8 runners (most this year I think!) ran c.7km to deliver leaflets for Foodcycle

We met our new (can still call it that yeah?) crib of the Old Factory ready to roll. Admiring the fact that it still had some remnants of daylight - next week should be even better with the clocks changing - we welcomed Richard our newest recuit, discussed the best way to dispose of a dead body, the current fuel prices, collected some of the new batch of leaflets and headed out towards Springfield Park.

We got to the Springfield Baptist Church where Foodcycle do their work. They host meals for the vulnerable and lonely on a Thursday night at 5:30pm. It was great to hear that they have expanded their numbers and are getting about 25 people a week.

After Joe decided to stop for a quick lie down while Jenny and Charlie fed him some grapes to regain his powers, we split the leaflets up and began to drop them off. With great pace and panache through the streets, we delivered leaflets like I imagine Santa delivers presents (never seen him, I am always tucked up fast asleep).

Laurie apologises for only taking two photos - she was too busy leading us on the elongated route back to base, but it did mean we got an excellent workout in. After we got back we had a brief discussion about meeting Tav - our new area activator - who rumours are may be joining us next week for Ideas Hub!

Run happy and hope to see you all soon!

9 runners ran to Mencap to paint and get fit

On the first day of Lent, we were pleasantly surprised to find that everyone remembered to meet at The Old Factory this evening, for only our second time starting at our new location. It turns out that we do all seem to be responsible adults!

Rich led a quick jazzy warm up and we jogged to Mencap on our usual direct route.

With only one ladder available to reach the remaining high areas, we split the group between fitness and painting. Charlie, Jenny, and Joel found all the tools to get ready for the painting with me, whereas Andy, David, James, and Joe stopped for a chat, meaning that they were volunteered to go for a fitness session with Rich first.

Charlie got on with painting a smaller section reachable without the ladder, and Jenny supported Joel on the ladder to reach the higher areas. The other group returned looking quite sweaty, so we handed them the tools and left them to get on with the painting. Rich's fitness session led both groups on 'running tall' which encourages us to improve our posture and form when running.

Next week we're off to Springfield Park to deliver Foodcycle leaflets, and tomorrow we're off to the Golden Fleece to try and win the quiz from 8pm (tables booked from 7pm).

Thanks and see you all soon!

Laurie

8 runners went for a group run and cleaned up their litter pickers

Due to the unpredictable high winds and rain, we decided as a group that it was safest to not continue with our planned litter picking, and instead go for a run only and make sure the litter pickers were clean for their new storage location.

Rich volunteered as photographer and led us on a 6km loop through Central Park and back. Jenny and Charlie sped off at the front, pausing a few times to let the rest of us catch up, whilst back marker Andy was so busy chatting to Joe that he left the two James's to keep together at the back. We had all put our running jackets on with the poor weather, and by the time we got to the park we had to pause to remove a layer, and only set off again once Rich had checked we hadn't taken too much off.

Once we got back to ARU, we got the litter pickers out and gave them a good clean for the first time in 4-5 years, ready for their next venture out and so that they don't leave a bad smell in the cupboard that ARU have very kindly let us store them in.

We were very proud today that James C has reached 100 good deeds! James C has been one of our regulars since Goodgym Chelmsford's very first task, and I'm very glad that he's continued to join us for almost six years! We arranged ourselves in a running arch to celebrate James C's achievement, and all enjoyed James E deciding to go through the arch first.

Charlie has earned her place as my current favourite Goodgymer due to booking the tables for our next social at the Golden Fleece Quiz on the 3rd of March, thank you Charlie!!

Finally, please remember that we will be changing start location to The Old Factory as of next week. It's still on the ARU campus, and is around 500 metres down the road. Let me know if you have any queries!

See you all soon,

Laurie

7 runners ran 5km to paint at Mencap

Tonight we welcomed James for his first Goodgym, keeping us all on our toes by adding another J name into the mix with Joel and Joe!

After jogging and chatting down the high street, we arrived at Mencap for our task. The boys were immediately drawn to the ladder, and James made his entry as the sandman by sanding down the filler we had put in place last week. Whilst sanding and painting the wall green, David and the three Js talked almost non-stop about beer.

Becca and Charlie went to the hallway to get as much yellow painting done as was reachable without the ladder, and talked much less about beer.

David led the group on a jog around the block whilst I checked that we locked up correctly, and we set off on a route through Moulsham and Central Park back to ARU to make it a round trip. I chatted with Charlie about takeaways, whilst the others apparently decided that we're doing a pub crawl for our next social!

Thanks for helping out at Mencap, and there will be more painting for us to finish there soon!

Laurie