It was around 2pm when the messages starting to roll in - 'is it still on tonight? I've nearly been blown into the road... its wet and cold...is it safe?'

Absolutely we were happening tonight - not even storm Brendon could stop us in our paths! We are Goodgym runners!

Ok so just a little tweek to get to task directly for 6.45 was decided on. Then a confirmation email to our lovely head teacher Helen Armstrong who was coming back to the school after an all day meeting off site to be there to show us the brushes!

Pulling up on the forecourt at Daveena's it was a relief to see Richard in the car next to mine - there was at least going to be 2 of us! 10 minutes later and the total was 8 hardcore runners all looking a bit apprehensive in the back courtyard of Daveena's.

Only this week I was listening to a podcast by Dr Chatterjee (Feel Better, Live More - highly recommend it!) and his guest was James Wallman. The topic being 'Time and how to spend it'. In the podcast, when you consider your time and how it can make you happy - one of the recommendations is to spend some of it doing something for others, whether it is a favour for a friend or a neighbour or even for your community (Goodgym - tick!). Another recommendation was to do something with a story - a little risk! That risk taking can be jumping out a plane, it could just be doing that run in biblical type weather! (Goodgym tonight - Tick!). If you don't listen to podcasts by the way and are often short of time - it is a great way to hear interesting interviews, gain knowledge, hear comedies, stories or anything you are interested in. I download them for free for a run once a week or so via an app so go check it out!

Onto the run tonight - agreed that a 1 mile route would be great to take us up the lovely little opportunity that is Birds Hill and the surrounding roads for just 10 mins or so before heading into the school. Just a short breather whilst crossing the road - otherwise it was onwards! Great to see Patricia tonight join us as part of RED Janruary - a great cause to support people to manage mental health with exercise.

On arrival at the school, we were met by Helen who was once again all ready for us with a classroom with paint, cupboards pulled out, sheets down etc! (great caretaker!). Wwe all love a painting task and with plenty of brushes and rollers we were off - expert cutting in by Sian and reaching great heights (with the help of a chair!) was Richard. Tim and Gayle took turns at being quality controllers, looking for those white spots! Topic for tonight was appropriate to St Mary's School - books of Bible - Yep Esther is one of the only 2 female books in bible! However Elizabeth had a mention and Tim was a pretty important Apostle too - the rest of you...well if your names not down...

Given the weather, we had time at the task to do anther room and delighted to find the French room was a lovely dirty wall for painting making it that bit more noticable we had been! Thanks again to the caretaker for having it all ready for us! 

Tasks complete - time for a 1 mile run home but with a little down hill to boost the amount of rain and wind in your faces, making us feel that but more invincible (but happy to go home for a cuppa and a shower!)

Definately good use of our time tonight I would say!