💪 27 incredible GoodGymmers met for our group run on yet another sunny Monday evening. And I don’t say incredible lightly- lots of people had come along after doing Endure 24 weekend, two of whom (David and Michal) had done Endure solo! What a bunch of heroes.

🦸‍♀️ Speaking of which, we also had two official heroes to celebrate this evening. Charlotte was doing her 50th good deed and Barbara was doing her 502nd! Amazing!

👟 Finally, lots of people had brought shoes for our collection for the Jog On charity. We reckon we had 29 pairs in total!

🕛 We named, “numbered” (which some people struggled with more than you might expect!) and warmed up whilst saying what we’d spend 24 hours doing if we had the chance (sleeping and eating were both popular, along with raving, of course Stef!)

🍎 We then split into two groups. Ed led the run to Holgate Community Orchard, with Pete backmarking. They were greeted by lots of people who’d joined by bike, and Claire who was our official photographer this evening, and gave these highlights about the session:

• Max found a number of flower pots but not enough to resuscitate Bill and Ben the flower pot men.

• Nick was prompted to toss his caber/caper but then Debs appeared with a thicker stick and a martial arts sporting event transpired.

• Turns out York GG has a number of folk who could well be management material, as was judged by the number standing round, leaning on tools chatting.

• Tarzan was spotted swinging on ivy (being pulled off the tree). Abigail skipping skills on ivy rope.

• Ivy roots were dug out by team spades.

• Others pulled up the usual weeds, rocks, carpets, metal things (including car steering wheel lock), netting etc etc. Piles of weeds were created.

• A stack of wood was enlarged.

• Rocks were relocated to hold down the weed blankets.

• Lots of Endure24 banter.

• Two capes.

📦 Meanwhile, Amy, Mitch and I were packing all the trainers into boxes to send to the Jog On charity. We filled two big boxes, with optimal shoe tessellation, which we then walked down to the Spar on Bridge Street (after Martin had done an emergency dash for more tape as mine ran out!) There was much discussion about the awkwardness of box-carrying, and then more about the fact that the Spar is no longer a Spar and is in fact now a Londis. We got them there and posted, and took our spare box to Dom’s for a further collection next week. We then cycled to join the rest of the gang at the Orchard.

📸 It was soon time to run/walk/cycle back but not before we’d had both a group photo and a bike group photo.

🍰 Back at base, it was time for stretching, cake-eating (thanks Barbara) and pub! We also discussed a few sessions that need a few more pairs of hands this week:

🌍 Tidying up at Planet Food on Thursday afternoon,

📚 Book-sorting at Tang Hall Library on Thursday evening,

🌱 Dealing with the docks at Acomb (as in plants, not ducks, doctors or dogs) on Friday evening,

🔫 Pretty Muddy Race for Life volunteering (aka marshalling, including spraying water at runners!) on Sunday.

👍There are also a few (non-gardening!) missions listed at the moment so do sign up for any that you can.