On Sunday 16th November, I was back volunteering with Cardiff juniors parkrun. It seemed like any other Sunday, what could go wrong?

One of the storage containers for the parkrun kit, a literal black box rather than an orange recording device found in airplanes, was missing.

This meant we had no lanyards, or tail walker vests, and maybe some other things. But these were the notable absences.

Without a lanyard, the barcode scanners would not have the Event QR Code needed to upload the results at the end. I was a barcode scanner. As a run director, I also had access to the Event QR Code through the management system. This meant I could help the other barcode scanners. But, I couldn't help myself. I would have to find one of the other run directors, have them access the management system, to use their Event QR Code. Luckily this wasn't an issue.

All in all a successful event, showing that we could adapt to challenges.

You'll all be pleased to know that the black box was located by the next event on 23rd November.

Our yearly task, helping the Christmas for CAMHS charity with their paper chain project.

We met as usual at the Glassworks, then headed out for our run. Tonight, different to usual, we were doing the task at the Glassworks where we had a table booked.

Michael had started the cutting process earlier in the day, cutting 20cm strips of wrapping paper. The team were given the page of jokes and the bag of pens, whilst Michael started to cut the smaller strips.

And the work started, who could complete the most?

It was a crazy time of writing as onlookers started to ask what we were doing. And in hardly any time our task came to an end.

Everyone stayed to take part in the Christmas Charity quiz, raising money for Macmillan cancer support.

A great night, and we will return to usual next week as we run to Samye.

Well done to Flo for completing 33 on her own.

Smashed It

One goodgymer (because Michael slept through his alarm) helped Cathays Community Gardeners plant lots of bulbs ready for spring

Not even the end of November and we are already finishing our last card task. There will be a few community run / cycles coming up to deliver cards around Cardiff though for anyone wanting to join.

Tonight was all about the craftiness, as Michael found his newest happy place. A shop so perfect that he didn't want to leave.

All ready with craft materials, they went to pick up the runners. A quick run out and about Cardiff, ending at the task location. We met with the walkers and cyclists, grabbed coffee and muffins and it was time to start.

The task, to get creative and make some cards which would be delivered out to our charity partners in Cardiff. As well as a few extra which would be going out to the care homes.

There was a lot of excitement at the pack of stickers that had just been purchased, and with good reason.

We made a great selection of cards, and will eagerly look forward to the community task to get them delivered.

Michael and Flo were at Cardiff junior parkrun on Sunday for a spooky special. Flo was marshalling at the playground, and Michael was barcode scanning.

Tonight was our yearly Halloween run.

Michael had promised that if others came in some kind of costume, he would wear the inflatable dinosaur costume.

We met at our usual start location in the City Centre, after a quick chat we welcomed our newest person Deborah, who had joined us at a goodgym run at Love Trails.

CROESO

After a brief moment inflating, and some strange looks from the pub behind us, it was time to set off on our run.

We had cheers of dinosaur, t-rex, there were beeping cars and lots of waves. Maybe we should have a T-Rex more often.

The task tonight was helping at Cwtch Together, a charity run disability play project, which promotes inclusive play and socialisation for disabled children and their families.

They are holding 2 Halloween parties, Friday and Saturday, and our fun task was to help set up the spooktacular event.

Everyone got into the spirit as we dressed tables, got pumpkins ready, built a play house, decorated the hall and carried in sand pits and black boards.

As we ended our evening with the usual group photo, the t-rex returned for the jog back.

Join us next week as we begin our Xmas tasks for 3 weeks.