16 runners ran just under 6km to Interact for an outside tidy up

We were very glad to welcome Rhiannon this week, alongside some of our wonderful regulars for our group run to Interact. After congratulating Joel on his brilliant achievement of 150 good deeds we set off on our run, with Adam leading out and Rachel stylishly backmarking in a Specsavers hi-vis.

Once at Interact, there was some trouble finding the key to get into the greenhouse. However, after some solid detective work, we found the key to the tools and the biscuits.

Everyone got straight to work clearing the overgrown area outside the garden, working together to cut the weeds and pile them up together. After plenty of hard labour, we tidied up the tools and treated ourselves to the unopened pack of chocolate hobnobs left for us (thanks Susie!). We jogged back to ARU, where I found out that both Isabelle and Davis are running the London Marathon this year, with currently varied training plans. Best of luck to both for your training and on the day!

Thanks all for joining us, see you soon!

Laurie

13 runners took part in this weeks group run, our task was to deliver leaflets on behalf of the BHF (British Heart Foundation) and our chosen streets in Chelmsford were the Avenues.

BHF are in need of more furniture/electricals for the High Street store, hopefully we will have contributed to them getting more donations.

Welcome to Isabelle at her second run with us.

The news this week was a reminder to sign up to the** Chelmsford Good Friday 10k, congratulations to **Kirk for his 5 consecutive PB's at parkrun, looking forward to this week parkrun Kirk...no pressure!

Next weeks run we meet at B&M car park for the run to Kids Inspire.

We headed for the short trip to the Avenues by warming up along the cycle path with walking lunges, bum kicks, toe and heel walks and in the underpass squats and star jumps.

Raring to go after the warm up, the group was split into two with each group heading up First Avenue posting the leaflets through the letterboxes. It was then a Tempo run back down the Avenue the distance is 400m. We repeated this on Second, Third, fourth and Fifth avenues until we exhausted the leaflets.

We then headed onto Bunny Walk but before we returned to the Uni a special surprise of shuttle runs up the footpath to Arun Close, up and back to six lampposts.

Well done everyone, that was a really good running and fitness session.

Finally, a warm down stretch with Andy handing out Haribo's in celebration of his 12 month Goodgym birthday. But I can't sign off without mentioning that one of this weeks sign ups decided to meet us at next weeks task meeting point elsewhere in the City!! Oh dear!!

There were twelve runners attending tonights group run.

Here is this weeks news:

Interact/M&S - For the next four Sundays, bag packing is on offer at the Westway store from 10:30am to 12:30am. You can do just an hour if you want, missions are being set up so please sign up but also let Susie (susie.nankivell@interact.org.uk) know directly that you will be attending so she can book you in.

Next weeks group run - This is a singing run! We will be going to the Cathedral where Mencap have their annual Christmas Carol service (bring a donation) We will set off from the UNI about 7pm but if anyone would like an easy 5k beforehand then meet at 6:30pm and I will take you on a route. If not, meet at 7pm to walk over to the Cathedral.

Santa Fun Run Set up - This is a Mission event on Sunday morning 8th December with a meet in Central Park at 06:45am to help set up the event, if you want to help break down the event later in the morning, just let me know. (gerry@goodgym.org) You can also sign up to run its about 5k and costs £12 including a Santa Suit butyou need to do this by Monday 2nd December.

No Group runs over the Xmas/New Year period, last group run this year will be the 18th December.

Tonights group run was leafleting for Kids Inspire around the Old Moulsham area. We set off from the Uni doing some warm up exercises and taking our usual route to the high street, to really get the heart rate up we did a caterpillar run for about 300m until a photo opportunity presented itself with a giant bauble that everyone could get inside!

Kids Inspire awarded us their prestigious "Volunteers of the Month" award, thankyou!

After the leafleting was done we headed to Bell Meadow to do a few effort sessions. First up was to split into pairs of fast and slow runners, then heading off in different directions on a 400m loop you meet your partner and hi-fived then headed back the way you came. We did this twice and to finish a handicap race of about 300m with the slowest heading off first with the fastest last chasing down to the finish.

A lot of heavy breathing ensued meaning everyone put in an effort, well done.

Back to the Uni for a stretch down.

14 runners ran 5km to Interact for an autumnal clean up

We had a great turnout of 14 runners this chilly November evening as we set off to Interact.

Our first task was to clear up the ashes from the bonfire we built for the celebrations on the 1st November. We were a little apprehensive about how the bonfire had turned out, however it had left a very clear outline, so it must have gone well!

After quickly completing that job, we then moved on to clear up the leaves in the garden, which seemed to multiply the more we raked, however we still managed to get plenty in the compost bins! We were quite cold by this point, so after a quick biscuit or two, everyone was happy to get going and warm up again.

Thanks for coming to help clear up the outside of Interact, it saves them time so that they can keep on doing their good work.

Good luck to everyone running Chelmsford 10k at the weekend, I have no doubt we'll all do great!

Laurie