20 runners attended the final group run of the year to help out at the Samye Mindfulness and Wellbeing Centre

We all met prompt at 6.15 for a 6.30pm start. There was tinsel, baubles, elves, reindeers and of course, good old saint nick (Santa Amy). We were feeling very festive and full of excitement, but in the back of our minds we knew that this was the last group run of 2017… and reminded ourselves at the same time that 2018 is going to be even better…

Mikey brought joy to the world when he invited everyone outside for Mikey’s get fit quick warm up. He had everyone jogging on the spot whilst he did the head count. This time it was Ben’s turn to get the counting wrong… Oh Ben! Runners also shouted out their favourite food at the Christmas dinner table, there were shouts of, “All the sauces!”, “Pigs in blankets” and “Parsnips”… Obviously there were lots of rumbling tummies after this warm up.

Mikey then invited everyone to run around Yr Hen Lyfrgell with him… What a lovely invitation! This was definitely a new kind of Rockin around the Christmas tree.

After all runners had done this they began the run to the Samye Foundation, a route that we knew very well as we have been to help them a number of times. Jack led the way and Ben was a walking backmarker. Everyone was reminded to run safely and have fun at the same time!

Hey Jon and Lorraine! We’re here!

We arrived at Samye Foundation and were greeted with a lovely reception from Jon and Lorraine. They had lovely smiles on their faces and were happy to see us - and we were happy to see them! For this evening’s task runners were invited to jump for joy on the trench they had dug out previously (it has been refilled since)… After doing that runners then formed a human chain and passed buckets of sand and bricks along the chain to layer the ground and relay the bricks. Check out the amazing photos of GoodGym runners posing with bricks.

Last riddle of the run for 2017!

If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you haven’t got me. What am I?

Brains were now working hard trying to solve the riddle, along with hands and arms to lay the bricks on the driveway.

5 Minutes left folks!

With only 5 minutes to spare the pace of the work increased. All systems go, just like the elves at Santa’s workshop.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Time was up. And with the task complete it was time for a group sing song and photo. Check out GoodGym Cardiff’s version of Rudolph the red nose reindeer

We then ran back to Yr Hen Lyfrgell where after a warm down the run finished!

Not go for long…We’re back!!

Our friends at the Samye Foundation invited us back afterwards to participate in their social event along with some of their volunteers. They laid on teas, coffee and a wonderful array of food. It was so thoughtful and delicious.

Quiz time!

Ben offered to do a quiz which Lorraine responded, “Yes definitely”! So for the second time today Ben facilitated 3 rounds of quiz questions. Darren had his own verbal buzz in sound which sounded similar to a monkey. We witness Fiona’s teacher role when others shouted out answers without putting up hands. All in all the quiz was well received and everyone learned something new. Who knew Erno Rubix, the man who invented the Rubix cube was from Hungary!

The FINAL RunPunStiltskin award of the year goes to Darren! A man who has got out of it what he has put in, a once an inspiring Punslinger, he has now graduated from RunPunSchool.

Well done Emma who won the tweet off You star!