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Sunday 14th May 2017

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Report written by Ax Man

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97 runners headed to Riga to race against the Latvian

This is what the legend Tom Benson has to say about it:

Well that was something else. Over the weekend an amazing 90+ GoodGymers descended onto Riga, the capital of Latvia, for their annual Running Festival. The Latvian weather stations must have been getting a few phone calls as locals had reported to see Red Thunder over the weekend. Symptoms included a very loud cheer for anyone seen in a red t-shirt/vest, had a killer mustash, dress up as a vegetable and everything in between. Up for grabs was a range of races from 6 km to the Marathon. And as a bonus the folks from Team South West that arrived on Friday ended up representing the UK and America in the Pre-Race Parade of Nations where they paraded through the centre of town flying the flags.

Goodgym on tour! Riga 2017 #ggxriga

Une publication partagée par Lorna Gott (@lornagott) le 13 Mai 2017 à 10h24 PDT

A Saturday evening of, pre-race nerves/watching Eurovision ensured, and then it was the big day, with the races kicking off at 8:30 (that’s 6:30 am UK time…ouch). However it soon came apparent why this was going on as it was certainly t-shirt weather as the sun was like the GoodGym crew, out in force. First up was the marathon and half marathon both kicking off at the same time, what that ensured was that many a friendly face was seen on route which allowed many a high five. We also had a mega cheer point that was located on the Bridge which Ruth staked her claim and proved a great distraction from the race tiredness.

@goodgym is in Riga doing cheering :) #GGxRiga

Une publication partagée par Axel Manzano (@manzan_46) le 14 Mai 2017 à 1h36 PDT

As the sun was at its peak so was the race atmosphere and then team Red Thunder smashed out the 10km and 6km respectively. All in all due to the range of folks running the different races it meant everyone who finished was greeted by a defining rore from the Red Thunder Cheer point at the end, I can only talk from my experience however its things like that that really stay with you it was flipping mega. I’m pleased to report many a PB was smashed and seen as at times the sun was hotter than an oven that’s pretty impressive stuff!!! We all did very well and even managed a top 10 place in the 10km and a fifth in the 6km as well as being the unofficial best cheerers in Riga. What followed was a well-deserved buffet and then a few celebration drinks and a few more for good luck including dancing on tables.

These weekends don’t organise themselves so a mega cheer is deserved for Paul Bown and Axel Manzano for rallying the troops and ensuring we all knew the score and organising a buffet for over 90 people, that’s a marathon effort in itself. Cheers guys, although I was pretty tommy tuckered when I finished my race, just socking in the atmosphere at the finish line was so amazing, really infectious stuff, nice one team, we came….we saw…..and we really conquered (in a GoodGym way that is), nice one team.

This is what the legend Steve Coman has to say about it:

I did a pb at Riga and it was my aim for the year ie: a sub 1.45 half marathon. I did train for it and was chuffed that I got it it after missing out by 23 seconds at Hackney. Incidentally, both Hassan and I like the age adjusted time mechanism that parkrun uses to compare across gender and age and according to the new WMA tables my age adjusted time was 1.23 something! Not bad eh?

Before it all started

Some encouragement from all over GoodGym World

And we started to conquer the city

Goodgym on tour! Riga 2017 #ggxriga

Une publication partagée par Lorna Gott (@lornagott) le 13 Mai 2017 à 10h24 PDT

**The runners where getting ready**

Race day #running #race #raceday #goodgym #riga #rigamarathon #ggxriga

Une publication partagée par Jimmy Holmes (@jimmy_holmes_adv) le 13 Mai 2017 à 20h51 PDT

#riga #ggxriga #lattelecomrigamarathon #goodgym #halfmarathon #whyirun

Une publication partagée par Mi (@mis_zh) le 13 Mai 2017 à 22h11 PDT

Let's do this! 10km and 6km races tomorrow in Riga #ggxriga #goodgymraceteam #unleashthepriest #priestontherun

Une publication partagée par Danica Priest (@danicapriest) le 13 Mai 2017 à 13h47 PDT

We know how to finish and celebrate some PBs

Riga half marathon completed! #ggxriga @goodgym #lattelecomrigamarathon

Une publication partagée par Liz (@pangstagram01) le 14 Mai 2017 à 6h24 PDT

Vegetable crew #GGxRiga

Une publication partagée par Frances Powrie (@francespowrie) le 14 Mai 2017 à 6h50 PDT

#Riga #HalfMarathon #GGxRiga #Sweat

Une publication partagée par GIL (@markyg123) le 14 Mai 2017 à 1h51 PDT

The BIG photo

you can find more photo here

You have made it to the end of the report why not join us next year in Bucharest

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