You know those nights where you aren’t sure on the weather, you run out do the task, get home and then it pours!!! Yeah, this wasn’t one of those.

Tonight, we even got wet from the ground up – I’ll explain later. First, let’s start at guildhall, our usual meeting place on a Tuesday but something is not right already as our entrance has been closed off. We had a tip off and was informed of another route but didn’t expect it to be quite so tucked away. Luckily it wasn’t raining as we went exploring for the Alice in Wonderland type door to get us on the inside. Did I say luckily, sshhh Mark. We spoke too soon, and it was getting heavier - but not to worry we made it in and even if half of the 15 strong team were soggy already there was no dampening of spirits. We were ready to travel further across borders than any Kingston GG team before us to make a difference.

Runners warming up for a rain dance last night , well done for tackling such horrid weather! #weather #goodgym #kingston #doinggood #volunteering #unitedresponse pic.twitter.com/pxvcR7L0Li

— GoodGym Kingston-upon-Thames (@GoodGymKingston) March 11, 2020

Tonight, our good was to be shared with United Response in the Hampton area and so due to going the extra distance the warmup was brief and some what sheltered which was a complete contrast to the puddle ridden run ahead. Now rain is no stranger these days but some clever chap suggested a run through bushy park in the dark to get to the task and the fresh down pour meant that puddles formed big enough and dirty enough to make a tough mudder look like a party in a hosepipe ban. We were soaked from the ground up, puddle hopping as the rain bounced off our heads in the dark with head torches bobbing, we made it to the street lights to enjoy the spray from the cars as they drove past us. Why we were so soaked the poor run trainers’ eyes must have been waterlogged as he could not make out an 8 from a 3 in the address so the team spent 4 or 5 minutes looking for the wrong house. We got there in the end and just then like a miracle the rain stopped. A friendly task owner greeted us and the happiest gnome we had ever seen appeared. No, we were not back in the Alice’s Wonderland or delirious from the rain – It’s true.

And so, to work with our task to help the awesome United Response charity by assisting with the gardening at a residential home to make tidy and brighten up for those living there. Fingers crossed the weather changes and they get the chance to get out and enjoy soon as we blitzed it, making it clear from moss, weeds, overgrown branches, leaves and more. Why we even cleared neat paths through the palm like trees with super efficiency (Steve is considering opening a barber shop soon on account of his great skill with the shears). All of this was done under the watchful eye of the biggest gnome ever. He oversee us scraping away the moss and debris to leave the garden looking tidy and spring ready!

A great job done for a great charity that does so much good in our communities.

So, for the run home and it was a unanimous decision ‘NOT THROUGH THE PARK’ which made it seem almost too easy and in no time, we were back to guildhall. Home at last and you know what they say ‘there is no place like gnome’ to get dry!

Make no bones about it - it looked like a grave task but it wasn't as turf as it looked!

We kicked off the warm up with the biggest group of the year so far: 23 of us including four new recruits! Welcome to Paul, Daniel, Cassandra and Connor on their first GoodGym run and welcome back for a 2nd run to Philippa. After kicking, squatting and burping for a while, we got on with the warm up. Everyone enjoyed a longer warm up this week, honing in our technique and agility.

Off we ran (and walked) around Surbiton and Kingston and up to Surbiton cemetery. The wheelbarrow squeeking around the pitch black cemetery made for an edgy setting as we picked up the tools and got ready to work. Digging things up in a cemetery may sound like grave task but it wasn't an undertaking. 23 of us made light work of edging and removing turf from the paths and we cleared a path in no time.

Well done again GG Kingston runners for making such quick work of clearing a path at Surbiton cemetery this week #kingston #goodgym #surbitoncemetery #volunteering #runninggroup #getfitdogood pic.twitter.com/QFOELypjoa

— GoodGym Kingston-upon-Thames (@GoodGymKingston) March 6, 2020

Back we ran to the Guildhall - stopping on the way back for an obligatory photo in front of the iconic leaning phone boxes of Kingston, before we dialed up the pace for the final leg. Then back for stretches.

Super effort to all

In the news tonight we mentioned a few things but one we need to think on was the message about reducing the risk of Coronavirus spreading so here is the link to GG's tips on the matter https://www.goodgym.org/stories/coronavirus-information-for-goodgym-activities

This week Kingston Good Gym ran a 10 kilometre plus round trip through Surbiton to help Firs Court in Chessington.

Tonight we were feeling particularly ambitious, running about as far as we can go on a weekly group night. The hill climb out of Surbiton was a stretching highlight. Always good to get out of your comfort zone.

Good to be visiting the residential centre of Firs Court. It might be familiar to some of the group who visited it last year to plant the flower borders at the front. Apparently the previous visit was on a hot summer's day, and hence a contrast to this cold February evening. It was encouraging to see the flowers were still there. This time we came to improve the presentation at the front of the building and after last week's "advanced weeding" it was a more delicate task to cut back some of the overgrowth, pull out dandelion clumps and clear some litter.

Thanks again to Martel for being back marker.

A special welcome to Gemma on her first week and welcome back Steve on your 2nd.

NOW!! Fun fact: Running 10 kilometres burns about enough calories for four and a half pancakes with sugar and lemon- which is good news this evening for those of us with weight loss goals! Enjoy the rest of pancake day.

A cold February evening is nothing for Kingston GoodGym:

Mark kept us on our toes with with more crazy warmups before a lap around Hampton Wick, then back to the safe side of the river for a task with our friends ID Verde.

Weeding is nothing new for GoodGymers but this week we honed our weeding skills and qualified into ADVANCED WEEDING. We got to the ROOT of the problem and cleared mounts of dandelions, nettles and twigs. WEED have done the whole of Kingston if we had the chance but half an hour came round quickly and back we went to the Guildhall.

Well done to Philippa and Hannah's dad Steve on their first run (did you know it was bring-your-dad-to-goodgym day?!)

In our news we covered the shindig dates and venue!

The fact that this month is still #Giveitheart month so what we love about GG and we do with passion is worth shouting about

In addition there is a tweet out for support from any volunteers who fancy running on behalf of Embracing Age - it's a 10k event so if you are interested you can find their tweet on @embracingage

Sadly we also learnt of the news that our mighty leader Mark Barun is stepping back as Kingston GoodGym Run Trainer to focus more on his first passion and business as a personal fitness coach. We will miss him immensely but we are grateful for everything he's given to GoodGym Kingston since it started and wish him all the best for the future. At least we have a few more of his crazy warm ups before we have to say goodbye for good.

If anyone thinks they are up to the job of stepping into Mark's well worn trainers, get in touch!

Don't forget too that next week is the big one - 10.4km but could be a bus option back ; - )