There was me thinking that it was time to fire up the central heating and dig out my long sleeved running top after a few chilly days when all of a sudden summer showed us that is was not quite finished for 2018 and we get a glorious sunny Wednesday in late September.

Joining me on our jaunt to the splendid Walthamstow Toy Library were a famous five, including new GoodGymmer and multiple marathoner, Fergus; recent Great North Runner, Carmen; cake baker extraordinaire and serial PB setter, Pippa; laid-back and youthful looking Marathoner, Kevin; and last but not least all-round athlete fisherman, cyclist, runner, gentleman, Raymon.

Cake Alert: inspired by a day of cake making. GGWF regular, Pippa has kindly offered to bake and bring a cake to our next session. If you needed any incentive to join or rejoin our cheerful Wednesday run, then this is it. Mind you the smaller the numbers, the more cake for me, mmmmm!

So introduction done and task and run briefed, we headed uphill for a 1k run to the heart of Walthamstow Village where we were greeted by the welcoming Helen, who runs Walthamstow Toy Library a magnificent, delightful and much-loved community service. Any parents of little ones living in the vicinity would be well advised to make use of this fab facility.

Helen had two tasks for our crew, so we split into an indoor and outdoor pair. Fergus and Kevin sanded down the Wendy House in preparation for a forthcoming paint job while Carmen, Pippa and Ramon cleaned some big soft toy blocks. All of this took place under the watchful eyes of a couch full of teddies.

The team wasted no time on the tasks, which we completed in double quick time so without further ado, we took a light jog to St Mary's Churchyard where the team hit some Gear Shifter running drills round a handy triangular circuit x3 Slow, Medium and Fast.

With hearts pounding we headed back to base for a bit of stretching and a discussion about the type of cake Pippa is going to make for next week. The outcome? Find out here

See you guys next week and bring head torches. This run will be a prelude to our Halloween Special next month when we run on 31st October 👻