23 runners attended GoodGym this evening with an appetite to get fit and do good!

As the clock turned 6pm runners began entering big moose café thick and fast. Everyone was raring for 6.30pm for the start of the run, and when the clocks eventually hit that time Ben led everyone outside for the warm up and to do the briefing.

There were some new and for a long time not seen faces at GoodGym this week. A HUGE, GIGANTIC welcome to Sophie and Dom! Katy brought Sophie along to GoodGym this evening so that means she earned herself 1 BRAND NEW RED LACE! #LifesGoals

The warm up consisted of everyone running around in a circle whilst Ben led everyone through a rather bizarre warm up. Ben shouted out the names of people ‘Miss High Knees’, ‘Mr Butt Kick’, ‘Mr Jump’, ‘Mrs Lunge’ and ‘Dr Jump’ and each time he called out their names they had to do the fitness exercise that corresponded… needless to say it was weird, but great fun!

What!? Is it really Two Task Tuesday!!?

Ben then explained that this week there were two different tasks. Task 1.) You will be running to the Tenovus Charity Shop on Clifton Street. Task 2.) You will be running to Grangetown Pavilion to declutter the AstroTurf of all the leaves…. Choose wisely!

Helping out at Grangetown Pavilion

Ben led the group of runners helping out at Grangetown Pavilion; the group included Ben, Lucy, Martin, Marion, Adam, Darren, Lydia, Andrew, Nic and Peter. The run to the Pavilion was adventurous, we did step ups on benches on St. Marys Street and squatted outside the Millennium Stadium.

After about 1.7 miles of running we had arrived to Grangetown Pavilion. Our arrival was celebrated, maybe next time though we don’t need fireworks… Ali welcomed us all to Grangetown Pavilion. He told us about how the leaves collected on the Astro pitch has been a nuisance and made it difficult to use the pitch safely (as it becomes really easy to slip when there are leaves on it). This was what Ali needed our help with – Our mission was to collect all of the leaves and put them into green bags. Ali provided the green bags and the gloves were taken from Bens backpack. … We weren’t left to do this alone, though. There were groups of teenagers and fathers and sons playing on the football pitch and they joined in too. Approximately 18 of us all worked together to clear leaves from the Astro turf and after about 20 minutes the task was complete.

Well done to everyone for doing so well! I’d also like to extend a special thanks to all of the teenagers, fathers and sons who were using the Pavilion facilities at the time and who joined in with making a positive difference.

Helping out at the Tenovus Charity Shop

13 of us ran to Tenovus, a short run in the darkened cold months, but not to be stopped extra time was added on with the wonders of step ups. Also the shouts of ‘we should have gone on Ben’s run’, but after a couple of minutes we were off again. Introducing Dom to the lovely night Cardiff we ran around the prison that the City has grown around. It wasn’t too long until we arrived at our destination, the Tenovus charity shop, with a mixture of tasks to come. Carl opened the doors with a welcoming smile and introduced us to the shop, tonight we had old clothes to de-hang so that we could re-purpose the hangers and hang NEW clothes, but first they were to be steamed and then put out on shop floor. More to do, a seasonal display in the window – OOOOoooh Christmas Jumpers, rearranging DVDs, in age classification and then alphabetical order, now there is dedication.

We had a dancing Xmas toy, sparkling shoes, soooooooo many Christmas jumpers, an inappropriate dinasour, bikers outfit and a weird head in a cloche. Oh it was so much fun, but we did it, we made the store ready for the season and so much more.

But wait, why was there a cat blanket left, should this not have gone home with Dom. Just to confirm, that’s a blanket with cat’s on it, not a blanket made of cats.

And so to the philosophical question of the century, with the Gingerbread Man the Jesus of cookies……. Does the baking of the Gingerbread man create the life of the cookie man, or ……… does it kill him?

Answers to the dark question below please!

All from the dark dead gingerbread man Xmas jumper that was found in the shop, the poor guy snapped in two.

Happy Seasonal Greetings!

---

Well done to Darren and Ben who together came up with the Pun for the Run! - You guys get to have half of the RunPunStiltSkin award each!

Demonstrating defiance of the rain, 20 Goodgym runners showed up this evening to do good in their community.

This evening the weather was taking no prisoners, and 1 hour before GoodGym the heavens opened. We half expected a cruise liner to float down Queen Street, however fortunately this was not the case. As soon as 6.30pm arrived it was time to go outside to warm up in the rain – I get how this sounds a bit like an oxymoron but I’m no moron and we found a way to get warm!

We all got jogging on the spot to stay warm whilst we did our headcount. We welcomed Katy to GoodGym who was running with us for the first time – A humongous welcome to you and we hope you come back next week! As Molly had brought Katy along to GoodGym Molly earned herself 1 red shoe lace; It was at this point Molly really was living the dream and I acknowledged that she could check earning 1 red lace off her bucket list. Aimee told us about her mission weekend bonanza - She did a whopping TWO missions over the weekend - is this a record? I think so! Well done to Fiona (who wasn't on tonight's run) who managed to run her QUICKEST EVER 10K - You superstar!

Let’s not waste anymore time, it’s wet out here and we’ve got a task to do!

Feeling motivated by the challenge John had waiting for us at the Centre we began our run to the Llanover Arts. We actually felt like we were galloping to save the world, which I guess to some extent we kind of were but on a much smaller scale.

After crossing roads, puddles that could otherwise be described as lakes, turning corners and squat jumping between lampposts we made it to Llanover Arts Centre where John stood waiting.

GoodGym! It’s great to see you again! Come on into the warmth and let me show you what I need some help with

John is lovely. He manages Llanover Arts Centre and knows ‘how we role’. He told us a bit about the wonderful activities they have going on at the centre and how invested they are to make it a sustainable project. John said that in 1 weeks’ time they would be having an Arts and Crafts fair at the centre and so to prepare for it they need to take down the stage and paint the radiators. And this was where we came in. We only had 35 minutes to complete the task, so the challenge was on!

Runners split into groups with some diving into paint pots with their brushes and began painting the radiators. The majority of runners took to the stage to remove all of the chairs from the stage, followed by the stage platforms and then the metal support structure. The stage was taken into bits and moved to the other end of the hall. There is also another level in the hall, hidden at the back of the room. John climbed up to the level and asked runners to lift up objects and pass them to him so he could store them out of sight. There was so much going on all at once and everyone was really making light work of it!

You can check out some of the photos from the run above; Look at Andrew hiding under the metal stage structure, Matin lifting Lucy and Emma up on a pump truck, check out Katy and Molly painting the radiators, look at Matt from We Make Good Happen making light work of some challenging work and look at Andrew posing with part of the stage.

Thank you so much for your help!

John explained that what we managed to get done in those 35 minutes would have taken him all day. He was so grateful for our help and we were only too pleased to be able to help.

It was now time for us to go. We thank John for giving us a #ReasonToRun this evening, motivating us to use our fitness to do good! On the way back Emma and Aimme both back marked. The back markers make sure nobody gets left behind and they did a fantastic job of this as nobody got lost – Thank you ladies!

Lets warm down

Adam led the warm down. The warm down is important as helps the muscles wind down after a good workout.

Announcements

• This weeks RunPunStiltSkin Award goes to Ellen – A lovely ingenious rhyme Ellen, you made it look easy!
• Well done to Matt who won the Tweet Off – Showing everyone how it’s done! (There is a photo of the intense tweet off stand off too)
• Join in the next group run. Sign up to it by clicking here

21 Spooky GoodGym runners ran to help out the Samye Foundation. It was a very ghoul run!

Witching hour was an hour earlier this week as the clocks went back on the weekend, it was completely dark when we started our run - ooooo spooky. There were lots of new faces this week, including Velma from Scooby doo and batman from, well, Batman of course! This week was also a milestone for Batman (Aka Martin) who reached 50 good deeds and was presented with a special 50 badge; He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector, a Dark Knight As a Halloween special, we played a few Halloween themed games including Trick or Treat and Groups of Doom. The task involved running around and going head to head with other runners to find out who would do burpees and who would do star jumps.

It was time to begin our run to the task… and who better to lead the way than someone who is used to adventures… Making a special appearance this evening from all the way from the shire, Bilbo Ben led runners to the evenings task. Over hills and across rivers, Bilbo Ben and the fellowship of GoodGym Cardiff ran hard.

Welcome to the Samye Mindfulness and Wellbeing Centre Unrecognisable Lorraine, who was also dressed in an awesome fancy dress cat costume, welcomed everyone to the Samye Centre, offering water to runners on arrival to allow them to rehydrate themselves. Lorraine then explained the task for the evening. “Okay everyone, we have lots of plants in the building that need to be re-potted. Your task will be to take all of the indoor plants ourside, replenish the plants with fresh soil and then return them back to their original positions”. Upon hearing the task we had all been we all got stuck straight in.

Darren took photos of runners completing the task and whilst Bilbo Ben provided a countdown. Rosie had the most reflective jacket in the world.

Task Complete! Lorraine thanked everyone for completing the task in rapid time and said the plants look so much happier! Everyone then gathered together for a group photo and after having the group photo Lorraine then invited everyone back into the centre for nibbles and warm spicy pumpkin soup to warm up cold finders ready for the run back.

After 15 minutes of chatting and eating it was time to go.

Ellen led the run back whilst Fiona and Rosie backmarked.

Why do ghosts go to bars?.... For the boos!

Thank you Samye for an epic task and for giving us a reason to run.

The Pun-king award this week goes to Ben! Well done.!! Come on peeps.. I want some really good pun suggestions next week!

After the run we headed to the Glassworks where Martin shared with everyone Welsh Cakes he had spent a lot of time baking.

Reminders: * Sign up to next week’s run to the Llanover Arts Centre by clicking here * Join in the next run in Penarth on the 17th November by clicking here

Is it really October20th?

No one told the Vale of Glamorgan! This sunny Saturday morning 8 Goodgym runners met up and the iconic Penarth Pavilion (our Vale home) to run along the coastal path and loop into the town centre to do some steaming, sorting and stocking for Tenovus. It was such a lovely sunny day (check the photos!) and everything was perfect…………..well apart from two runners not arriving which meant we had 8 and not the predicted 10. I could have dined out on the pun of “Ten of us ran to Tenovus” for the rest of my Goodgym career. We will have to go back to help them soon if only for that reason! And if there is more than 10 signed up, I am sorry but some people will get bumped off the list! ;o) 7 of us ran away from the Pier up through the parkland at Windsor Gardens, then along the coastal path towards Lavernock. We took a right and headed down some stairs to run along the disused railway line. This was a lovely quiet and safe place to run back towards the town away from the roads and congestion. The tree line also provided a nice bit of shade to cool down. We made quick time as a group and then cut through town to Windsor road where we arrived at the Tenovus shop and met Vince.

Hold on…. Recount!

The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed that 8 has become 7! That is because our cheeky trainer Ben had ran over from posting a new PB at Park run and was waiting for us......hiding in the changing room! Well done on the PB Ben!

Now that we were all accounted for, Vince got us to work upstairs. After some initial confusion over the sorting process Fiona, Marion and Ben got to work sorting donations ready to be priced and sold. They all had to be tagged and bagged correctly so that the Gift Aid could be claimed. They got through a lot whilst giggling like naughty school kids.

Nathan and Martin tackled the steaming of the clothes that were ready to sell. Nathan was a dab hand and said he does all his own ironing at home - but stops short at his underwear! Ellen and Ellie chose items to stock the shelves downstairs in the shop. The items are arranged by colour scheme in this store.

Even though it unseasonably warm, it is almost Halloween so while sorting and steaming the Goodgym team looked for inspiration for the up and coming fancy dress run to the Samye Fondation.

We had:

• Ellie as Tom Cruise in Risky Business
• Martin as a cowboy and army man!
• Ben as a lady and assorted animals
• Ellen as an Ewok!! ;o)

After about 50 minutes at the shop, we finished up and set off for our run back to the Pier. We took a different route – sorry still hills involved! We ran up through town and across Clive Place to the Pier Head Park. The hill was worth it for the stunning views!! We took the opportunity to take some photos and then completed our run (all downhill) back to the Pier. We got chatting to the owner of the Olde Sweet Shop and we bought some doughnuts from him as the smell was too much to resist! We considered that part of our cool down!! ;o)

The runners all then went their separate ways to enjoy the rest of their weekend. Well done all.

The next Penarth run is the 17th November, sign up.