Richmond Wholefoods was bulging with red t-shirts tonight, with both old and new faces to the Richmond GoodGym team making an appearance. We had an 11-strong all female team and a chipper Mark getting excited about his two-task run. Liz returned from holidaying on the other side of the world just in time to be pace setter for the 10k running group. Mel announced that she’d missed us the last few weeks – ‘I hate running,’ she said, ‘but I love you guys.’ Mark stood up and nearly hugged her. We all met Claire for the first time – well done for joining the fray! – and Lauren returned for her second date with the GoodGym team, so kudos to Lauren too. We basically had an awesome line up for a big night of running and doing good stuff.

Mark had two tasks for us – a leaflet drop around the Sheen and Mortlake neighbourhoods for a volunteering fairrun by the Richmond Adult Community College, and a long run to the Homelink Day Respite Care Centre in Whitton to sand down some benches in their garden.

With the 10k round trip to Whitton ahead of us, Mark gave us a quicker than usual warm up and then six of us set off to run as fast as our legs would carry us through Richmond, St Margarets and along the A316 towards Whitton (which, can I just say, is mostly uphill…). We arrived at Homelink, having run just slightly over 5km in 30 minutes, to the warmest, loveliest welcome from Jen, our task owner, who had laid out jugs of juice and water and a family pack of biscuits for us. Well, with that kind of welcome (the kind involving biscuits no less), we were strongly encouraging Jen to invite us back for more tasks. The 5k pelt along the dual carriageway was totally worth it. Not least because Homelink provides such a worthwhile service offering nurse-led day care for adults so that their carers can get one day of respite a week.

Jen furnished us with packets of sanding paper and led us out to a lovely garden where there were two wooden benches in need of attention. Our arms enjoyed a good workout and to top it all, Jen invited us to their garden party later in the year. Big rewards for big runs (or big guns after all that sanding!). Then it was back on the road again, charging home to Wholefoods for a much-needed stretch.

In the meantime, Mark led a team of five out for the leaflet drop task. Over to you, Mark…thanks Elaine, you know when you think the distance will be too much!!! AND THEN you are so wrong ! GG Richmond you are always amazing but tonight how astounding. Breaking the 10km borders fearlessly doing Good and spreading some GG warmth on a fairly fickle spring night in all directions in Richmond borough. Sheen and Mortlake crusaders, what a team, efficiency has nothing on us, you guys made it look easy. So proud of us and how well we multi tasked. BIG QUESTION though is 'where are the men in Richmond?' or should it be 'Who needs men in Richmond?'

In other news, we have two socials coming up: on Friday 9th June from 6pm at the Eel Pie Pub in Twickenham – if you’re not tugging on a rope yourself, you can cheer on the Richmond GoodGym Tug of War team from the sidelines and help to pick us up off the floor when we’re faced with a rugby team; and also on Sunday 11th June from 2pm at the Turks Head in Twickenham/St Margarets, which follows the 10k Turks Head fun run. Come to one or both, we’d love to see you there.

Also, a Richmond mission has spaces left this week - Time keeping, track events, and judging - volunteer now! Wandsworth InterSchool Athletics, Wednesday, 10 May 2017 9:30 am. sign up here

And finally, good luck to Victoria in the Roehampton 10k race on Friday. Smash your time target! And to Jane on Sunday for her 70 plus cycle ride.