It claimed it was six degrees out. It felt colder, bring on the scorching 14 degrees it will be on Friday! Leah was first to arrive, eager to enjoy her first GG run, and with a longer run planned, even Martin was on time.

We headed off at a nice chatty pace, until we arrived to the edge of Beaulieu where it became dark and Andy led us climbing through bushes, smashing past cordoned off paths and roads, and Russell moved fences to get us to our destination. Nothing will stop us wanting to do good deeds.

It was lovely and warm inside the community centre where we got to work painting the hallway, complete with annoying motion sensor lights which kept turning off, and specific instructions to NOT paint the ceilings. While Fay and Little Rich made heart shapes in the corridor, an in-depth conversation about the proposed restructuring of Essex Council, or whatever council nonsense, was underway between Jane, Leah (both who work for councils), tall Richard (concerned citizen) and Russell (self-proclaimed Head of Essex Council). Delicious shortbread was served.

After we ran out of paint and had done the washing up, we posed for a photo with the photo of King Charles. Andy gave old Charlie a salute and we headed off. Check out the sick black and white filter I put on the photo. Leanne led the run to her house but slammed the door shut before we could all join her for dinner. Rude. We ran back to base, heckling those who went for a sprint finish and discussed upcoming plans!

• Task for Little Edi next week, led by Angela
• Helping out at the bag drop at the Chelmsford 5k/10k/half marathon, and then some of us running it too
• March 8th Beer festival
• Pub quiz first sunday each month (reigning champions!)
• and of course more tasks coming in March!

On a cold Feb evening we met outside the Old Factory Gym and welcomed back Linn back for her second good deed. Great to see you again and so glad we didn't put you off after the first time 😂

The task tonight was for us to do some litter picking around a known cut through into the city centre behind the B&M car park.Fay and Andy helped get the litter pickers and bags as they planned to walk to the task (which didn't quite go to plan in a good way), and I had teased that we had a special guest appearance at the task which started a guessing game and people had agreed it must be Ed Sheeran. ( But it turned out to be better).

As we started to run, Fay said she was going to run a little with us until she couldn't and then walk the rest with Andy, as we neared the task I looked round and they we're both still with us. Fantastic 💪

We arrived and just as we we're starting to unfurl bags and snap our litterpickers a head torch glowed in the dark on its approach to us. And then from out of the cold dark night the legend that is Laurie appeared with smiles and a makeshift litter picker arch was formed. Welcome back Laurie we've all missed you so much 🥰.

Setting out we picked away to our hearts content while chatting even more and our head torches scanning through the undergrowth with Kate trialling the spare head torch i had brought. And in no time at all we were done with bags full and we were on our way back.

On our way back Robert told us more about his epic multiple half marathons coming up. Which involves two half marathons in two days, in different countries.🤯 Good luck Robert,we know you'll smash it 💪

And again on the way back we had Fay running with us. Whens the marathon, Fay? 😜

With litter pickers put away we chatted about our dinners and about doing some painting at Beaulieu community centre next Wednesday, hope to see some of you there

Thanks all for coming and remember

RUN HAPPY

Rich

p.s. Martin (good) wasn't late for the meeting time 😜 and as a reminder to Robert it's every Wednesday at 6:30pm. 😂

p.p.s. Hello Ben, who had just finished work as we passed him on the way out.

We were sad that Linn got trapped in London, but overjoyed at the return of the prodigal son, now Norfolk's own, Joe! Joe was passing through on his way to London so popped in to do some good deeds and a spot of mocking Rich (and Andy, but alas he is away husky mushing). I attempted some photos to highlight 'the jacket', but they've just turned out as normal photos...Kate made me incredibly jealous by saying her time in Mexico she ate nothing but tacos and drank nothing but tequila, mezcal and beer while Richard lamented the Parkrun conditions this weekend which stopped Eden getting a PB, although it did provide an all-time great photo of Russy D absolutely stacking it.

We ran to Moulsham Mill to help Chelmsford Community Radio take down some stuff to be moved to their new home. The main obstacle was the large table, heavy and impossible to take apart due to built in motor and cabling. Moulsham Mill is a listed building with lots of narrow doorways and staircases. So that was fun... but we managed! Everyone really enjoyed all the jokes about Rich's wood.

The rest of the room was cleared in great haste and we had time to help unload the other end. As we sprinted off into the night to race Fay and the van driver (beat both if Jane and Rich hadn't led us to the wrong industrial estate) and unloaded there.

We got a great group photo from the top deck after we were finished, Richard and Kate debating on how easy it would be to survive the fall down. We then headed off, some people to get chips, me with my bag this time, thanks Fay, and Joe headed off back into the night to be seen again at as an yet-unnamed date, task or social.

Really good work everyone, we made it super quick for them and hoping it also yields some more tasks!

Despite fearing they had come last, four intrepid GoodGymers entered a nail biting three way tie for first place and emerged victorious. Free drinks all round? Don't mind if we do!

We will be riding high on our victory to our next task on Wednesday. We are helping CCR dismantle their studio. You can sign up here

The last task of the January challenge brought out double digits of runners. We won't talk about our good deed target, but superb to smash the distance one!

After a discussion about my tiger knees, I performed a seamless introduction and away we went. Really nice to meet Linn, hopefully you enjoyed your first (of many) task and run, and aren't put off by rumours that heel clicks at Parkrun are mandatory.

Birthday boy Ben led us out at a rapid pace and we were at the church in no time.

As there was a limited amount of paint, everyone dug in except the specimens who did some fitness. Andy had a nap on the floor, Russell complained about his back and quit wall sits early, and Rich posed as he loves to do. We were incredulous that Sallyann thought it didn't look intense enough and has challenged anyone to a plank off at the summer beer festival. As you can imagine, Fay was very impressed and filmed us for social media, perhaps a trial run for ITV!

The painting went well, we ran out but managed most of the room. It didn't help that Joel decided to use some of the sacred sauce on his face (great to have him back) and Martin has offered to paint the ceiling when required.

After a brief, totally legit vote, we decided to run a longer way back. Joints creaking we got back to base and chatted about how my acca was going to win loads of money and i would take everyone for dinner. Sadly I got 50% of them wrong. Next time.

Very successful task. Very successful run. Hopefully next week's task will be similarly so (removals and bringing walls down) and so will the pub quiz!

On a cold January evening Jane and I braved the elements and met Leanne at the old factory gym ready for a lovely chatty run to kick start our fitness and get over the lurgy for the new year.

We reached St John's church hall in no time where we met Fay and Sallyann already hard at work painting the skirting board. The plan was to get at least half done before coming back next week, but being the well oiled machine that we are we managed to get a whole coat of paint the whole way round the room.

With that we packed up and said our goodbyes, Fay and Sallyann walking back, Jane running home to get some dinner and Leanne and I running back to base to get a few more running miles in.

We'll be back at the church hall next week to give the skirting board a second coat.

And it will be you last chance to help us reach our target for the January challenge. So please come along if you are free.

Until then.... RUN HAPPY

Rich