The last task of the January challenge brought out double digits of runners. We won't talk about our good deed target, but superb to smash the distance one!

After a discussion about my tiger knees, I performed a seamless introduction and away we went. Really nice to meet Linn, hopefully you enjoyed your first (of many) task and run, and aren't put off by rumours that heel clicks at Parkrun are mandatory.

Birthday boy Ben led us out at a rapid pace and we were at the church in no time.

As there was a limited amount of paint, everyone dug in except the specimens who did some fitness. Andy had a nap on the floor, Russell complained about his back and quit wall sits early, and Rich posed as he loves to do. We were incredulous that Sallyann thought it didn't look intense enough and has challenged anyone to a plank off at the summer beer festival. As you can imagine, Fay was very impressed and filmed us for social media, perhaps a trial run for ITV!

The painting went well, we ran out but managed most of the room. It didn't help that Joel decided to use some of the sacred sauce on his face (great to have him back) and Martin has offered to paint the ceiling when required.

After a brief, totally legit vote, we decided to run a longer way back. Joints creaking we got back to base and chatted about how my acca was going to win loads of money and i would take everyone for dinner. Sadly I got 50% of them wrong. Next time.

Very successful task. Very successful run. Hopefully next week's task will be similarly so (removals and bringing walls down) and so will the pub quiz!

On a cold January evening Jane and I braved the elements and met Leanne at the old factory gym ready for a lovely chatty run to kick start our fitness and get over the lurgy for the new year.

We reached St John's church hall in no time where we met Fay and Sallyann already hard at work painting the skirting board. The plan was to get at least half done before coming back next week, but being the well oiled machine that we are we managed to get a whole coat of paint the whole way round the room.

With that we packed up and said our goodbyes, Fay and Sallyann walking back, Jane running home to get some dinner and Leanne and I running back to base to get a few more running miles in.

We'll be back at the church hall next week to give the skirting board a second coat.

And it will be you last chance to help us reach our target for the January challenge. So please come along if you are free.

Until then.... RUN HAPPY

Rich

On the 18th of December my GoodGym gave to me:

• 12 months of running
• 11 GoodGym socials
• 10 secret bottles of wine
• 9 GoodGymers tasking
• 8 photos taken
• 7 days til xmas
• 6 rakes and brooms
• 5 Fulllllll bins
• 4 xmas outfits
• 3 Erin exams
• 2 Lit up houses
• and
• a cheer from A-Andy

I hope everyone has a great Christmas and gets a break! Happy running!

After a string of poor excuses, only the bravest of goodgymers met last night (having a baby? pssh).

Traffic was awful so there was a lot of discussion over the best way through town right now, and the answer is clearly on foot.

Fay, Andy and Richard drove in but survived the ordeal. The excellent 'reverse advent calendar' foodbank collection is underway. Joe appeared when summoned by Andy.

A cold run to the church hall and we got to work, it's like we've never cleared any leaves at all every time we visit but it keeps us out of trouble. Everything was filling up with piles of leaves still waiting to be lifted so a brisk walk for a bin secondment allowed us to get more picked up for collection day.

We will be back for more leaves in a few weeks!

It was a dark and stormy night.. well, it wasn't stormy but it was dark- and it is halloween so just imagine.

Erin got there nice and early to skulk in the shadows. I was attacked by a giant spider on the way to meet the gang. David had been under Frankensteins blade (explains all the extra body weight). Rich was terrifying as usual. Kate was riding a DIY-high and eager to crack on.

We trotted down the highstreet avoiding any slippery leaves. At the hall we found another spider (Sallyann), a pumpkin (Laurie) and.. the devil? (sorry Fay). They had made an excellent start and we blitzed through the brown bins in no time. Goodgym will be back soon to re-leaf the hall of the remainder of foliage as it drops over the next few weeks.

See you next week for some pub based prep.

For our first GoodGym Group Run of 2024, after what feels like endless rain, we were really pleased to have 15 in the group for our final leaf clearing session at St John's Church Hall this season.

It was also Richard's 50th good deed, what a great way to start the year!

Due to the number of runners, I threatened a fitness session in case of lots of standing around at the task. Stephen found us an additional task inside the church hall, so whilst most of the group cleared leaves, the rest went inside to cut and stick film to the glass of the new doors. Angela, Joe, Leanne and Fay expertly measured, cut, and stuck the film, showing that we can also complete slightly more complicated tasks! This additional task meant that fitness was narrowly avoided, but it will return!

Multiple bins were filled with leaves as usual, with Jenny, Joel, Martin and Sallyann getting on without making any trouble, Erin telling tales of new year's eve induced amnesia, and Cowboy Ben gleefully yee-hawing whilst jumping into a bin of leaves.

Unsurprisingly, Andy and Rich's relationship seems to have become complicated; they're uncontrollable when together and must make sure everyone knows it.

Before parting ways, we posed for a final photo on a bench in the church hall - spot the naughty children!

As long as the weather's ok, we'll see you for running and volunteering at parkrun on Saturday!

Laurie