Demonstrating defiance of the rain, 20 Goodgym runners showed up this evening to do good in their community.

This evening the weather was taking no prisoners, and 1 hour before GoodGym the heavens opened. We half expected a cruise liner to float down Queen Street, however fortunately this was not the case. As soon as 6.30pm arrived it was time to go outside to warm up in the rain – I get how this sounds a bit like an oxymoron but I’m no moron and we found a way to get warm!

We all got jogging on the spot to stay warm whilst we did our headcount. We welcomed Katy to GoodGym who was running with us for the first time – A humongous welcome to you and we hope you come back next week! As Molly had brought Katy along to GoodGym Molly earned herself 1 red shoe lace; It was at this point Molly really was living the dream and I acknowledged that she could check earning 1 red lace off her bucket list. Aimee told us about her mission weekend bonanza - She did a whopping TWO missions over the weekend - is this a record? I think so! Well done to Fiona (who wasn't on tonight's run) who managed to run her QUICKEST EVER 10K - You superstar!

Let’s not waste anymore time, it’s wet out here and we’ve got a task to do!

Feeling motivated by the challenge John had waiting for us at the Centre we began our run to the Llanover Arts. We actually felt like we were galloping to save the world, which I guess to some extent we kind of were but on a much smaller scale.

After crossing roads, puddles that could otherwise be described as lakes, turning corners and squat jumping between lampposts we made it to Llanover Arts Centre where John stood waiting.

GoodGym! It’s great to see you again! Come on into the warmth and let me show you what I need some help with

John is lovely. He manages Llanover Arts Centre and knows ‘how we role’. He told us a bit about the wonderful activities they have going on at the centre and how invested they are to make it a sustainable project. John said that in 1 weeks’ time they would be having an Arts and Crafts fair at the centre and so to prepare for it they need to take down the stage and paint the radiators. And this was where we came in. We only had 35 minutes to complete the task, so the challenge was on!

Runners split into groups with some diving into paint pots with their brushes and began painting the radiators. The majority of runners took to the stage to remove all of the chairs from the stage, followed by the stage platforms and then the metal support structure. The stage was taken into bits and moved to the other end of the hall. There is also another level in the hall, hidden at the back of the room. John climbed up to the level and asked runners to lift up objects and pass them to him so he could store them out of sight. There was so much going on all at once and everyone was really making light work of it!

You can check out some of the photos from the run above; Look at Andrew hiding under the metal stage structure, Matin lifting Lucy and Emma up on a pump truck, check out Katy and Molly painting the radiators, look at Matt from We Make Good Happen making light work of some challenging work and look at Andrew posing with part of the stage.

Thank you so much for your help!

John explained that what we managed to get done in those 35 minutes would have taken him all day. He was so grateful for our help and we were only too pleased to be able to help.

It was now time for us to go. We thank John for giving us a #ReasonToRun this evening, motivating us to use our fitness to do good! On the way back Emma and Aimme both back marked. The back markers make sure nobody gets left behind and they did a fantastic job of this as nobody got lost – Thank you ladies!

Lets warm down

Adam led the warm down. The warm down is important as helps the muscles wind down after a good workout.

Announcements

• This weeks RunPunStiltSkin Award goes to Ellen – A lovely ingenious rhyme Ellen, you made it look easy!
• Well done to Matt who won the Tweet Off – Showing everyone how it’s done! (There is a photo of the intense tweet off stand off too)
• Join in the next group run. Sign up to it by clicking here

This evening 18 GoodGym runners ran to help out Adamsdown Primary School and spoke about the benefits of running on mental health as part of the #RunAndTalk campaign

The Cardiff Half Marathon took place over the weekend and so uncertainty was in the air about who was going to show up for this evening's run.

A huge welcome to Andrew. Andrew is Hannah's other half and therefore for bringing Andrew along to GoodGym Hannah earned herself ONE RED LACE :) WELL DONE

As tonight's run was in partnership with World Mental Health Day, whilst doing the headcount we shared aloud with one another the reasons for why we run.

Here are the reasons why people said they run

• So I can eat cake, get fit and make and meet up with friends
• To help me to keep happy and smiling (and because I love prosecco and food after the run!)
• To keep fit and release stress
• Because Ben says
• I run so I can eat more
• To keep fit
• I run to help free the mind and relax
• For my mental wellbeing
• So I can eat more
• Run for my mental health because I get stressed often
• Because it feels good ... (Sometimes)
• To make me feel good and clear my mind
• To try and get fit and relax and help my mental health
• I run for my autistic brother and for my physical and mental health

Let's get running

Without further ado we began our run to Adamsdown Primary School. Mikey led the run there and Fiona backmarked.

Welcome to Adamsdown Primary School! My name is Mrs Thomas and I am the headteacher of the school

When everyone arrived at the school Mrs Thomas introduced herself to the runners and told everyone about the fantastic work that goes on there. She then told runners about the tasks they had been set for that evening and everyone was super excited to get stuck in.

The bush tacklers who trimmed the hedge that bordered the school were: Hannah, Andrew, Rosie, Ellie, Lewis, Fiona The furniture disposers who threw out old classroom furniture into a skip were: Darren, Andrew, Lucy, Aimee, Mikey, Martin, Darren, Su, Owen, Adam

Aimee blew her own trumpet about how her posing experience... and literally blew a trumpet! Lucy indulged herself in some reading. Lewis was almost hospitalized by a thorn that scratched his arm (Massive over exaggeration... he just said ouch),

Time to go!

Mrs Thomas was amazed by how quickly the tasks got completed. She thanked everyone for running to help out and invited them to have biscuits and water to refuel before running off.

Our way back was great fun, and with time to spare, sprint drills were on the menu! Ben and Lewis put everyone through their paces, setting target distances and having everyone sprint to them. Then, wanting to make the total run distance for the evenings run 5km, various detours were taken to increase the run distance.

Well done everyone for an EPIC task and getting stuck in.

RunPunStiltskin Award

This week's RunPunStiltskin award goes to FIONA (Sorry Darren and Peter, Fiona out-punned you on this occasion!). Fiona please keep the virtual award safe. You will have to hand it back next week.

Don't forget

• Sign up to next week's run by clicking here. We are going to be helping out the Llanover Arts Centre - It's going to be a great task!
• Sign up to the next community mission on Thursday 18th October (to help out Maes Y Coed) by clicking here
• Sign up to the AMAZING upcoming Saturday Group run in Penarth on the 20th October. Click here to find out more information and sign up

RunAndTalk