13 dedicated GoodGymmers joined a host of (equally dedicated) regular junior parkrun volunteers for the first of 5 possible tasks today.

Conditions were “fresh” (aka freezing) and sadly worsened the closer we got to 9am with a pleasant snow-covered Knavesmire soon transformed into a windy sleety (and did I mention cold?) landscape. Ed swiftly added more layers as he realised that shorts maybe weren’t the best idea today…

Possible icy conditions necessitated the B course, which although looking longer than 2k, actually wasn’t (turns out the team know exactly what they’re doing, never in doubt!)

Talking of another team never to doubt, the incredible 70 children who turned up with their parents and completed parkrun in the aforementioned (not ideal) weather conditions!

GoodGymmers filled lots of volunteer positions today, including marshalls (particular kudos to Arthur W for being there in the freezing cold, and Amy W for giving up her scarf for Fergie), timekeepers (well done Griffs, especially for volunteering for a no-gloves job!), token support and tailwalkers.

Soon, the final child had passed the finish line and it was time to warm up (briefly for some who were soon heading to the next task).

We were met by Candy and colleague from Books for Everyone York at the stable in Bishopthorpe which is now home to a large collection of donated books. Our job was to sort through and remove any ones that were too tatty, missing bits or innapropriate and put them into boxes in categories - fiction, non-fiction, biographies etc. These were then neatly piled up back into the stable on one side so that it will be obvious to other volunteers who can continue what we've started. Once sorted the books will be handed out to homeless people on the streets of York.