Running every day for RED January has been tough, I'm not gonna lie, there have been days that I have struggled to find the energy to run and I have been glad when its over...tonight wasn't one of those runs.

Tonight, myself and 14 other runners met at Wholefoods freezing cold but ready to run an all mighty 10km and do some good in the community. We celebrated our victory of hitting our GoodGym January Challenge target before heading out for a much needed warm up.

Stravas at the ready (lets try and hit 1,000kms before the end of Jan) we set off for a riverside run to Teddington. It was a dark and cold night but it was made all the more easier by chatting along the towpath. Goodgym is such an amazing community and its been easy for me this month to loose a bit of love for running but tonight it was well and truly restored.

Our task tonight took place at the Landmarks Arts Centre, a magnificent building constructed in the 1880s as the church but from the 1970s was neglected for many years. A passionate campaign led by local people eventually succeeded in saving it from demolition and in 1995 it became the home of a new community art centre. Tonight it was our job (with guidance from the lovely task owner Sian) to rid the surrounding fences to the centre of ivy and leaves.

We really did make light work of it , clubbing tonight to tug and pull down the ivy as we continued to chat about upcoming runs for the year. Once completed we set off through the streets of Twickenham to Richmond visualising hot food and warm beds to keep us going, and we made it....just over 10km in sub zero temperatures, some would say we were 'sub zero' hero's tonight and I agree Anita ; - ) (great pun)

Roll on ETNA next week and a social straight after to toast (hmmm a warm toast) all our January hard work!!

For those with an aversion to vermiculture, tonight’s run probably wasn’t memorable in a good way, and it may be advisable to pause here and go watch an episode of David Attenborough’s Blue Planet to get those little wrigglers out of your mind. However, given that the readership will predominantly consist of hardened green-fingered members (or guests) of Richmond GoodGym you are likely tough enough to read on… January’s clear skies had caused a wintry chill to settle over South West London this evening, but the warm-up, including “Hi-5 tags” and “Press-up Pals”, quickly raised the team’s temperatures and tempo. New Years’ resolutions / indulgencies were variously celebrated / regretted by 24 runners as we wove our way through Richmond’s residential back streets, culminating in a glorious high-speed descent of Star and Garter Hill. Upon arriving at the task venue, at first glance Buccleuch’s (/bəˈkluː/) modest garden appeared to be a pushover for a mighty GG squad of this size. Fearful whispers were soon overheard speculating that Mark may formulate some tortuous time-pass variant of the Guantanamo Xmas quiz. Fortunately, an abundance of weeds nurtured by our 5-hearted friends proved to be a worthy opposition as we raked, forked, turned and weeded the soil in preparation for bulb planting. However, even 10 hours of quality GG labour proved insufficient to complete tonight’s task, and by 8pm time was called to pack away, bulbs still unplanted. The return to home base was fast-paced, including the irresistible Nightingale Hill climb, since it was on our doorstep. Had there been enough time left one may have been tempted to repeat the climb, but instead the front runners satisfied themselves with a scorching lap of Richmond Green to rack up the Strava mileage towards the January GG challenge. Although we were Buccleuch-less about the pronunciation (let alone the task format) at the outset, it proved to be a forking great adventure, and a task of bulbous proportions. Hopefully we can return next week to complete the job in time to ensure a colourful spring blossom.

Nearly forgot to add some other really good points Firstly a Warm Welcome to Carla on her 1st run with Goodgym! Finally to help keep those kilometres stacked for January don't forget Olivia's mention of the long run - details here https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/january-goodgym-long-run

And because "It's a Punderful Life" here's another...

We leafed it here for 2018 and started to paint a new picture

This report was put together by all of the GG Richmond runners tonight, here's what we got up to...

We started with another of Mark's wacky warm ups; planking with quiz questions and stuck in the mud in the dark. Full of the festive spirit, we serenaded the locals around old deer park and were on our way!

Our new mantra over Christmas #goodgym #volunteering #running #richmond pic.twitter.com/0MpRgIVrqB

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) December 18, 2018

A fast pace saw us arrive at ETNA warmed up and ready to get to work. A group of us got busy with rakes clearing away leaves from the grassy areas and borders around the car park, revealing some shoots that may turn out to be daffodils planted on a previous task!

Meanwhile, away in a manger not far away, a second team began spreading good cheer, in the form of grey/blue paint over their new buggy shelter. With everyone hard at work Mark gave his 10 minute warning so we hurried to complete the first coat...no one likes leaving a task incomplete, even if it means being the last to choose their surprise present from the tree. That's right! The lovely Sian and Vanessa had wrapped individual presents for us all and hung them on their beautiful tree outside ready to reward us for our final task of the year. A huge THANK YOU! We have loved helping you this year.

After a quick chorus of "Merry Christmas", whilst posing for the obligatory group picture, it was time to start the run back. We followed the star back the "holyfoods". The pace got a bit faster on the way back, methinks everyone had one thing on their mind..Ho.ho.ho..."Happy Christmas drinks in Shaftsbury pub".. Drinking Guinness,Peroni and wine. All occupied by an amazing GoodGym quiz from Jenny (quiz master extraordinaire!)

A fantastic night to end the year of wonderful good deeds in Richmond, well done everyone, it has been a pleasure running with you all

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from everyone at @goodgym Richmond pic.twitter.com/vpYlZx64UV

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) December 18, 2018

Deck the hills with squats and lunges .... We sure did and much more!

20 lords were leaping and lunging tonight, in fact we were squatting, hip thrusting, pressing, dipping, running and of course doing good!

We met at Wholefoods where we heard news of how many missions GG last week (some 95). Well done all! We then talked about how much we enjoyed helping at the Vineyard centre and noted how much our eyes lit up at the talk of all those great cakes they do. Ahhh cake ... anyway where was I , Oh yes welcome Jacqueline, Samuel and Amy on your first GG Richmond run.

After a much needed warm up (it was cold out!), we ran along the river and rumours about which hill Mark had planned for us began to spread...

I'm guessing its Nightingale? Said one runner and by golly was she right!

Once at the bottom of the hill, we all took a deep breath and powered forth into the darkest incline, some of us even racing cars. Those who were new to the hill received a shock when it just kept going and going ...on and on, but we all made it and were as rosy cheeked as Santa after a stiff brandy on Christmas eve.

Once we regained our strength, Mark took us through our paces and treated us to a fitness session. Pairing up we took turns to lunge walk, star jump, plank, press and dip.

Then it was downhill from there to the Vineyard, where we met lovely Timea and we given an array of tasks from cleaning, sorting and decorating. Must have been some 9/ 10 groups all on different tasks at once.

We got to work to make the place spick and span and looking festive. We sorted Christmas items into what could be sold at the Christmas fair and what could be used to decorate the Vineyard centre. We were then told to 'go crazy' and put up as much decorations as possible!. If we weren't in the Christmas spirit, we definitely were now!!!

One of these Santa's is trying to head for the hills #GGRichmond #goodgym #Mondaynights #running #fitness #doinggood #volunteering #vineyardcentre #richmond #santa #festive pic.twitter.com/P6L3wMAggb

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) November 19, 2018

Mark suggested we stay on to finish the task rather than run the extra 3km back to wholefoods and we enthusiastically agreed. Its not often we turn down a run but we were happy to swap rain for reindeer tonight and it was noted that some may have even achieved a 500 metre pb dashing to get out of that rain on the way back! Super effort all and a stretch in the dry before we talked puns!

Looking forward to next week already!

Great back marking Jenny and lovely to run with so many of you!

A collaborated effort was made for our run report for tonight with many runners adding to tell the tale of GG in the cemetery on Halloween eve, eve!!

Wholefoods were rubbing their eyes in disbelief as every runner that entered the store had heads turning to do a double take as we donned the ghouls and monsters outfits in keeping with the season. As if this was not spooky enough our task tonight took us to the edge of Richmond Cemetery where lots has been hidden for many years and tonight was to be revealed by our own good hands.

It was a devilishly good run, we began to warm up with scary moves up and down, both legs and arms. Richmond's shoppers were treated to goodgym answer to Thriller... we scared ourselves at least!

👻🎃 Screaming good fun! pic.twitter.com/IoGyxu68lR

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) October 30, 2018

We were all dressed to the nines in our spooky clobber, skeletons, witches, devils, pumpkins and cats...the streets of Richmond were in for a fright.

The "thrill" of lunging! 🎃👻 pic.twitter.com/aFOmQaUjkD

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) October 30, 2018

We arrived at a spooky graveyard, welcomed by the warm glow of a head torch glimmering in the dark distance as Steve the task owner waited for us. It was great to catch up since our last visit and hear about the great works still happening at the cemetery where to date the oldest stone discovered is dated back to 1760 I think he said! Interestingly of all the work that happens at the site, any stone currently on show now has been made to happen by our own good deeds so it is great to feel we are contributing to such a project in the community where history is being rediscovered at times. Lots of this means us unravelling stories hidden underneath poison ivy and spiderssss.

HOLD on did we mention that we lost 4 runners .... Oh no that is far too spooky to include here!

Having revealed a fallen cross from beneath one section of thick brush, one team raised it to it's former glory on its plinth, only to be instructed to dismantle it again. Unfortunately no ghosts or badgers were seen although the air was reported to have turned cold at one point for some and a rustling in the bush took place but the cause UNKNOWN!!!

Towards the end we teamed up to pile up the sticks and vines and brambles we'd cleared and braved the dark paths to add it to the spooky habitat!

Dead wood....🎃👻 pic.twitter.com/slBpKJ659x

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) October 30, 2018

We bid Steve a fond farewell and thanked him for looking after us to set out into the cold night to embrace OH NO not another HILL!!!

A big welcome to Gemma on her first run who quoted 'It was my first run and It was frighteningly good! Not many can say they spent their Monday evening in a graveyard making new friends'! (AND finding the 4 lost runners eh Gemma ...YAY!!!)

We all made it back for some warming food, great company and maybe one or two drinks to take the chill off - All in all a great run / night! Thanks Jenny for organising the social and Mark for the back marking!!

Don't forget we mentioned the missions that are available now so look up the slots if you feel you might be free The community mission for our start location is now taking place this Sunday 4th November at Wholefoods 5.30pm (thanks Samia for sorting) Also there is a GG Christmas party to be had in London area on 1st Dec - Details here https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-london-christmas-party-2018

See you next week ; - )