This evening 20 GoodGym runners ran in defiance of the challenging weather conditions to make a positive difference in the Cardiff Community… Keep reading to find out how they got on.

Intro!

This run report could not begin without giving a HUGE thank you to Run and Become. Run and Become have allowed us, whilst Big Moose is temporarily closed, to meet in the shop and store bags there whilst we are out running. The shop is a specialist running store, with friendly staff who are able to provide expert advice about running gear and able to help point you in the right direction when you are looking for your next pair of running shoes. Click here to be go to the Run and Become Cardiff website

Time for the headcount

We did our headcount at 6.25pm in the shop and some of the runners also spoke about missions they had taken part in over the weekend. Well done Emma, Mikey, Amy and Aimee who all helped out older people in Cardiff with tasks they are no longer able to do themselves. See photos of them doing the tasks by clicking here. We also welcomed Sophie along to GoodGym. It was her first time running with us – we hope we made you feel super welcome. Click here to support Sophie on the GoodGym website.

Let’s get going!

This evening runners had the option of two distances. They could either opt for a 5 mile round trip to Colchester Avenue to help at the YMCA led by Ben or they could opt to run the streets of Pontcanna with a spot of plogging (which is litter picking and running), led by Ellen.

We had an even split!

10 runners opted to go to the YMCA and 10 opted to go plogging. First to recap the run to the YMCA. The run there was fun, fast and exciting! We began running up St Mary’s Street, passing by the Glassworks (where we go for drinkypoos after our runs), down St Mary’s Street and then along Newport Road pretty much the remainder of the way. This run took about 25 minutes... of course we would have run it MUCH faster if we didn't have to cross all the roads that slowed us down --- Thank you roads! When we arrived to the YMCA, Matt who works at the YMCA welcomed us in with a big smile on his face. As we had a few new runners with us he told us about the YMCA and how they create a positive difference in the community by helping people who are homeless find housing. Matt then told us the tasks he had for us this evening. He explained that two beds still hadn’t been built after arriving into the store a week ago, and so it would be a massive help if we could help build them. He also asked whether we minded polishing and hoovering the store. “Not at all” we said gleefully… “this is why we are here!” And so with our superhero costumes on (Our GoodGym T-shirts) we got straight to it.

• Lowri, Mikey and Adam opted to make a babies bed.
• Darren, Matt and Welsh Dave opted to make the double bed.
• Lucy and Paige got stuck into hoovering.
• Katie got stuck into some serious polishing!

After all the beds were built, half the shop had been hoovered and most of the tables and cupboards had been polished it was time for our group photo. We all positioned ourselves in the shop window for the group photo before we made the journey back to Cardiff City Centre. Our run back was quicker than our run there – I think – and everyone displayed some seriously good running form too! NICE WORK ALL! :D

The Ploggers!

Ellen led the runners who fancied a 'litter'ally amazing fun ourdoorsy run! But first, the runners did a fitness session that had everyone doing high knees, skipping, sashays, sprints and even running backwards. Top Sashay award went to Aimee, who used her dancing skills to impress the judge (Ellen)! They then jogged on to Pontcanna (upper Riverside, really), and went off in groups of 3 to plog through the neighbourhood. They covered good area - so much so that Ellen couldn't find two of the groups to take more pics! And they managed to pick up enough litter to fill 3 rubbish bags. Sue was tempted by a dropped t-shirt with a great Welsh slogan on it, but the group managed to persuade her that it probably wasn't a good idea - so she binned it (both the idea and the t-shirt). Off they jogged back to the meeting spot at Run and Become - Super dooper peeps :D

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I won the RunPunStilkSkin award tonight - the RunPunStiltskin award for 2019 is up for grabs again next week!... Who can suggest the best puns that will be good enough to make the title for the run report?