This evening’s run saw 13 volunteers tackle shovelling and raking tasks at the Marble Hill Play Centre.

Next year GoodGym will celebrate its 10th anniversary, and each week we see more evidence of the group’s success as the number of black shirted and red winged runners inexorably rises. This evening started out as a demographic anomaly however, since by 6:45 PM genuine concern was emerging that we may have only one female runner. Fortunately this unlikely turn of events was mitigated by the arrival of committed female reinforcements including Imogen on her second run and Hammersmith GG Leader, Beth , on her first run with Richmond.

Gender gap duly rebalanced, within 15 minutes we found ourselves on familiar territory, bunny-hopping and forward-backward bounding across Richmond Green. A longer hop across the Thames to Marble Hill Park’s Play Centre introduced the crew to the evening’s three tasks: shovelling a ton of unwanted soil into refuse sacks; emptying a second ton of sand into a sandpit; and forking over wood chips below the adventure swings. This Lottery Heritage funded institution is a community gem, and performing tasks that would have been challenging for 1 or 2 staff was a genuine pleasure, demonstrating the very best aspects of GG’s helpful ethos.

We were all chipping in tonight...oh wait, maybe out 😀#marblehill #adventureplayground #volunteering pic.twitter.com/tDZJnReTdT

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) August 27, 2018

@Goodgym bagged it! #Richmond #marblehillpark #runners #bankholidayfun pic.twitter.com/rSPVw5d6db

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) August 27, 2018

Once the tasks were completed, forks, shovels and gloves were cast aside (tidily) as interest piqued over the giant jungle gym. Prompted by Mark’s Tarzan-like manoeuvers on the imposing rope swing, soon competition emerged as displays of big-kid acrobatics ensued. Surely not forebodings of an adventure park themed repertoire to be added to Mark’s increasingly diverse training regime?

Tonight we really got into the swing of it#goodgym #playground #richmond #marblehillpark #running #doinggood pic.twitter.com/MKEDF13dn3

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) August 27, 2018

Eventually the dark forces of dusk’s arrival prompted a retreat from our verdant setting beneath temperate skies. We followed the trail to the riverside gate to be met with beams from an alien craft (well, Park Ranger) before being re-routed for a bonus 5-minute leg via St Margaret’s for good behaviour. Then it was back to base camp, completing the outing with a stunning attack on Richmond Bridge’s imposing gradient delivered with storm-trooper grit, sabres blazing. As the GoodGym Jedi would say - May the Fork be with you!

We have finally got a task where you can get you painting fix. Sign up for next week's run here

So we started this week off with another busy news section:

1. The first Richmond community mission was successfully completed on Saturday
2. 2 local missions were run on Sunday, by Kate & Samia
3. Mark had tails of running up some monster hills that made Richmonds look pretty meagre! Hmmmm ...wait to see the evidence !
4. Mark also had new the task shuffle around for next week, which gives us Balsam to pull for our 2nd birthday. Well it is tradition, as that was the first ever Richmond Task and the 1st birthday mission too!

Saturdays Thistle pulling mission also brought us a new runner, Lewi, who not only joined but back-marked, a very valiant effort for his first time out! Great to have you on board. Madurai also joined us from GoodGym Kingston.

We set off to the green for a quick warm up as we had a long run to get to Whitton. The 5k distance gave us plenty of time to catch up on the weeks sporting events, Wimbledon & the football, of course, and to discuss more plans for next weeks birthday party, as well as reminiscing about favourite tasks and discussing all things mission related.

Once we arrived at the task, we quickly downed some cold water before cracking on with the gardening. We concentrated on the front of the building this time and set to work sweeping and weeding the entrance and parking spaces. Aran did a great job battling the wind, sweeping piles of leaves and hurriedly trying to get them into bags before they were scattered back across the tarmac. Then we tidied up the path way leading to the side doors; bagging leaves, pruning back the over hanging plants, collecting litter and pulling up yet more unruly weeds.

"I'm sure I've already swept this leaf!"#Richmond #GoodGym #volunteering #Mondays #WhittonYouthZone pic.twitter.com/QvBOaTPN8l

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) July 9, 2018

Soon enough, time was up, and we gathered together for Mandy to gave us a quick run down of all the great work Whitton Youth Zone do. She let us know that there's a big garden work party day scheduled for the 27th July, should anyone fancy getting really stuck in! But for tonight, we had to be off, 5k back, this time in slightly cooler temperatures with a nice breeze, for which we were all very grateful.

"Are you sure we bagged it?"#Richmond #running #GoodGym #volunteering #Whitton #weeding pic.twitter.com/zVL7el7mLr

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) July 9, 2018

How lucky were we!!!

GG Richmond really have managed some near misses when it comes to the weather in recent months and tonight was no exception...there were rumours of another lightning storm and it did eventually make an appearance in Richmond town but not until the Goodgym runners had tackled almost 5km , part of which was on very "undulating" terrain, aka "one of Mark's very steep hills!" Which i have to admit felt AWESOME to have a go at with the final hour of sunlight beaming down on us.

It was hot….very HOT!

We were still rain free as we flew down the hill, along church road and ending up at the front door of Penny Wade House, home to charity SPEAR who do amazing work with those who are homeless. Tonight, we met Steve and Damien and were given instructions to clean and bleach all the doors as well as the skirting boards. We were well supplied with all the cleaning materials and good wishes from staff and residents. It was really satisfying work and many of us just wanted to do more so we hope to be back again soon.

As we worked the heavens opened and once again we were greeted with a heavy downpour. But to our delight after we had lifted the grease and grime from the walls of Penny Wade House the weather had turned again and we were left stretching on Richmond Green under a glorious sunset.

During our stretching, new GG Richmond runner Chi tried to coaxed us into joining him in beating a Strava Segment , there were no takers but we did give him a well-deserved Cheer as he ran around the Green beating the strava time. Well done Chi and great to have you join us this evening!

If you wish to know more about the Vocal Tonix events Mark spoke of tonight please let him know.

Dont forget Tug of War is on 8th June and there are still spaces to be part of the team. Sign up here, we need 8 game players and 2 substitutes and LOTS of cheerleaders!

Mission in Richmond if you are verified is listed here. If you want to get on board with these missions just sign up and have a quick DBS – Chat to Mark next time too if you wish!

Thank you Chris for your first time back marking and thank you Samia for the pun. Also welcome to Samia and Kate to the GG Richmond taskforce team – We are a strong bunch now (all ladies of course – C’mon gents man up!)

David we hope your knee gets better...impressive puddle jump, just don’t tell your phyiso!

Check out our warm up from tonight...

Check out our warm up from tonight.....magnets in our feet or a spring in our step, you choose pic.twitter.com/XUYDejG0O6

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) May 28, 2018