“Dib, dib, dib” – we set off to do our best tonight despite being a few regular runners less than usual on a sunny gorgeous evening. We worked up a sweat running 4.25k along a positively ‘balmy’ Hogsmill (let’s just leave the description as that) and met our two other runners who made their own way to the task location due to injuries and work commitments. Rob missed the shout at the brief though so CONGRATULATIONS on 50 Good Deeds!! What a trooper!

Our task tonight was helping to clear the outdoor area of Southwood Park for the Royal Kingston Scout District before an important fundraising event they have coming up.

Their founding Chairman James welcomed us with his son Adam who was about to move up from Scouts to Explorers and gave us a fascinating insight into the district venue – over 70+ years old and where the Chairman was a scout himself as a boy. This great outdoor space alongside Hogsmill services all the different groups in the Tolworth, Surbiton, Malden and Kingston areas. There are five sections you can join, depending on your age – from Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and even a network for young people up to 25.

Luckily, we didn’t have to clear all 3/4 acres of the site (well not tonight anyway) – but we cleared the worst of the weeds (including some mutant giant leaf ones) around the entrance area with all the tools available and some shoe-digging (a new exercise/ gardening technique?). For our photo call at the end we even managed to do a few new ‘tyre’ exercises – as if we weren’t tyred at all!

Then it was dib, dib, dib time to get back and promise our run leader that we GoodGym will always write a good run report…

We tried our best! Thanks for having us James and looking forward to the return visit especially as there was talk of there being chocolate!

Finally, a big thanks and farewell tonight to our Colombian runner Lorena who has run with us since Winter last and departs home to Colombia tomorrow. We will miss you Lorena but happy running back home in Colombia and stay in touch!

And best of luck all those doing the Vitality 10k.

Next week’s Heart Foundation run is beating to a different rhythm now so look up and sign up to help at Citizen Zoo – See you then!