What a muggy night, which saw 11 (then 12) of us do some good at Ham Youth Centre this week!

It was great to be able to welcome 3 new runners, Lucy, Israel and Nipin to Richmond as well as Monika back for her 2nd run. They were straight into their stride too as after the multi-directional, hip opening and glute activating warm up training we did on Richmond green that was our tightest, paciest group run for a while that we had seen running along the river to Ham!

Usual Monday madness! #goodgym #mondays #richmondgreen #richmond #fitness #warmup #runninggroup #community #volunteering #fun pic.twitter.com/N8tA7fYeQ8

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) 25 June 2019

Our route was beautiful with the odd rain drop just to take the temperature down a little we chatted (and run of course). We got to pass some of the lovely views we have in our borough along river and then with a sharp left just past Ham House we were as good as at the task where Ben who leads the Youth Centre was kindly waiting with all the ingredients needed to get the dirtiest dikes sparkling again.

Beautiful group run along the river last night in Richmond #goodgym #richmond #riverside #grouprun #community #social #team #volunteering #task #hamyouthclub #bikecleaning #clammy #muggy pic.twitter.com/EvrX5hHkSl

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) 25 June 2019

He was super organised which was good as were up against the clock tonight to clean 12 bikes used by the children at the centre. The bikes which get to see plenty of action including trips to Richmond park on some great days out by the sound of it were now to see the first proper clean in 4 years so without to much delay we were on it!

There was buckets of water juggling around, de-greaser being passed back and forth, lube (can anyone open this?), the fresh smell of a strawberry …. Strawberry PTFE spray is it? red shirts a blur and above our chatter was the sound of brushes grinding some mud of off a cogset.

We were in flow and felt we had a strong chance at a WHEELIE GOOD PUN tonight for our run report, they started as dirty as the bikes, but we were cleaning them up just as fast as we were the spokes in front of us! The toughest area to clean was the chain really and as we agreed that point poor Jane lost her bucket, but she kept a handle on things literally and the path got a good clean too!!

GG taking an easy ride...on your bike! Hard work was in progress! #hamyouthclub #ham #richmond #running #muggy #sweaty #runninggroup #dogoodgetfit #mucoff #bikecleaning #greattask pic.twitter.com/wR19AyzAP7

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) 25 June 2019

Time was done and all had come together nicely to see everything completed from a chain reaction of our good energy in Richmond to help at a great community centre in our borough. It was wonderful to meet Ben and we hope to be back to help again soon but at this point an action photo was all we had time for before the dash home to Wholefoods to complete a run just shy of 8km.

Well done all – proud to run with you and looking forward to next week already!

Don’t forget our birthday is coming up soon (we are 3 years old), we will be celebrating with a picnic after the run on 15th July

Look up those community missions if you have time and need an extra fix of GG – Lots in Kingston at the weekends.

Oh and it’s our social next week so refreshments (drink kind) after the run if you can too ; - )