How lucky were we!!!

GG Richmond really have managed some near misses when it comes to the weather in recent months and tonight was no exception...there were rumours of another lightning storm and it did eventually make an appearance in Richmond town but not until the Goodgym runners had tackled almost 5km , part of which was on very "undulating" terrain, aka "one of Mark's very steep hills!" Which i have to admit felt AWESOME to have a go at with the final hour of sunlight beaming down on us.

It was hot….very HOT!

We were still rain free as we flew down the hill, along church road and ending up at the front door of Penny Wade House, home to charity SPEAR who do amazing work with those who are homeless. Tonight, we met Steve and Damien and were given instructions to clean and bleach all the doors as well as the skirting boards. We were well supplied with all the cleaning materials and good wishes from staff and residents. It was really satisfying work and many of us just wanted to do more so we hope to be back again soon.

As we worked the heavens opened and once again we were greeted with a heavy downpour. But to our delight after we had lifted the grease and grime from the walls of Penny Wade House the weather had turned again and we were left stretching on Richmond Green under a glorious sunset.

During our stretching, new GG Richmond runner Chi tried to coaxed us into joining him in beating a Strava Segment , there were no takers but we did give him a well-deserved Cheer as he ran around the Green beating the strava time. Well done Chi and great to have you join us this evening!

If you wish to know more about the Vocal Tonix events Mark spoke of tonight please let him know.

Dont forget Tug of War is on 8th June and there are still spaces to be part of the team. Sign up here, we need 8 game players and 2 substitutes and LOTS of cheerleaders!

Mission in Richmond if you are verified is listed here. If you want to get on board with these missions just sign up and have a quick DBS – Chat to Mark next time too if you wish!

Thank you Chris for your first time back marking and thank you Samia for the pun. Also welcome to Samia and Kate to the GG Richmond taskforce team – We are a strong bunch now (all ladies of course – C’mon gents man up!)

David we hope your knee gets better...impressive puddle jump, just don’t tell your phyiso!

Check out our warm up from tonight...

Check out our warm up from tonight.....magnets in our feet or a spring in our step, you choose pic.twitter.com/XUYDejG0O6

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) May 28, 2018

When we started out we were cold as ice but by the end we were just part of the furniture.

It was potentially the coldest Richmond run yet and as a Run Trainer I had visions of doing a lot of multi tasking tonight but all my fears cast aside with a warm smile from every runner that came through the Wholefoods door. We were 13 in the end which was lucky as we had heaps to do at Richmond Furniture Scheme.

On completing our brisk 5km run there (more if u didn't know the shortcut) we were met by the lovely Sharon who greeted us with "who's up for a cup of tea?" (which normally I would decline but I swear on a night like tonight a brass monkey would have said "2 sugars please").

So with the promise of a cuppa our runners set about an array of tasks , ranging from dirt shifting, sanding furniture, cleaning the kitchen , doing the washing up, hoovering and dusting.

I don't know how much you can fit into a 30 minute slot but we did it all and managed to get a few gulps of Rosie Lee (and the odd birthday chocolate...thank you Holly) before we turned to face the biting cold on our 5km run back.

It was great to get so many of us back to Richmond Furniture Scheme, they have so many things going on that we can assist with and it is all for such a great cause. This is a great charity that restores, renovates and provides furniture to those that are in need financially. They have been in operation for some 25 years doing good in our community.

Well played all you runners who attended tonight, such heroes and I hope you are all defrosting with your feet up and a hot chocolate as you read this report, shorter run next week, I promise!

Welcome to Rob and Amy , great to have you running with us.

Well done to Holly and Jenny and everyone else who ran the Winter 10km yesterday.

If you have signed up for the mission this weekend have fun and if you are still interested in taking part check out the link in the Whatsapp group

London GoodGym social for this month is all happening here where you can vote for the pun of the year or you can cast your vote here - surely we can make it onto this list next year! Come on Richmond!

Well that’s what we thought the loud dog was trying to say to us when it was making all that noise during the warm up outside Wholefoods! After a quick briefing from Mark we got on with our stretching and lunging paying particular attention to our leg muscles today. Tibialis muscles and gastrocnemius to be specific as well as those that lead down into the foot. This is our second week into exploring some strength exercises specific for running.....guess we just need to start incorporating them into our routines. Definitely by February anyway once the Jan Challenge is complete!

Jason and David started us off at a brisk pace straight away and we all somehow managed to keep up as we raced through the streets of Richmond and East Sheen. We were greeted at the door of Thomson House School by the very lovely Jeremy, who wasn’t expecting so many of us to turn up ready for some physical education! After a brief moment of disbelief he swiftly put the kettle on before handing out cloths, mops and all purpose cleaner. There was heaps to do in this 200 year old (approx) converted Church which now houses some of the older years in this growing Mortlake school. Before long the muddy shoe rack had gone from NO to GLOW, the windows from SMEAR to CLEAR and the floor from NEIN to SHINE. We mopped, we hoovered and we polished, stopping only for a cup of tea and a chocolate digestive. Except for Vicky, who didn’t even stop, but continued with a tea in one hand and Henry hoover in the other. Time was up, and if Mark hadn’t told us that, the confused zumba class that walked in definitely meant that we were on our last number. Turning our backs on the empty mugs and dancers, off we headed back along Upper Richmond Road and back to Wholefoods in another fast-paced jog. Seems the biscuits were fuel injected judging some of the speeds we were seeing.

Welcome to Aran on his first run and what a pace too! Also Sundara and Jules joining us again on the second run out to do good with Richmond ....great stuff!

News and updates ... Last call for anyone interested in a London Marathon Slot running for the Poppy Factory! Let me know if interested

Next week is leaflets with a difference..it's a race 3 teams - 3 locations and we race the clock and each other. Speed training for all levels!! (ooohh so exciting!) Please bring a head torch and a small back pack will be most useful for you - or a coat with big pockets - Your call!!

As it stands we sit at 51 deeds out of a 120 target....this will be at 65 by end of today. I thought we were slightly further along so all hinges on next week...bring a friend eh! Also we are at 556km's and target was estimated at 840. We still have 10 days so log every step you take Richmond ; )

Have a great week Richmond and happy running!

As I travel home in the winter darkness I can't help but think how lovely it was to finally run in the light for Goodgym, it's been so long!

Today was Goodgym Richmond "starter" run, the purpose is to give those who haven't run with GG a chance to sample what we get up to, or for those who can't get to run with us on a Monday night to get a slice of the action!

7 of us showed up and it was lovely to see some old faces, David who we haven't seen for a while as his studying has temporarily replaced his running and Holly and Jon who joined us for their first daylight run ever! (That's what happens when you start GG in Oct)

Wholefoods was buzzing, the Saturday shoppers were in full force and it was like"where's wally" trying to find a Goodgym red shirt. We huddled together outside to warm up....all shoppers eyes now on us and our funky moves. We gave the audience what they wanted and then we were off running 3km to the Brownie hut at Mortlake Hall.

Once there our task was to give the hut an early spring clean, brooms, dustpans and mops at the ready we got to work! The lovely Lynn even supplied us with refreshments as we got into all sorts of positions and new heights to rid the brownie hut of cobwebs.

A great task for a great cause and to show their appreciation the Brownies and Guides even wrote us a card and gave us our very own badges. Well done GG Richmond.

And ... There is talk of GG richmond 'Medoc' run .... tough mudder and on Monday I can tell you about a few Marathon places that are still for grabs if you need a challenge!! .. Thanks Kate for bringing the local rag too... See the pic of us in the paper!!!