Garden in Norwich.
- Monday, 18th of June 2018
- Led by Steven Hitcham
This week was the 1st time we had 2 different tasks on the same night and therefore there'll be 2 run reports combined into 1 with Calum's part (the better part) coming up further down.
I was taking the bulk of the group on a long run to Bowthorpe Community Garden while Calum was taking 3 others to paint a small room for Open Doors, which was on a shorter root.
After having a week off I felt out of routine... I'd done the briefing at the start and got Calum to do the warm up while then realising at that point I hadn't even explained what the tasks were.
I did remember to announce that Vicky was on her 25th good deed and Catherine was the 1st GoodGym Norwich member to complete 50 good deeds... all within the 1st year! Incredible commitment.
It felt like we were saying a little goodbye as the 2 groups separated (where's the tissues).
My group had a warm and sticky 6km stroll apart from Tim and Sam who had extra energy so kept tailing back... I'd love to know how much ground they covered.
On arrival we were pleasantly surprised with a lovely table full of refreshments so straight away we were sending photos to the other group trying not to make them jealous haha.
The team had a few tasks to do which included painting a fence (Samantha, Rosie, Michelle and Catherine), removing bind weed (Sarah and Helen), locating & pulling up a bind weed root (Vicky, Tim and Mel), weeding the shingle (Bill, Sam, Katy, Robert, Lizzie, Tammy & Lisa), clearing a pathway (Hayley, Jen and Isabelle) and some hedge trimming (Darren).
Sarah and Helen discovered one of the 'Norfolk Rocks' amongst the bind week, which they later re-hid on the way home.
Before we headed back some of the group wanted to finish up with a cherry pip spitting competition, I'd never heard of this before and I'm not even sure I wanted to but it happened and I don't know who even won!
Now it's over to Calum... drum roll please.
Oh hai there GoodGym teams! Calum here, and it’s my turn to tell you all about my team’s mission. Wait. Sit down. Hold on. Strap in. Are you ready?
First thing’s first. I was not ready for tonight’s run. While Steve had asked me months ago about doing this, and I while I was eager to help out the Norwich Massive, I forgot. However I wouldn't let a little thing like organisation stop me! I think Steve was aware of this too because he promptly asked me to lead today's warm up 2 minutes before it was time to start the warm up. I bumbled and fumbled my way through, even learned a thing or two. Firstly, if you don't say please after most of your exercises and then say please after one people get REALLY suspicious. Like when you catch your sibling coming out of your room, even though the sign says “ no stupid brothers allowed ” Stan! Secondly GoodGym is full of patient and wonderful people willing to let a fool try bumble and fumble his way through his first ever warm up session.
After we split up, my 4 member strong team (Jasmine, Elizabeth, Chloe and I) sadly watched the larger team bounce off. We felt morose, like we were watching our 21 children head off to their first day of school. Still we had a task to do and no time to waste, especially as I would waste some time getting us lost probably. I did.
Once we finally arrived we were introduced to Open Doors staff and treasurer. They explained how Open Doors helps train eternal staff how best communicate with people who have learning disabilities, they also give advice and help to support those with learning disabilities. Incredible charity and really friend staff – they won our hearts with juice on a muggy evening.
We got shown to our room we were to paint and got stuck in. I bashed on some ABBA and the team started slapping on the paint. Even though we spent 45 minutes working on the room we didn't quite manage to paint all the walls, although I did manage to paint quite a large portion of myself by mistake. Open Doors was very understanding with the unfinished job and agreed we could return on a later run to finish it off, and possibly de-weed the garden. With a quick detour in to a pub to check the England score, we headed back to The Forum. I nearly got taken out by a seagull who did not appreciate my hat, but I made it. We stretched we joked, we bonded. It was a great task for the small team and we would be happy to do it again, although we did miss the rest of our GoodGym family. And remember my readers, unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.
Next week we're heading to The Clare School.
Report written by Steven Hitcham
Discuss this report
Led by Steven Hitcham
I'm the Area Activator for GoodGym Norwich. I love running and socialising with the GG family.
GoodGymers helping out
-
Back marker
Make sure that no one is left behind
-
Report Writer
Be in charge of writing the session report
Share the love
Join us on the next run
Become a member
with an optional monthly donation
- Run, walk, or cycle to help older people
- Access sessions across the country
- Claim your GoodGym t-shirt
Need help with a community project?
If you're a community organisation and have a physical task then we'd like to help.
Request a task
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pit_spitting
Great run report Steve and Calum, it’s true we did feel sad watching fellow Goodgymers running off in the other direction thank you Calum for being a smashing leader 🏃♀️🏃🏻♂️
Great evening again and great run reports. We missed you too!
I love these run reports, they make my Tuesday morning a much smilier place!
Hayley won the pip spitting! 👏😃
Yes she did and we had another spit-off when we got back to the Forum and she won that too!
🍒😏🤣
sign in to add a comment