GoodGym’s Richmond runners gathered in force for Monday evening’s serving of good-doing, this time over at Terrace Gardens where the scrubland was starting to get a bit out of hand. So it was “hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work we go” for not 7 but 18 Dwarfs (although it would be a bit of a stretch to cast Jack and Andy as dwarfs in the Xmas panto…). For anyone who’s REALLY confused right now, brush up on your Disney here.

Before setting off there was a fair bit of business to get through, looking ahead to celebrating GoodGym’s 10th birthday and congratulating the very wonderful Jenna, on her 200 good deeds milestone (and didn’t she model the superhero cape well?) and the amazing Jay, on reaching 50 good deeds shortly after his Race to the Stones heroics (looking dapper in the sash). Epic work guys!

Warming up last night on Richmond Green #richmond #running #warmup #fitness #volunteering #gooddeeds #goodgym pic.twitter.com/MwWk7iWcFd

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) August 20, 2019

There was a change to the warm-up this week as Jack took over from Mark and put us through our paces with a variety of stretches and exercises and an interval training-style run around a triangle of the green, while Mark seized the opportunity to take a lot more photos than usual…

Sprint finish! #goodgym #richmond #mondays #volunteering #runninggroup #warmup #fun pic.twitter.com/oWfLRfxA80

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) August 20, 2019

Suitably warmed up, we started off from the green, past the theatre up Parkshot, along the A316 and down the riverside to Terrace Gardens. On the way we stopped to equip ourselves with hoes, spades, brooms and litter-pickers and then headed over to the gardens, split into two groups and got stuck in.

Our task was to cut back and clear saplings and ivy from both sides of a section of scrubland along the Petersham Road. We were lucky to have a large group so we could make a real go of it, although we weren’t helped by the lack of suitable tools (anyone tried clearing ivy with a hoe and garden fork before?)… but of course in true GG style we did a fantastic job and ended up moving huge piles of cleared weeds and scrub into a secret hiding place in under the trees. Soon it was time to go and we packed the tools away before making our way over the Star and Garter Hill for a bit of a quad burn, and back through the town for a warm down.

A big welcome to Kitti for her first GoodGym run, and to Emily who used to run in Wandsworth and moved to Richmond recently. Welcome also to Michelle and Andy of Hounslow parish, Kate of Kingston and again a HUGE congratulations to Jenna and Jay.

Remember, if you’re up for a few social gatherings, the odd pub quiz or just an evening down the pub, drop me a line and I’ll add you to the GG Richmond Social WhatsApp!

Next week is the after school run too ; - )