The night GoodGym Richmond nearly lost their bottle…

‘Bring a big empty bottle,’ Mark messaged on Thursday. Hmmmm…What new quirky training programme had he dreamed up for us? Or were these a prop for his always imaginative warm-up, perhaps? Jane replied that she was bringing a watering can with a resident spider inside. The plot thickened.

We had two tasks, he said. First off, running to the Victoria Inn Pub on Richmond Hill. Hurrah, I thought, perhaps supporting local pubs had finally become a valid GoodGym task (they do serve the community after all) and drinking a soft or hard beverage would surely be a cause we could all wholeheartedly embrace. Second, distributing leaflets for the Poppy Factory to publicise a concert they were putting on for Armed Forces Day. Another very worthwhile cause and we’d certainly be a merry troop of leafleteers after our pint.

Warm-up kicked off in the square amidst blustery winds and gusting rain. As we formed a circle around our odd assortment of bottles, milk cartons and watering can, the wind suddenly whipped around our ankles and all of our bottles (and watering can) went tumbling at speed down the street. Cue a frantic flurry of GoodGym runners chasing after them and an almost perfect fartlek training session – sprint, recovery, sprint, recovery.

Then we were off along the river, through a field of cows (yes, really, a field of cows in Richmond!) and into the bottom of Richmond Park where, quite literally, the only way was up. And so up we went, all the way to Richmond Gate, trail running through the trees like we were in a Swedish forest. When I say running, it was kind of a grinding slog, but we all made it (kudos to us!) and we thoroughly enjoyed the downhill sprint to the pub, where Jane promptly ordered a watering can full of beer from the landlady.

No, no, no. Apparently, we were only supposed to be filling up with water from the tap in the garden. (Ah well, maybe a beer next time.) Bottles filled, we trooped out to give the community flower planters outside the pub and at the top of the hill (up the hill again!) a good long drink. Wasn’t it raining, I hear you cry. Well yes, it was, the irony wasn’t lost on us either, but really it hasn’t rained in so long, these flowers were definitely in need of some extra hydration. Then, high ho high ho, leafleting we go, before heading back to Wholefoods for a gentle cool down.

We were a compact team of eight on this run with Claire coming back for her second GoodGym run (whoop); Ellen and Fatima returning to confirm their new status as diehard regulars; our fabulous back marker, Jenna, pushing on through with her niggly hip; Liz making it all look effortless as always; me, feeling stodgy after polishing off the remains of my toddler’s pasta dinner before running; Mark, ducking and diving and driving us up the wall…I mean, hill; and then Jane, being a true hero having cycled 74 miles with 1,200 metres of climbs the day before for the Challengers Children’s charity. You are amazing.

Next week…Mark promises only one task and no leaflets! Oh, and don’t wear your flash new trainers, we might be getting muddy and wet…