One GoodGymer decided to brave the blustery weather and volunteer at the local Kingston parkrun. I was tasked with helping to manage the funnel as well as cheering on the impressive 153 runners that took part and were not put off by the typical New Year’s hangover. Overall a well run event and a positive start to the Year!

It was a double waterproof jacket and deluge trouser morning in Kingston - but with the next chance to volunteer at a parkrun on a leap year not for another 28 years, we couldn't waste this soggy opportunity!

So with the new pink parkrun high vis vests, we got setting up the slippery funnel, trying to figure out where it could be the least slippery and rearranging the cones to keep the muddy home stretch as short as possible.

#Epicfail!!

The finish line became more of a slippery mud slide, with us encouraging a slow, deliberate finish rather than the usual sprint. Unfortunately there were a dramatic couple of falls but parkrunners and volunteers were at hand to help them back up and most managed to stay upright.

Rob was key in directly runners to keep to the towpath for as long as possible, minimising the slipping and sliding, and a grand idea of adding some sawdust at the finish line helped to add some traction and prevent a few more slips. Rob was also responsible for the inaugral Balance the Cone on your Head Championship, pitching himself against his little helper. We'll no doubt make that a regular parkrun volunteering event.

After Samia had done lots of token handing out and Kate had done lots of scanning, we were all ready to help with packing it all back up and heading off to warm up.

Well done all and happy St David's Day Eve!

On a dark and dreary looking Saturday morning, the Kingston Goodgym faithful bravely trooped out to our weekly Parkrun on a spontaneous mission to help out with the volunteering and the running. After last week's massive turn out of over 500, the volunteer coordinator was understandably anxious that the usual supplies of splits on stopwatches and place barcodes would run out so dared the Goodgym contingent to use the new (to us anyway) Parkrun app. Laura bravely took on the challenge of forewarning the pedestrians and cyclists using the towpath that 400+ runners were about to stampede their way from around the corner before returning to scan away on the app...proving to lots of non-belivers that it did scan even if it didn't bleep! Caroline took on the challenge of using the app to time and, after freezing fingers to the point of sensation loss, figured out that the volume buttons also work to mark the splits. Oops, gloves back on. We'll all know for next time! Matt made it along despite a broken toe to keep the funnel in order and Samia and Jane took on the role of finish line cheerers as there was a surplus of volunteers this week. Kate and Rob were running and appreciated the support on Kate's birthday weekend run. We were also all pleased to see a few returning familiar faces...Nik and Nicky popped by to add to the birthday celebrations and show off their new Goodgym runner in training. Having cheered and whooped, timed, scanned and chivvied along all the runners and walkers, off we all went to warm up at our usual post Parkrun venue and carried on the celebrations and fun times. Thanks to Kingston Parkrun for having us and see you all again soon!

We gave up a lie in on Saturday morning to proclaim the name of Goodgym and lend our hands in taking over all volunteer positions at Kingston's 500th Parkrun event!

Laura and Kate arrived first on set-up duty to meet our fab run director Fiona and got to work with putting everything in place. The parkrun signs were set out and pegged into place and next to come out was the funnel. Laura was new to Parkrun and so she may not have got it when Kate said the funnel start here  . With funnel poles in place after a couple of realignments and cones in their rows, it was time to do a speedy route check on our bicycles. We cycled off armed with a bag of sawdust to create some arrow art and show the runners that there was only run direction to go to Parkrun successfully! We also needed to make sure the path was clear for the runners but I sawdust the one branch that needed to be moved over to the side!

Meanwhile 14 other Goodgym volunteers had begun to arrive by the starting point hailing from Goodgym Richmond, Hounslow, Lambeth and of course Kingston!

Rob and his assistant/side kick Goodgymer-in-training Arthur arrived promptly to set up a Goodgym table and banner and distribute leaflets to promote Goodgym.

As all eager volunteers gathered around for a briefing from our run director, the sawdusters returned.

Jane, Jessica and Hannah were the motivating marshals that spread themselves out further along the course to cheer on the runners while Adam made sure that no one was left behind in his position as tail walker.

Jo did a great job of welcoming the new runners in her role leading the 'first-timers briefing' and all knew what to expect and how it would all work.

Laura and Kate made it over to the start line to stand on a bench and shout warnings of its presence for the runners speeding around it but not before they needed to briefly dismount the bench to request a Thames path dawdler to move to the side!  Bench you didn't expect we'd have to do that!

A big thank you to David who had kindly volunteered last minute to take on the role of wheelchair guide. It was wheelie great to have him along to join us!

Thank you to the fab Hounslow group for supporting with the finish tokens distribution (Michelle and Andy) and the collection of the tokens as they were scanned by Eloise, Matt and Kate P.

Precise and diligent timekeeping was done by Kingston's Caroline and Samia (at over 300 good deeds!) and kept on track by Matt who was said to have "full focus on the funnel" as he tried out a new position of funnel manager.

A successful takeover by a Goodgym team effort across the running areas of South/South West London! A big congrats to Matt Nash of Hounslow on his recent milestone of 50 good deeds and Samia's 300!

We were back to help out Kingston Parkrun this morning, both trying out new roles. It was Caroline's turn to take on the supermarket checkout role with barcode scanning, whilst Samia was handing out finish tokens.

We had good company from other volunteers, who proved very helpful with reciting finishing orders to make sure that Pink got then token before Blue before Yellow before Orange. #IDontThinkIMessedUp.

Caroline sported her choice of the salt & vinegar Pringles pencil case for keeping the tokens safe in like the latest fashion accessory, and you know their slogan? Once you pop, you just can't stop? Well...

...Just after the klaxon started, a runner and buggy and husband asked if she could join them still. She was keen to apologise for not having turned up for her tailwalking duties last week as she was in labour - could there be a more valid reason not to turn up?! So 7 days postnatal, she and hubby made it to parkrun, baby completing his first 5km at a week old, and we happilu helped with taking photos to mark this momentous occasion. Shall we bet that he becomes a runner??

After yesterday morning's Parkrun and butterfly habitat conservation mission, a group of intrepid Kingston Goodgym runners braved the nettles to return to the scene by the riverside again this morning. While the Parkrun was good, it was also a little bit hazardous due to brambles, nettles and other thorny plants encroaching on the paths. We were warned of this at the start and there were a few scratches along the way. We decided to do something about this! A call out was sent to do some path clearing on the running route for our local Parkrun.

Our call was not only answered by 4 Goodgymers but also a local regular Parkrunner - Piere and the Volunteer Coorinator for the Kingston Parkrun - Jaqueline Chang and her family as they'd heard about it on twitter. It was so lovely to have Jacqueline and her enthusiastic helpers come along to help us too. We're lucky to have such great support to make our local Parkrun events happen each week!

We met the lovely Sufiyo of the Friends of Ham Lands group as she came to support us and guide us and lend us her tools! We are so grateful for this wonderful partnership!

We managed to clear a large mound of brambles, bind weed and nettles from the path in only a short amound of time! Caroline even got a chance to do her first Himalayan Balsam pull! Speaking of which - there is a lot more where that came from so we'll be getting set to organise some more balsam pulling missions in collaboration with the Friends of Ham Lands soon!

It was great to have Hannah joining us on her first mission as a Mrs with a bigger ring on her finger!

Many hands made quick and light work of opening up the path and it is now safer for the runners and other users to enjoy. We were encouraged with words of appreciation from the Thames Path users as we worked to widen the path and reduce the risk of nettle stings! It was a very successful and rewarding Sunday morning's work. Thank you very much to all those that came to help!