Annual Martian Race 👽

It was that time of the year again The Annual Martian Race Around Horsell Common ☀️, and once again it was a hot one 🏃🏼‍♂️

This year i was once again carrying out marshal duties and was on spot M22 for the kids 2k run and then on spot M25 for the main race. I arrived early at Mclaren Park to collect my high Viz as as well a team meeting from the Woking Lions Team who hold this event every year to raise funds for local charities 😄.

Once i had all my info i headed off the main event village grabbed myself a cuppa . I had a little time before the kids race began at 08:45 so using what3words went to look at my spot for the kids race. It was a great spot on top of the hill. I then headed off to find my spot for the main race which was deep in the woods 🪵. I got there and still had time to get back to the village.

As i got the village i see Katie & Phil with their little girls. One of the girls was doing the 2k run and was very excited 😄 while Phil was tackling the 10k and was not to excited 🤣.

While chatting we see Anne approaching us. Anne had just got back from France 🇫🇷 where she has been training for this event. It was great seeing Anne and she was rearing to go 🏃🏼‍♂️.

It was time for the kids race to begin so i headed off to my spot while all the young runners headed to the start line for a warm up. The sun was shining and there was a great atmosphere people from all backgrounds laughing and enjoying each others company.

While at my spot i see the young runners heading towards me, some familiar faces from Junior Park Run 😆. I then see Katie with her little one and even got a high 5 ✋🏼.

Once the last runner had gone past i headed off to my next position in the common. It was a great spot in the shade. Got chatting to so many people who were just walking their dogs and asking about the event.

The first 21k runners came by me, they were going at some pace. The first familiar Goodgym face i saw coming towards me was Anne who was doing the 5k she flew past me waving 🐝.

Not far behind was GG's golden couple Nadia & Andy ❤️ manged to get some great photos of both them as they ran past 🥰

Next up was Alys who i nearly missed as i was distracted by the biggest squirrel 🐿 i have ever seen 😱, but managed to get a wave and some photo's.

And finally i see Phil in the distance looking elegant and graceful like he always does while running 🤣

As well as many other familiar faces within the community which Goodgym has helped over the years.

Once again it was a great morning and well done everyone 😄

Anne, Andy and Nadia met at Woking Leisure Centre at 18:45 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ and jogged the 1.2km to St Mark’s Church, Westfield ⛪, with Wayne and Kirsty joining us there at 19:00 👋. How great to see everyone again with their busy and interesting lives! We emptied the room 📦, shoved all the cupboards and chests forward to sweep behind 🧹, and unearthed some treasure toys that had been suspiciously launched onto the top shelves 🧸. Anne mopped the floor 💦 while the rest of us naughty students trod it dirty again 👣, only for her to sparkle it back up like a pro ✨. By the end we’d left the community fridge as bright and clear as the evening itself 🌙, then ran the 1.8km back to the Leisure Centre 🏁. 3km total, one gleaming room, and we burned enough calories to justify raiding a fridge ourselves 🧀.

After weeks of hushed whispers, knowing glances and enough rumourfuel to power a sleigh, tonight the truth finally landed: Woking GoodGym had once again received the words we’d all been waiting for: “Could you help pack the Xmas bags at the foodbank warehouse in Knaphill?”

Could we?

Oh yes, yes we could, and no one thought we couldn’t!

Like elves hearing the first jingle of Santa’s bells, we were ready to fill 90 sacks with Christmas time treats.

Each bag received a carefully curated mix of food, treats and love, ready to be delivered across the local community. Every time someone shouted, “We need more cereal!” it sounded like a joyful Christmas emergency.

This task is always a highlight for Woking GoodGym: an evening where teamwork, generosity and seasonal silliness blend perfectly. Knowing that every bag will brighten someone’s Christmas is the best reward.

It was lovely to see Louise from the Woking GoodGym alumni joining us with her son Henry, alongside a fellow alumni Bryan, the 2025 newbies are now well settled in, but of course, veterans, Anne, Adam, James, Katie and Wayne were missed from the production line. 90 bags packed within 45 mins, our most efficient effort yet AND no one lost a finger to the stacking containers, a Christmas miracle!

🎅 Well done GoodGym – another year, another mountain of Xmas bags, and another evening of excellent elf-level teamwork!

Thank you for the photos Nadia! 📸 Welcome to the crew, Zoe - you’ve earned your tutu 💃🏻

Woking GG Xmas Meal 🎅🏽

Goodgym Woking members got together for a Xmas meal last night at Zizzi's 🍕.

What a great turn out last night was it was fantastic to see so many turn up to celebrate a great year together as Woking GG.

Firstly big thank you to Nadia who organised the venue 👏🏻.

Karen arrived first as she was already in town helping out at another local charity 😇 followed by Wayne. The table setting was impressive full of Crackers and decorations 🎗. Adam then arrived without his crutches which was great to see, still not back to 💯 but recovering well. Adam was telling us about his house move last weekend and how grateful he was to his fellow goodgymers who assisted his 😄 Caterina arrived shortly after looking very glam and sparkly ❈. Karen was telling us about her up and coming trip to India 🇮🇳 traveling around for a month just after Xmas, sounds amazing. As the conversation was flowing Kirsty & Bryan arrived followed by Melanie he had come straight from work. Stephanie arrived followed by Julie everyone was looking very festive 🎄. Just behind Anne arrived wearing her GG Shirt as well as her red tutu ❤️ Nadia & Andy arrived followed by Alys who had brough us all little choco treats ❤️. And finally Rebecca arrived straight off the train. It was great hearing about Rebecca 1/2 marathon that she did in New York 🗽 few weekends ago.

Now that everyone had arrived we could order food and drink. Plenty of food was ordered from Pizza's to Risotto's To Pasta dishes everything looked and tasted great.

All in all it was a great night celebrating a great year with fantastic people. ❤️

Wedding, Engagement & Birthday

This evening Woking GG team were out on the town 🍷 celebrating 3 milestones 😊.

Big shout out to Anne who had arrange this evening 🎉

1, Big congratulation to Alys & Dan who tied the knot few weeks ago 👰. It looked like an amazing day, was had had by all, and the photo's looked great. A honeymoon in Japan is on the horizon.

2, Also congratulations to Nadia & Andy who got engaged recently. The rock 💍 on Nadia finger was very impressive (Another GG Wedding to look forward to 💕.

3, It was also GG Woking's 9th Birthday. For 9 years Goodgym Woking have now been helping and supporting local organisations within the community. Over the last few years Woking GG has grown. We have new members like Luan, Caterina, & Andy as well as others join. We now have 4 run leaders with Nadia completing her run leader training this year. She now joins Wayne, Anne, Adam, & James.

Task force members have also increased with Kirsty joining the force along side Katie and others 👏. And we are also very lucky to have Rebecca who is on the board of trusties who keeps us in the loop with whats happening within HQ 😊.

Woking GG is thriving and going from strength to strength. A fantastic kind, caring group of people who enjoy doing good in the community and supporting each other.

Woking GG Is The Best 💕