0 Month Streak
0 Month Streak
Mon 13th Aug 2018 at 6:15pm
Norwich Report written by Steven Hitcham
With rain all afternoon I thought we were in for a wash out but as I walked up the stairs at The Forum there was an array of GoodGymers rearing to go. By the time we left the sun was out and it was a very nice evening.
Word must be spreading as we had a whopping new 8 runners this week. A big huge welcome to Rebecca, Francesca, Lizzy, Alicia, Amy, Lee, Steven and Ali.
Bill and Katy were fashioning their new black Goodgym t-shirts after reaching 50 good deeds a couple of weeks back.
A little talk was had about the races done at the weekend, a few done the Reepham 10km and Hayley and Jen did a half marathon, which was Jen's 1st and yet another amazing GoodGym story that has unfolded. It really is fantastic to see how GoodGym is changing people's lives for the better.
For tonight Katy kindly volunteered to be lead runner (or did I tell her to? Either/Or haha) and Elizabeth was back runner.
To the task then - we had a 3km each way trip to Eaton Park this evening to clean the gates, water the fruit trees and do a litter pick. Upon arrival I split the group into each activity and off they went.
Being such a large park, by the time everyone had returned to the band stand we didn't have time for the fitness session that I'd planned... to the joy of some.
On the way back I let Bill lead the group and I was back runner.
Next week we're off to visit Angelica's Rainbow.
Mon 13th Aug 2018 at 6:15pm
Mon 30th Jul 2018 at 6:15pm
Norwich Report written by Steven Hitcham
So this week's task was to deliver Age UK Norwich's quarterly magazine to various locations across Norwich. I'd pre-prepared 7 different routes with maps (I still think some people got lost haha) so this meant the group separating.
We had 1 new runner in Carolyn aka Katy's sister!
There were some big milestones this week with Jasmine and Mel reaching 25 good deeds and the GoodGym Norwich star couple Bill and Katy both doing their 50th good deed. What a difference you're all making to community organisations in Norwich.
Michelle and Helen decided it would be a good idea to run the Run Norwich 10km route before the Group Run... total madness but they got a good workout, covering over 16km over the evening!
As everyone went of in different directions in their groups there's not too much to report on this week. Calum couldn't make the run but did bring some home baked goodies for Bill & Katy's landmark... these went down well with Jasmine's birthday cakes!
After that we went to the pub for more food and a well deserved beverage.
Remember for those doing Run Norwich on Sunday, we'll meet at The Forum around 9am.
Next Monday we're Cleaning the GoGoHares.
Tue 31st Jul 2018 at 3:23pm
My longest run ever let alone with Goodgym at 13k, loved it!
Mon 16th Jul 2018 at 6:15pm
Norwich Report written by Steven Hitcham
Another fantastic turnout tonight, not bad considering it was 30 degrees earlier and we had over 10km to run... but that was not going to stop 32 GoodGym-ers doing what they do best... helping their community.
The task was visiting a Redmayne View Care Home to do some painting and also to spend some time chatting and befriending the residents. I have to say some of my favourite ever GoodGym photos were seeing our runners sitting and chatting to the residents so be sure to check them all out.
We had another 5 new runners tonight so welcome to Tara, John, Rhianna, Richard and Nicolas.
After I stitched Calum up to do the warm-up while I put my bag indoors, we headed off to the task with Katy being back runner. One thing I sure learned tonight was that everywhere north of the city seems to be uphill!
There's nothing better than after a long run to arrive to some lovely refreshments kindly put on for us by Redmayne View. After a quick recovery break it was time to get stuck in. Some of our runners had sat down with some of the residents, some went upstairs to do the painting while the rest did some weeding outside... and Maddy went for a little walk with resident Tony.
We changed some of the painters half way through then after 30 minutes (which equates to 16 hours of volunteer time!) we got ready for the journey back to The Forum.
A really special task completed.
Next week we have two tasks to do between the group... both about 10km in total.
Mon 16th Jul 2018 at 6:15pm
Helping at a residential home for the elderly
Read moreMon 9th Jul 2018 at 6:15pm
Norwich Report written by Steven Hitcham
Hats off to Darren for the pun this week. It was a tight call between that and...
Oh my, look at the girth of that wood.
There were 2 tasks tonight. Myself and the bulk of the group were heading to Cooper Lane Scout Hut to help clear a fallen tree (see where the other pun idea came from) and Catherine took a small group to Grapes Hill Community Garden to help them prep for Norwich in Bloom.
We had 5 new runners this evening in Kevin, Maddy, Zara, Martin and Didier.
A good warm up was needed before both groups headed off, for some reason it felt really cold last night after weeks of glorious warmthness.
So it was time to say an emotional farewell to the smaller group as we embarked on routes on opposite sides of the city for the evening.
My group seemed to fly by on one of our quickest journeys... we found out why later as on the way back it all seemed to be uphill!
We arrived at Cooper Lane Scout Hut and Alun had tools already laid out by a large fallen tree, the job was to chop and break it up and move it to a different area. It took no time at all for the GoodGym-ers to be in full swing and there was wood flapping about left, right and centre.
I turned my back for 1 minute and in that time Jack managed to trip over and land butt-down in some stinging nettles... ouchy, but as always he took it like a man.
The smaller group on the other hand were enjoying doing some weeding and a litter pick and were also treated some lovely refreshments.
We arrived back about 5 minutes later than them but Beks took them through some Yoga.
Next week we're visiting Redmayne View Care Home.
Mon 9th Jul 2018 at 6:15pm
Helping local community group
Read moreMon 18th Jun 2018 at 6:15pm
Norwich Report written by Steven Hitcham
This week was the 1st time we had 2 different tasks on the same night and therefore there'll be 2 run reports combined into 1 with Calum's part (the better part) coming up further down.
I was taking the bulk of the group on a long run to Bowthorpe Community Garden while Calum was taking 3 others to paint a small room for Open Doors, which was on a shorter root.
After having a week off I felt out of routine... I'd done the briefing at the start and got Calum to do the warm up while then realising at that point I hadn't even explained what the tasks were.
I did remember to announce that Vicky was on her 25th good deed and Catherine was the 1st GoodGym Norwich member to complete 50 good deeds... all within the 1st year! Incredible commitment.
It felt like we were saying a little goodbye as the 2 groups separated (where's the tissues).
My group had a warm and sticky 6km stroll apart from Tim and Sam who had extra energy so kept tailing back... I'd love to know how much ground they covered.
On arrival we were pleasantly surprised with a lovely table full of refreshments so straight away we were sending photos to the other group trying not to make them jealous haha.
The team had a few tasks to do which included painting a fence (Samantha, Rosie, Michelle and Catherine), removing bind weed (Sarah and Helen), locating & pulling up a bind weed root (Vicky, Tim and Mel), weeding the shingle (Bill, Sam, Katy, Robert, Lizzie, Tammy & Lisa), clearing a pathway (Hayley, Jen and Isabelle) and some hedge trimming (Darren).
Sarah and Helen discovered one of the 'Norfolk Rocks' amongst the bind week, which they later re-hid on the way home.
Before we headed back some of the group wanted to finish up with a cherry pip spitting competition, I'd never heard of this before and I'm not even sure I wanted to but it happened and I don't know who even won!
Now it's over to Calum... drum roll please.
Oh hai there GoodGym teams! Calum here, and itโs my turn to tell you all about my teamโs mission. Wait. Sit down. Hold on. Strap in. Are you ready?
First thingโs first. I was not ready for tonightโs run. While Steve had asked me months ago about doing this, and I while I was eager to help out the Norwich Massive, I forgot. However I wouldn't let a little thing like organisation stop me! I think Steve was aware of this too because he promptly asked me to lead today's warm up 2 minutes before it was time to start the warm up. I bumbled and fumbled my way through, even learned a thing or two. Firstly, if you don't say please after most of your exercises and then say please after one people get REALLY suspicious. Like when you catch your sibling coming out of your room, even though the sign says โ no stupid brothers allowed โ Stan! Secondly GoodGym is full of patient and wonderful people willing to let a fool try bumble and fumble his way through his first ever warm up session.
After we split up, my 4 member strong team (Jasmine, Elizabeth, Chloe and I) sadly watched the larger team bounce off. We felt morose, like we were watching our 21 children head off to their first day of school. Still we had a task to do and no time to waste, especially as I would waste some time getting us lost probably. I did.
Once we finally arrived we were introduced to Open Doors staff and treasurer. They explained how Open Doors helps train eternal staff how best communicate with people who have learning disabilities, they also give advice and help to support those with learning disabilities. Incredible charity and really friend staff โ they won our hearts with juice on a muggy evening.
We got shown to our room we were to paint and got stuck in. I bashed on some ABBA and the team started slapping on the paint. Even though we spent 45 minutes working on the room we didn't quite manage to paint all the walls, although I did manage to paint quite a large portion of myself by mistake. Open Doors was very understanding with the unfinished job and agreed we could return on a later run to finish it off, and possibly de-weed the garden. With a quick detour in to a pub to check the England score, we headed back to The Forum. I nearly got taken out by a seagull who did not appreciate my hat, but I made it. We stretched we joked, we bonded. It was a great task for the small team and we would be happy to do it again, although we did miss the rest of our GoodGym family. And remember my readers, unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.
Next week we're heading to The Clare School.
Tue 19th Jun 2018 at 9:43am
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pit_spitting
Tue 19th Jun 2018 at 9:44am
Great run report Steve and Calum, itโs true we did feel sad watching fellow Goodgymers running off in the other direction thank you Calum for being a smashing leader ๐โโ๏ธ๐๐ปโโ๏ธ
Tue 19th Jun 2018 at 9:53am
Great evening again and great run reports. We missed you too!
Tue 19th Jun 2018 at 10:09am
I love these run reports, they make my Tuesday morning a much smilier place!
Tue 19th Jun 2018 at 12:55pm
Hayley won the pip spitting! ๐๐
Tue 19th Jun 2018 at 1:20pm
Yes she did and we had another spit-off when we got back to the Forum and she won that too!
Thu 21st Jun 2018 at 10:18pm
๐๐๐คฃ
Mon 18th Jun 2018 at 6:15pm
Helping a local community group
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