GREAT pun from JP and a great run from the team too!!

My title would have been musically 'My First, My Last, My Everything as it was my first group run back since pre covid, my last as an Area Activator and in my time as run trainer with goodgym it has felt like I have given it everything and so holding that note I will cherish the evening and all my time on every run with such awesome teams. Thank you all for keeping it special.

It was a beautiful setting for our warm up and meet prior to a 5km (approx run). The sun was sinking behind the trees with golden streams shooting through the leaves as GG Kingston and Richmond members arrived looking radiant and excited to get a group run going again after so long. The young deer and its mother trotted off to make way for us to try to remember how to move like we used to 18 months ago!! AND we did it - SO WELL DONE!!...... Maybe with a few groans and some huffing and puffing but we survived a traditional type warm up and was still looking ready to tackle a run too.

We opted for the steady paced run which gave us a chance to catch our breath and catch up, swap stories just like the old times and then before we knew it we were at United Response feeling a little thirsty but ready for action.

The gnome got off lightly as he was on the menu for painting but materials were in short supply for him so we set about painting everything else we could from the list. As the light of day was fading Dave mowed the lawn to a standard that centre court at Wimbledon would have been pleased with and the swing chair and the bench started to look all the fresher for some colour. The paths got some TLC too and were all the cleaner for a good sweep. I am certain as this was all happening I spied the gnome grinning smugly to have got away with a face lift but his time will come ... perhaps on our next visit.

Great work GG and thanks to the team at United Response for the hydration too!

A quick stretch set us up for the end of the session and the next one which was in the pub.... Where a blanket of red GG shirts had gathered to give this old trainer a night he would never forget!!

Thank you so much all for everything x

So we gave up some time, to spend sprucing up a garden; for others to feel sublime, and for our hearts not to harden

We worked together, cutting here and there; it was lovely weather, and a natter we did share

We cleared a garden path, and trees that had overgrown; a man in his wheelchair could now whizz freely and laugh

And we went home, with our hearts light...in the dusky night air!

We were back at the United Response Harlequin Lodge, a charity supporting those with learning difficulties, mental health needs and more.

We got stuck in with cutting and clearing the ivy, trimming trees and shrubs when unfortunately the rain started again. We didn’t get deterred and continued best we could. The highlight was the jetwash and the pavement had a huge transformation! Didn’t matter it rained!

With the easing of restrictions and resumption of group missions (woohoo!), 6 GGers responded to the call put out by United Response in Teddington to do a spot of gardening and finally give the shed its long awaited second coat of paint!

Cathy, Salwa and Naomi were joined by The Big Hair posse (aka Adam, JP & Luis), and they all got stuck in to give the back garden a Spring clean to get it in tip-top shape for the residents to enjoy as we come out of winter (someone tell the weather please!).

Naomi and Adam picked up the paint brushes and managed to get the shed done before the rains began! The shed is now finally done and looking grand :)

Luis took on the back-breaking task of completely clearing the flower bed to prepare it for planting. It was tough getting some of those stubborn roots out, but he was on top of it (literally!) and got it all done and dusted - well at least Cathy and Salwa got dusted when Luis aimed and missed trying to throw the uprooted earth into the bin bag!

Cath & Sal got on with the weeding and sweeping and gave Luis a helping hand with clearing the flower bed while entertaining(?) the troops with a spot of singing!

JP was in charge of mowing the overgrown mossy lawn, and in his enthusiasm to get the job done (perhaps he imagined he was giving the lawn a haircut), he accidentally ran over the cable which was decisively chewed up by the mower blades. No worries though! With tools in hand, JP set about fixing the damage and before we knew it, he was back on the job. It was power tool day for JP as he then turned his attention to the jet wash, arguably the most satisfying job of all!

All in all, a good day's work, and sooo good to be back :)

It was a chilly start for 3 Richmond Goodgymers. We returned to Paint a a shed and clear some leaves for a local charity that support those with learning difficulties. We were in luck..... the heavens didn't open (must have been that lucky gnome that someone was talking about).

There was 3 of us, but that didn't make us work at snails pace. On another note.... someone did accidently paint a snail (no names being disclosed here).

Andddd.... at last we finished the shed!!!!

Six Good Gymers tried to shed light on a United Response shed by adding a first coat of much needed paint.

What started off being a windy but dry Saturday morning, however, quickly became a deluge of rain drops, which alas kept falling on all our heads.

We ran to this nearest shelter hoping to wait out the great flood, which never seemed to stop.

On a drier day we will hopefully be back to finish the job!