No sign of Tom Hanks anywhere but Fay and Angela braved the cold to deliver some leaflets, admiring the christmas decorations as they went!

Next week is our last task of the year, and we're heading back to St John's Church Hall for some more leaf clearing. You can sign up here

We've also got our Christmas do this Saturday, there is still time to sign up if you'd like to come.

Andy: “Where are we going after Joe’s last run with us then?”

Joe: “It’s wings night at NO FREE PUBLICITY – we could do that?”

And so it was decided. Joe’s last night with GoodGym Chelmsford as a local would end with drinks and wings. Before that though, we just had to reach Upper Bridge Road, delicately pick leaflets with gloved fingers, jam hands through letterboxes and try not to leaflet the same place twice. Game on.

'Twas the first run of Christmas, and all through the streets
The lights were all sparkling, switched on late last week
The stone bridge and roundabout were bathed in a glow
So we stopped (and Rich jumped) to take a photo

The traffic jams parted and Dave – pretty quick
Stood in the middle to take a few pics
Then onwards to the centre for more snaps by the tree
Posing – dare I say it – almost elegantly

Then out on by the underpass there arose such a din,
Ben and Richard racing to see who would win
Past the shopfronts in Moulsham done up for Christmas
Despite our speed and our numbers, blink and you’d miss us
But if missing’s the subject there’s only one name around
Joe will miss you all when he heads out of town

"Bye, Laurie! Bye, Russell! Bye, Sallyann!
Sorry I left my glittery flares in the van!”
To the top of the road! To the top of the hill!
But the actual top of the road, not the one for Joel!"

And then, in a twinkling, a letterbox closes
Jess’ poor glove its metal jaw encloses
As she drew back her hand she exclaimed with a yelp
But Andy was too busy backmarking to help

His leaflets went fast, he was onto a winner
Like a lycra-wrapped Santa, just older and thinner
With leaflets delivered we headed back into town
Our stomach to fill, our sorrows to drown

This was the first time that Kate had seen us at a pub
But she'd heard the stories of crawls and pre-parkrun clubs
Our Wednesday night mad one became more insipid
They’d run out of wings! Fuming. #Livid.

Erin was gutted but the solution was easy
An alcohol-free espresso martini
Fay came to discover what tater tots are
(Basically hash browns, but smaller by far)

With leaflets all leafletted and all the drinks drunk,
We contemplated whether all our waistbands had shrunk
Some emotional hugs and drawn-out goodbyes
Could’ve been warm, but we did them outside

So up the A12 with memories galore,
Joe disappears to go and explore
Chelmsford will miss him, and he’ll miss their fun
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good run!

On a chilly November evening we met at the old factory gym ready for a bit of leafleting.

After regaling others with mine and David's firewalk last week we set off into the night.

We met Sallyann and Leanne in the Lidl carpark with the leaflets expertly folded from last weeks task.

Richard got stuck into the task and was galloping between the houses as Andy started to feel the cold and regretted not wearing the extra layer.

Walking and chatting through the winding streets we came towards the end of pile of leaflets and Kate wasn't sure which way was her home until we turned the corner and realised we were back at Lidl.

Back at the Sallyann's car we talked about what we were having for dinner when Sallyann realised she had missed a dark carrier bag full of even more leaflets. lol

So next week we shall be clearing leaves at St Johns church hall and the following week we will finish the leafleting (with maybe some litterpicking too)

Great to see you all, and hope to see you again next week

remember....

RUN HAPPY

Rich

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.

Hello and welcome to another fine report.

Alas, Heidi and Nisar couldn't make it but we had 9 eager GoodGymers for tonight. James joined us for the first time, welcome! Naturally we had to wait for Andy who arrived late and then needed to spend a penny.

We headed off out to Old Moulsham on a nice little jaunt. Well done to Rob for completing the GoodGym women's night safety training which really makes you think and consider things you hadn't before. An important topic to discuss.

We met the group and dived into the leaflets, lovingly folded by dear leader Fay, to help promote Helen Rollason, CHESS and YMCA. Rich was still looking a bleary eyed from his weekend lads trip to Cincinnati and presented me with an excellent bright red babygrow. Might be my GoodGym Halloween run outfit! Thank you Rich.

It was a good job I did my pre-run safety briefing as Leanne BROKE A NAIL!!! After she was consoled she was fully qualified to dive back in. I chatted to Sallyann about her upcoming holiday, it basically sounds like a wine and yoga retreat...

We were going to go a shorter route back up the high street to see the Christmas lights (I know, crazy that they're up now) but after our discussion about the importance of women's safety we decided to run Kate back to her bike. James definitely didn't have a reason for wanting to go through the park but he did go to inspect an interesting bush he saw!

Once we returned back to ARU we outlined next week's task at Beaulieu (about 7km total run) and parted ways. Happy running!

A warm Wednesday evening we met at our usual meeting place before skipping down the high street to meet Fay with a bag full of leaflets ready to be delivered to the good people of Moulsham.

While we got stuck into the task, conversation turned to food ( as per usual with me ) and any plans we might have for valentines day. Jenny won, as she told us that her husband was cooking them a steak dinner and we all agreed we would be round later to join them. And judging by the photo she married well. #Welljeal lol

Having posted all of our leaflets we posed for a photo and headed back before saying goodbye

Next week we will be litter picking along the Springfield basin

See you all next week

Run Happy

Rich