Meeting in the rapidly fading sunshine Fay offered us the option - take on #FaysFysicalChallenge and be legends or wuss out. Naturally, Andy wussed out. You can see the challenge and the rest of us tackling it on the gram. Newcomer Steve must have wondered what he got himself in to! Welcome.

We undertook a bit of democracy and decided to go for the run first, as we were picking litter very close to base. Leah was confident she knew where she was leading us and we set off for a jaunty 4.5km run.

Once we got back we picked up the pickers, the bags, and the area activator. Some disgraceful littering by people, but graceful GoodGymers got to work.

Some lovely finds tonight. My personal highlight is the (empty) parking ticket we found which Steve put on the car blocking the pavement. I'd love to see the driver's face when he saw it.

Rich W will be gutted he missed out on spoons. Someone won't be best pleased they lost their credit card. But even worse, someone will be devastated I'm sure that they ended their night without their trousers and underwear! Three very full bags found, excellent work.

I am looking forward to hearing how Richard gets on eating a kiwi with the skin on as though its an apple, and how Rob's race goes this weekend! Jealous of him going to Prague at the start of April, less so for needing to do the half marathon...

The clocks go forward next weekend so it'll be light for group runs soon, that'll be almost as exciting as getting my hands on some more of Martin's allotment produce.

Happy running everyone! See some people at Parkrun, if not next week.

After a warm March day it had started to cool down by the evening. but that didn't stop 3 hardy Goodgymers ( 4 if you include yours truly, D'Artagnan 😜 )

Meeting outside the gym we decided that we were a merry band and that we would go for a run first before getting our swords (litter pickers ) out and tackling the bits of rubbish around.

We also had some new shoes on show 😍 as Robert was preparing for the first if his epic half marathons this weekend in Portugal. Good luck and we want to see lots of photos and the medal. Linn had bought a new pair as her old pair had literally split apart during last weekends Chelmsford half marathon, wow and congratulations . And then to round it off Ben was in jubilant mood as he had changed his working hours on Wednesday so he can come to Goodgym more often, yay.

Setting out into the bunnywalks the chat turned to Roberts crazy european running challenge and all the bonkers logistics its going to take to get to the start lines ( yes, linesssssss) on time. And then food was discussed (standard) and the possibility of going to Back Inn Time after next weeks task.... more of that on the WhatsApp group 😉. Linn took a tumble but got straight back up. grazed palms and a bruised ego, there was no stopping her. even when i mentioned doing Kenyan Hills up and down the Avenues ( although it was decided this was a stupid idea and chatty run was better).

Arriving back at the gym we collected our sword(pickers) and set about the car park and hedgerow and made our HQ that little bit nicer.

Thanks guys for coming and i shall from now on think of you three as the musketeers (you can decide who is which character😂)

until then.....

Run Happy

Rich

On a cold Feb evening we met outside the Old Factory Gym and welcomed back Linn back for her second good deed. Great to see you again and so glad we didn't put you off after the first time 😂

The task tonight was for us to do some litter picking around a known cut through into the city centre behind the B&M car park.Fay and Andy helped get the litter pickers and bags as they planned to walk to the task (which didn't quite go to plan in a good way), and I had teased that we had a special guest appearance at the task which started a guessing game and people had agreed it must be Ed Sheeran. ( But it turned out to be better).

As we started to run, Fay said she was going to run a little with us until she couldn't and then walk the rest with Andy, as we neared the task I looked round and they we're both still with us. Fantastic 💪

We arrived and just as we we're starting to unfurl bags and snap our litterpickers a head torch glowed in the dark on its approach to us. And then from out of the cold dark night the legend that is Laurie appeared with smiles and a makeshift litter picker arch was formed. Welcome back Laurie we've all missed you so much 🥰.

Setting out we picked away to our hearts content while chatting even more and our head torches scanning through the undergrowth with Kate trialling the spare head torch i had brought. And in no time at all we were done with bags full and we were on our way back.

On our way back Robert told us more about his epic multiple half marathons coming up. Which involves two half marathons in two days, in different countries.🤯 Good luck Robert,we know you'll smash it 💪

And again on the way back we had Fay running with us. Whens the marathon, Fay? 😜

With litter pickers put away we chatted about our dinners and about doing some painting at Beaulieu community centre next Wednesday, hope to see some of you there

Thanks all for coming and remember

RUN HAPPY

Rich

p.s. Martin (good) wasn't late for the meeting time 😜 and as a reminder to Robert it's every Wednesday at 6:30pm. 😂

p.p.s. Hello Ben, who had just finished work as we passed him on the way out.

5 goodgymers braved the new year cold

New year, new January challenge! After Rich said he was too unwell to lead I dragged my fragments of spine down eager to get some kms and good deeds towards the Jan challenge!

Andy was giddy when it started snowing, alas stopping about 30 seconds later. Fay couldn't resist grabbing extra pickers and bin bag rings I think in the hope some more GGers would show up!

We headed out to where Joel had assured us there would be litter but it was thin on the ground. It was great to have Martin back after his amazing sounding trip to South America and hear more about that.

As we meandered down to the edge of town we discussed the price of steak and Sallyann proclaimed sea bass the better dish. We are all eager to try guinea pig now though - apparently very rich and gamey.

See you Saturday - if the water in the park subsides!

Another 5 good deeds knocked off the tally! Great work!

7 Hearty GoodGymers braved the cold and set out into the night to pick up some litter behind the B&M car park.

Myself, Richard, Jane and Russell met at the old factory gym and discussed how we are hibernating a bit too much this winter and that we should maybe do a bit more. Richard spoke about his new job coming up and we celebrated him reaching his 50th Good Deed on Sunday while volunteering for Farleigh Hospice Santa Run. Congratulations Richard clap clap clap.

Collecting the litter pickers and bags from the gym we set off to meet Fay, Sallyann and Jess at the car park to bolster our litter picking group. with lots of chatting going on we filled 5 bags in no time and decided it was time to get back and warm up. After posing for a group photo we discussed this weekends coming events and who was taking (and not taking) part in them...

We bid goodbye to Fay and Sallyann who walked in. And to Jess and Jane who ran back to their respective homes. Richard, Russell and I jogged back through the city centre to the gym to put the pickers back.

Thanks for coming guys, you've made a little bit of Chelmsford that little bit nicer.

Next week Angela will be leading a leafleting run on Wednesday and then David will be leading a leaf clearing the week after. And then that will be it before we break for Christmas.

In January we will be doing our annual GoodGym January Challenge so if you can, we'll need every one of you to help us reach our targets.

Don't forget "If you move, log it on strava" and make sure you join GoodGym Chelmsford strava group. and do at least one good deed.. 😉

until then...

Run Happy

Rich

As everyone knows, we meet at 6:30 on a Wednesday, right Rob? The silly goose turned up at 6:00! So after the rest of us arrived at the right time (apart from Laurie who was a minute late) we said hello, laughed at me for accidentally blocking Laurie's new credit card, and prepared the pickers. The walkers headed off led by Fay while we discussed our recent achievements. Kate showed off her new red GG tshirt, Andy saved lives by giving blood this week, and Rob had been to a Peter Pan afternoon tea. That obviously explains the photos.

We ran a medium-ish route at a good pace to meet up with the rest of the posse and get picking. Sallyann enjoyed her wine and yoga based holiday and also casually dropped into conversation she has a super famous cousin?!?! We've never seen Kings Road so clean, apart from after we've been through of course, so did a longer ambling walk. We didn't pick up the toilet we found, Kate doesn't need one for her house renovation, but we did have to shout at the bag boys to tell them to hurry up.

Fay reminisced about walking down the street in her PE kit while Andy commented that the amount of Stella litter by the school could be a cause for concern.

We are going to investigate an afternoon tea social, although fierce debate raged about sweet versus savoury ratio. Watch this space. We have loads coming up, the reverse advent calendar foodbank, xmas social at Banana Tree, pub quiz on November 3rd, parkrun volunteer and next week a halloween run led by the amazing Angela!