Well done to everyone who volunteered on this beautifully sunny Saturday morning. There was a big turnout and spirits were high. It was also a great opportunity for us to raise awareness about GoodGym in the local community. Thanks to Sheila and Georgeta, who brought home baked cookies and yummy chocolates for us to share with the runners. Sorry we didn't have enough left for the volunteers as well!

Claire had an early start as she was on course check. She came back and gave the thumbs up to RD Kate, had time for a quick catch up with the rest of the GoodGymers and then headed off and ran the course again (her 218th parkrun!) Well done Claire!

Sheila also got her steps in this morning, walking to parkrun, volunteering as parkwalker and then walking home. She covered over 11km, and did at least 5km with a biscuit tin tucked under her arm.

Diya, Kanika and Sol were on marshal duty, helping point everyone in the right direction. They kept warm by cheering the runners and doing lunges. GoodGymer Anne-Laure was running and said she really enjoyed the cheering from her GoodGym friends.

Over at the finish funnel, Jess and Rosie were on timekeeping and tokens respectively. Fingers were freezing, but they didn't fumble! There were a whopping 480 runners and walkers, so they were very busy. Rosie kept warm by dancing in the sun.

Experienced parkrun volunteer Rachel was on timekeeping duty alongside Jess and she told me that Jess nailed it. She had accurate fingers and approached what can be a stressful job calmly and with a smile on her face. That's our Jess!

Amy and Georgeta were also busy barcode scanning, a lovely job as you get to meet all the runners and walkers - lots of familiar and friendly faces, who are full of endorphins, having completed the course.

Amy and Georgeta were also overseeing the cakes, as well as training two first-time barcode scanners, who wanted to wear the token buckets as hats and were easily distracted by the cakes...

Thanks to RD Kate and all the regular parkrun volunteers for welcoming us to the roster this week. See you again soon!

Friday lunchtimes in RBWM in January are all about litter picking!

Tessa, Rosie and Dave met me in a sunny but breezy Grenfell Park. Congrats Rosie on her first litter pick! Great to see Dave back for his second session too. Kudos to Tessa as well as this was her second good deed of the day, and another bingo box ticked off!

We found masses of litter! The usual bottles, snack packaging and vapes but also pots and pans, cosmetics, shoes, socks, bracelets, bike parts, train tickets and the book Dead Man Walking by Anne Cleve. The mix was definitely more eclectic than what we've found in other parks this month.

Meanwhile lots of other GoodGymers litter picked near their places of work or home.

I'm delighted to welcome Liv back for her second good deed with us (and 456th in total!) Her first was at our launch back in 2020, when she was working for GoodGym. She's now living a bit nearer so hopefully everyone will have the chance to meet her soon. Well done puppy Bagel, who joined Liv on her litter pick.

Lisa and Christine both found lots of litter in streets near their homes in Maidenhead and Viv and Angela did the same in Furze Platt, also with help from a furry friend - well done Flora!

Sol was inspired by Georgeta to carry a separate bag for recyclables and diverted lots of bottles and cans away from landfill. Georgeta did the same but also reported finding a football, a running shoe and a cider drinking glass.

Diya filled two bags on her lunchtime outing and was thanked by lots of passers-by, including someone who knew GoodGym from our sessions at Braywick Heath Plant Nurseries.

Well done team!