After the success of our mission on Sunday with WEAct, Julie organised another GoodGym task along the Hoe Valley. Alys (and her little dog Quinn), Julie, Kirsty, Anne and Wayne, sorry, Adam ran to meet Richard in Mayford.

Richard is well known to GoodGym Woking as we often go and help him set up the railway tracks for the monthly “All Aboard Club” sessions which he runs for SEN children. This time it was Richard’s first GG mission without his “All Aboard” cap. We were all delighted when he let us use all the gardening tools he had brought with him!

Julie and Anne realised that the WEAct team had cleared all the Himalayan balsam in the areas we had planned to work on. But after a few metres of running, we found more to deal with.

Firstly, Julie asked for volunteers to cut back one of the bushes which encroached the path, allowing better access for walkers and runners. Richard and Wayne, oops, Adam did so diligently.

Armed with a long handle tool, Kirsty opened the path. Kirsty had warned everyone to cover their arms and legs to avoid being stung by nettles. Guess who forgot that covering your ankles was just as important? (no other comments). Poor Wayne, sorry again, Adam might not have read Kirsty’s messages. But this did not stop him tackling the nettles with enthusiasm. I wonder how his limbs are feeling this morning.

We pulled out a large patch of the invasive Himalayan balsam while discovering more as we worked up the path. We will return before the plants produce their seeds to try and limit their invasion. Julie will keep the WEAct team of our task.

The group ran back to our meeting point, fighting mosquitoes and calling Alys’s dog “This way”, which he is responding well to, every time he was taking another route.

Adam, we know your name really and apologise for calling you Wayne all evening!

Will you be joining us this coming Sunday to help Woking junior parkrun?

Happy running to you all.

Woking Wonders: Junior Parkrunners Dash into Sunday with Smiles and Speed!

This morning, Woking’s junior parkrun course was buzzing with energy as 175 enthusiastic young runners tackled the two-lap, 2km route with great spirit and determination. The first finisher zipped across the line with an impressive time of 7 minutes and 38 seconds, setting the pace for a brilliant event full of effort, fun, and community cheer.

Helping make the event a smooth success were four fantastic volunteers from Woking GoodGym: Karen, Kirsty, James, and Wayne, who took on the role of marshals with gusto, guiding runners around the course and cheering them on with trademark enthusiasm.

A big thank you to all the runners, families, and volunteers who made this morning’s run such a happy event. Whether it was their first time or their fiftieth, every step counted and every smile mattered.

Congratulations to Wayne for achieving his 250th good deed with Woking Goodgym!

See you next week for more junior parkrun magic!

Having been nominated as leader yesterday, Julie rushed to the task to ensure she was at the foodbank on time.

If only she'd checked the email she would have realised that it was actually a group run so while she waited for the customers to leave and started hoovering, the rest of the gang were waiting for her at the Leisure Centre. Despite the delay, Nadia, Anne, Andy and Kirsty had a good run and arrived in perfect time to get cracking with the mops.

The floors were soon a lot cleaner thanks to more hoovering by Andy and eagle-eyed Kirsty spotted some pot plants in need of some tlc.

This task always flies by and after the obligatory photo half-way up the stairs, we ran back towards the Leisure Centre.

Thanks to all the Goodgymers for their hard work, and looking forward to our next tasks on Sunday 27th.

Following the completion of a task for lovely Dramatize at their Knaphill centre, the Woking Goodgym team were asked to help create a useful garden space at their Brookwood site. Anne, Alys, Katie and Kirsty ran to the task to find that Wayne had made a great start on removing the debris from the space. Everyone got stuck in and cleared away the remaining branches and ivy while our former forest school leader, Anne led the creation of a dead hedge to create a wildlife habitat and secluded space for Dramatize students to relax in. Great job everyone!

Annual Martian Race 👽

It was that time of the year again for the Woking Martian Race. It was not as hot as it has been previous years but still a very warm day. Today there were plenty of events going on with most GoodGym members either taking part in the race and volunteering as marshals.☀️

James unfortunately could not be at this years events as he was doing the Richmond 1OK and then straight after heading to Kingston for the Southern Athletics League event 🏃🏼‍♂️.

Wayne arrived at the event village early as he pulled out of the race due to not being 💯% so decided to volunteer as a marshal. Wayne had to be at the event for 07:30 for a safety briefing as well as picking up his high viz, instructions on how to get to his marshal spot as well as a goodie bag from the sponsors 😄. Wayne also helped some of the local vendors with setting up their stalls. Wayne was at checkpoint 29 which was quite close the event village and in the shaded woodland 🌳area of the common ☀️. Wayne had enough time to go and find his spot and come back to see his fellow goddgymers.

First to arrive was Annewith her beaming smile she was rearing to go, Annehas been getting her regular runs in the week in preparation for her tackling the 10k route 🏃‍♀️.

Next to arrive where the Jacksons. Katie & Phil had signed up to do the 10k and have been training really hard for it especially Katie. Shortly after Kirsty, Adam, & Alys arrived.

Alys was doing the 5k while Adam who is currently nursing an injury decided to do the 10k along with Kirsty who was running for the first time in Months after her injury they both decided to run together same as last year ❤️

Nadia & Andy arrived they were originally part of the cheering squad but decided to sign up t do the 5k which was great.It was fantastic to see so many local running clubs as well as local organisations that Woking GG have helped over the years. There was plenty of support for everyone from all over the course 😇

First to go were the kids who were doing 2k it was great to see many young faces from the junior park run that Woking GG have an active role.This was followed by the 21k, which was then followed by the 10k and finally the 5k.🏃🏼‍♂️

Wayne had to head off to his post which was checkpoint 27.The first GG Runner that Wayne saw was Nadia & Andy. Shortly after Phil came towards Wayne Phil got extra shouts of support as he is Wayne favourite 🤣. Wayne had to wait a while before he saw the next GG member and it was the lovely Katie always smiling and looking fresh as a daisy 💨.

There was another wait about 15mins before Wayne saw Alys all in Red, with her tutu and GG Cap laughing and smiling away 🏃‍♀️. In the distance Wayne saw a red shirt and it was Anne and went to see her but noticed that Anne had her hand wrapped up due to her falling a few times and cutting her palm as well a bruising her arm, but Anne being tough as old boots continued with her run (Superwomen)

Shortly after in the distance Wayne heard a familiar laugh it was Kirsty & Adamcome through the clearing in the tree’s, both of them doing incredibly well considering their injuries.🌎

It was now coming up to 3 hours and Karl the tail runner appeared with the final runner. We all ran back together and cheered the final runner across the finishing line.

Everyone did so well and once again plenty of money was raised for local charities 🏆

After the event some members headed home while a few headed into town for a well deserved lunch.😄

Fantastic work everyone see you all next year.

Knaphill Community Fridge

This evening 5 Goodgym members met at Knaphill Community Fridge to give the shed a good dust down and a lick of paint 😀

Anne ran 6k along the canal to get to the fridge while Katie also ran 6k but from the opposite direction both ladies getting their runs in before the Martian Race in a few weekends time 👽 Wayne, Kirsty & Julie made there own way there. They were greeted my Jules who had two tasks that needed to be done. Wayne, Katie & Anne started to dust down the outside of the fridge before they applied a stain varnish onto the shed while Kirsty & Julie worked on a bedding in the pre-school removing weeds and planting new plants and flowers 🌼. It was a beautiful evening and plenty of conversations while the tasks were being carried out.

In no time both tasks had been completed and they looked great 😀

Jules was very pleased with the results