• We were diggin' in the rain,
• Just diggin' in the rain,
• What a glorious feeling,
• Doing Goodgym again!
• I'm laughing at Martin
• So dark up above,
• The runs in my heart and we're ready for love!
• Let the stormy clouds chase
• Everyone at sexy pace,
• Come on with your rain,
• I've got a smile on my face!
• I'll walk down to see Jane
• With a happy refrain,
• Just diggin'', diggin' in the rain!

Oh, and Sallyann dug up loads of bulbs she should't have done, Martin stabbed a fork through his head, and Mohammed brought an umbrella!

We met in the sunshine and it was great to see Dawn back for her 2nd run. Leah and Jess had messaged to say they would be a couple of minutes late and that we could leave without them, but at Goodgym no-one gets left behind , we move as one.

While we waited for them we heard about Andy's holiday and Joel's tour of Chelmsford cafes and other eating establishments. Leah and Jess arrived and 9 goodgymers set off to the task.

Jane led the way ( sporting her new Goodgym tshirt) and the directions were simple: run down the high street until you reach Toast, then turn left. After a short run along the river we arrived at Hearing Help Essex for the task; weeding the paths and raised flowerbeds that had overgrown. I had found some tools in the greenhouse as the shed was locked and everyone set to work. Fay and Sallyann were already there getting stuck in and appeared to be the only ones to read the memo about bringing gardening gloves. Dawn and Mohammed did a great job on the path, while Richard took a rake to the back bed, bringing out some giant leaves. Jane and Joel wrestled up some of the deep rooted weeds, while Leah and Jess started on the path next to the pond. There were plenty of prickles and nettles but Andy found a way to bundle them up using massive leaves. Before long we'd filled 3 large rubble bags with weeds and the garden looked ready to be re planted and enjoyed in the summer.

We put the tools away, admired the beautifully painted picnic benches ( our hard work from a previous task) , compared stinging nettle injuries, and enjoyed a chatty run back. Great Run EVERYONE!

Next week we will leafleting with either the amazing David or the wonderful Laurie

until then,

RUN HAPPY

Rich

On a glorious sunny spring evening Jane and I arrived at the old factory gym ready to strut our sexy selves along to Hearing Help Essex .

Tonights task was to paint some of their picnic benches in their garden ready for the summer months. After a brief chat about Robert's excellent double half marathon weekend and Mohammed's brand new Goodgym T-shirt we set off at our usual Sexy pace ( apart from Erin and Jane who ran off chatting away ).

Just before we arrived we met Sallyann in the car park as she is recovering from a sore back but ready to paint those benches.

Unfortunately, Sophie from HHE wasn't able to meet us as she had a family emergency but left us instructions of where to find the paint and brushes, and what they were wanting us to do.

Richard and Mohammed posed for a photo with the benches before we got started ( before photo) and then we moved them onto the grass, the benches not Richard and Mohammad. The paint and brushes were in the greenhouse and as i collected them i realized that the 2 pots were different colours. I decided which one looked nicer and we set to work. Kate was alittle worried about getting paint in her goodgym t-shirt until someone pointed out Joel's t-shirt and that all the paint and stains were in fact badges of honour for years of service.

With all 3 benches painted we washed the brushes and trays and stood for a group photo (after photo). I took this as an opportunity to try and do a group heel click photo. Some heel clicks were done internally 😜. Andy's , as always, needs work 😎

A job well done, we set off into the sunset with a smile on our faces and again continued our sexy pace back to base.

If you'd like to know more about sexy pace please read https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jul/24/slow-running-revolution-sexy-pace-enjoy-the-race

its a way of life and what we are all about.

Thanks for coming guys and see you all next time.

Run Happy

Rich