Jane was first to the gym, keen to escape her desk (even if it is opposite the pub). Richard had sprinted to get his interval training in. Andy arrived, refreshed from his holiday. We detoured a bit on route to the pub to avoid some of the traffic where the bag of leaflets were waiting for us.

Richard very kindly got the first (and only) round in (because we were just too efficient).

Sallyann slid on to the table like a ninja completing her 100th good deed!

Leaflets were bundled and folded so everyone will know about some excellent local schemes - Santa fun runs, panto, carols, Christmas tree collections, and the work by CHESS in the community.

“We’re leaving at half six on the dot. That’s ON THE DOT, OK?”

Rich? Being on time? Really?

Yes. And we had to get back in time because the forecast was saying thunderstorms at eight.

18:29 and a few seconds, and Rich was keen to get us going. Everyone happy? Know where we’re going? Headtorches ready? Strava on?

“Yes, Richard” came a voice from the back. When your wife says your full name, it’s time to be quiet and get going. Rich was run leading but it’s nice to know Jane has him under control when needed.

We set off – exactly on time – for the long uphill stretch to Beaulieu while it was still just about light. Andy was happily backmarking and telling Joe – still sore from a half marathon – about why it’s worth waking up at 4am and going to Romania for a waterpark.

“Turn right here guys!”

“Yes, Richard!”

Richard P was up front setting the pace, and before it got dark we were at the last road crossing before Beaulieu. A quick sprint across when there were no headlights coming, and all we had to do from there was follow our noses to the chippy smell and listen out for the dance music playing upstairs in the community centre.

We got to Beaulieu Community Centre ready for some cleaning. Fay, Leanne and Russell were already there and admiring the GCSE Art exhibition in the entrance. It was all very impressive stuff and gave us all kinds of inspiration for the next time we paint prison benches or pop-up shop walls.

We split into smaller groups, got the buckets and sponges and made very quick work of cleaning some already pretty clean loos and corridors. By the time we were done, there were no paint splashes left anywhere – and if you were cleaning as vigorously as Richard P and the coconut fibre sponge he’d got, not much wall paint either.

A bit more art admiration later and it was time to head back. Andy was telling his waterpark story for about the fourth time – this time to Russell – but they paused for long enough to join a team photo in front of the King. (Ten points if anyone can photoshop a GoodGym logo onto his robes!)

Leanne said she’d start running back with us but ducked out soon after we’d crossed the road. Turns out our route home went right by her front door! She didn’t even get to enjoy the long downhill bit. Richard P also speared off home to try and make it back before things got too wet and stormy…

Jane and Erin were praying hard for a thunderstorm, and they just about got their wish. It had been dry all the way back but the first lightning flashes hit right as we arrived back at the gym. The thunder came a loooooooong time later… Could we make it home and stay dry? Yes, Richard. After all, it never rains at GoodGym.

Spoiler alert – only some of us stayed dry. Others went home via a McRib and/or fish & chips and got caught. Hopefully it’s dry for the Barrow Farm mission this Sunday – see you there!

Last week’s poem about suspicious lemonade seemed to go down well. Which is good, because this week’s litter pick found even more stuff dumped in the bushes, including several bottles of hedgerow homebrew.

Jane was back with us for another run and looking forward to a delicious, uninterrupted weekend without Rich. Because it takes all sorts to build a world, he was looking forward to going home via a plant-based Whopper.

Robert went for his trademark jazzy shorts and socks again but it wasn’t warm, so David led us out and we warmed up on the run. Destination B&M, via a roundabout route to find Laurie and Sallyann who’d walked to the river. We sent Rich up the path to check if they were there and somehow resisted the temptation to hide before he came back.

So. Much. Litter. The usual piles of McDonalds, disposable vapes and energy drinks, but there were also some vintage finds tonight. Heidi and Joe had to go halves with litter pickers to grab a huge can of GOLD WHIP gas. It was empty but there were no empty balloons around, so maybe Chelmsford’s nitrous lovers take their laughing gas straight from the can?

That wasn’t enough of a find for Andy, who came around the corner exclaiming “I’ve found a washing machine!” Bit big for a bin bag… Happily, it was only a bit of a washing machine, which had clearly been there a while judging by the amount of ivy that tied it to a tree. With some delicate kicking and Andy yanking the other end, it was freed and bagged.

We’d only managed to clear a short stretch of the car park by the time we had to leave. Everyone agreed it was the most litter we’d ever found in a pick (we ran out of bags!) and thankfully, the two dumped shopping baskets we found became bins for the heavier stuff.

Five bags and five-and-a-bit kms later, job done. Thanks everyone for coming, and see you on Saturday for parkrun. Apparently it’s Chelmsford’s birthday, so try fancy dress!

A new location, a new task and a huge turnout!

Maybe it’s the back-to-school vibes around, or maybe everyone just wanted a good look at the meat and fish bazar over the road, but FOURTEEN of us turned out on Wednesday and ran 3.5 km to St Luke’s Church in Moulsham Lodge.

We welcomed a couple of new faces at the gym and they’ve already proven to be good ones. Robert outdressed us all – despite not even having a GoodGym top yet – with his snazzy matching socks and shorts in unloseable multicolour.

It was also Heidi’s first time joining us and she lay down the marker immediately in a Parkrun 50 top. She didn’t mention a post-Parkrun fry-up once, and she’s also doing the Great North Run this weekend with Robert. Folks, we’ve found ourselves a runner.

David was run leading and had represented us with Laurie at a garden party earlier that day. We’d been invited in thanks for some of the gardening work we’d done, so thanks to the organisers, and apparently the shortbread was “excellent.” They also met Rich’s dad, who is absolutely lovely and wasn’t surprised at all that Rich spends most of his time with us just having a chat. In fact, he was so lovely that it could steer a big decision: there’s still time to put money on baby Chatterjee being called Keith…

Walkers were out in force as we also welcomed Jane back to GoodGym. She definitely helps to keep her husband in line, and also managed to stop him getting lost somewhere behind Lidl.

With 14 people, weeding the paths at the front of the church (or the top of the church…?) didn’t take long, despite stopping for a photo break. They were cleaner than celebrity skin in a razor advert by the time we were done.

Neither newbie seemed scared by Joe brandishing a screwdriver and asking if anyone needed their cracks seen to – it’s like they’ve been here for years. Jess even suggested that be tonight’s headline. St Luke’s have already shared the photo and other churches in the area are already interested! Send us an email to request us, just put “GodGym” in the subject line please. And while we’re talking support, if you’re a Marksies Spender then you can link your Sparks card to us and we get some funding every time you shop there. Win-win!

Thanks for a great task, good luck up north to Heidi and Robert, and see you all next week!