Not one but TWO life celebrations tonight, for Claire and Dave, and what better way to honour them than a mission to Surbiton cemetery. After the original task sadly didn't survive, Rachel undertook the grave job of resurrecting the nights mission and angelically managed to raise from the ashes, the ever living task of path clearing at Surbiton cemetery. It was hard work but as usual, we did a dead fine job... And what better a way to say our goodbyes to a task then a stiff drink and burger in the pub.

I shall now end this report and rest-in-peace...

When the sun is out, you're supposed to get your guns out... But what if you're a bit gunshy these days, I can highly recommend Surbiton cemetery as a place to beef them up. But not for your usual grave digging or even robbing, we're all far too good for that. This was all about clearing the paths through the graves to make them more accessible to visitors. So armed with shovels and barrow 6 of us dug scraped and peeled back the overgrown turf and piled it up at one end of the path. It wasn't all hard work no play though, there was still time for a game of shovel balancing... Fair to say, Stephen was a clear winner there. Don't believe me? Check out the photo evidence.

Good luck to the Kingston girls representing us in the Hampton Court 10k this Sunday. Even if you are not aiming for a PB, enjoy the run and hope you get yourselves a good stash haul at the finish line.

Make no bones about it - it looked like a grave task but it wasn't as turf as it looked!

We kicked off the warm up with the biggest group of the year so far: 23 of us including four new recruits! Welcome to Paul, Daniel, Cassandra and Connor on their first GoodGym run and welcome back for a 2nd run to Philippa. After kicking, squatting and burping for a while, we got on with the warm up. Everyone enjoyed a longer warm up this week, honing in our technique and agility.

Off we ran (and walked) around Surbiton and Kingston and up to Surbiton cemetery. The wheelbarrow squeeking around the pitch black cemetery made for an edgy setting as we picked up the tools and got ready to work. Digging things up in a cemetery may sound like grave task but it wasn't an undertaking. 23 of us made light work of edging and removing turf from the paths and we cleared a path in no time.

Well done again GG Kingston runners for making such quick work of clearing a path at Surbiton cemetery this week #kingston #goodgym #surbitoncemetery #volunteering #runninggroup #getfitdogood pic.twitter.com/QFOELypjoa

— GoodGym Kingston-upon-Thames (@GoodGymKingston) March 6, 2020

Back we ran to the Guildhall - stopping on the way back for an obligatory photo in front of the iconic leaning phone boxes of Kingston, before we dialed up the pace for the final leg. Then back for stretches.

Super effort to all

In the news tonight we mentioned a few things but one we need to think on was the message about reducing the risk of Coronavirus spreading so here is the link to GG's tips on the matter https://www.goodgym.org/stories/coronavirus-information-for-goodgym-activities

What a glorious day for a starter run! 14 of us met at the Guildhall, to run 5km and get physical with a great task of clearing the paths at Surbiton Cemetery.

We were very lucky today to welcome 6 new runners - Rush, Zoe, [Nancy]Nancy), Matt, Emily, and John as well as the return of Ruth who we haven't seen in a while - give them all a cheer!

After another groovy warm up guaranteed to get our hands out of our pockets and get us mobilised, we set our stravas and envisaged the hot chocolate we would hunt down on our return into Kingston town centre.

Although cold we ran in the beautiful sunshine , a little different to our regular Tuesday nights in darkness and this made all the difference for the task at hand. When we arrived at the Cemetery we could see what great work had already been achieved by the group a few weeks ago and now we were here to use the light to dig into a overgrown grass verge of the path and clear it so that people can get to the headstones more easily.

We each picked up a shovel or a spade - I'm unsure which is which but which ever one we had they were great at clearing the path. This was some really satisfying work, a great way to get our muscles working and doing a good deed at the same time. Once all the grass and soil were lifted it was time to load up the wheelbarrows with it for a race to get it out of sight to expose a clear and user friendly path.

Great work everyone, such a great team effort!

Hope to see you on a Tuesday night group run - 6.45pm at Main Guildhall or if you cannot make Tuesdays, look out on the website for other runs and good deeds you can get involved in

We had a sixth sense that it was going to be a difficult task tonight at Surbiton Cemetery, but we didn’t realise it was going to be quite so physical, as the team shovelled the overgrown grass that was creeping onto the pathways.

It didn’t help that we were slightly sizzled from our warm-up around Kingston Marketplace, running forwards, backwards and sideways, before running on the spot with our eyes closed! But, not for long. Then we were out of there!
After a two-mile jog to the task, Mark, Dave, Jess, Claire, Martel and Donna used torches to peel through the darkness, only to find a suite of brand new tools to get to work with. But, we soon learnt that new tools don’t necessarily make for light work. This wasn’t for the faint hearted!

Before we could clear the pathway to heaven, we literally had to drag a thick green carpet of grass with us. But the mysterious path just seemed to keep getting wider! Thankfully, a few wheelbarrows later, we were satisfied that people could use it safely, including any visitors with disabilities.

Digging on the edge! #goodgym #kingston #tuesdays #running #volunteering #runninggroup #getfitdogood pic.twitter.com/YJ3ds6FRVo

— GoodGym Kingston-upon-Thames (@GoodGymKingston) October 9, 2019

We’ll happily go back to continue the work with an even bigger team (just not on October 31st in case we come back with more GoodGym runners than we bargained for!)

After or intense, and muddy, work-out it was time for a speedy mile run back to base for a warm down - followed by a quince jam, cheese and cracker feast. Thank you Rachel!

And thank you to everyone who had a ‘pizza de action’ at the SPEAR London comedy evening in Wimbledon last weekend - especially Martel who was on cheese duty despite despising the stuff!

See you next week. Torches and gloves at the ready.