Six GoodGymers, Agathe, Katie, Nadia, Rebecca, Wayne and Anne met at the Leisure Center last night. It was still light and mild, but some of us were cautious and wore an extra layer of clothing and a torch. These were useful during and after the run as it became dark and chilly! But bonus points for the optimistic runners who made us believe that spring was really with us!

Well done Wayne who had already run about 10 kms with some hill training just before meeting us at the Leisure Centre. It was great that Rebecca, despite her heavy schedule, managed to run with us. Katie has resumed her regular training with the aim of completing the upcoming Martian Race.

We started the session with a warm up and a group photo. Nadia and Anne guided the group to the planned 5 kms route as they had already done it with another running group. We all ran at a comfortable pace allowing us to chat and catch up with news.

Agathe impressed us all by completing the session without walking at all. Agathe cycles everywhere, but running is new to her.

We hope to see you at junior parkrun this coming Sunday. Or you might prefer helping out WEAct making Woking a healthier, greener place for us all? We will remove brambles and thinning out holly shrubs? See the diary for more details.

Happy running to you all.

Sean Coxhead Inspiring Individual Award 2024 Trophy Presenation 🏆

This evening Woking GG celebrated all that is good and wonderful about our Anne 😇

Woking GG had reserved a VIP section at the Sovereign's and it was great to see such a good turn out. All our fantastic crew Adam, James, Wayne, Katie, Alys, Agathe, Maya, Rebecca, Kirsty, Lauren, Julie, Nadia, Luan, Caterina, & Sally Anne who was back in town for a few weeks as she was on uni break (Was great to see Sally Anne) and a lovely surprise for Anne 😄 it was also great to see Phil who joined us to celebrate Anne.

Anne has been with Woking GG from the very beginning she was there at the launch night back in 2016. She has seen many faces come and go but Anne has remained that constant face encouraging, supporting showing kindness to all that have joined. Her dedication and commitment has been amazing and it shows with over 300 good deeds and still going strong ❤️

Anne has taken on the roles as task force and now run leader, and continues to help others with organizing hill training sessions as well as tasks within the community.

Woking GG are very lucky to have her, Anne in her speech tonight dedicated her award to all her goodgym crew who she said also deserved the award but in our eyes Anne is a worthy winner of this amazing award as she also has all the attributes that amazing Sean had ❤️

Surrey 1/2 Marathon 2025

This morning Woking GG members were out in force running and volunteering at the Surrey 1/2 🏃🏼‍♂️💨

Wayne did not take part in the run as his knee was still not 💯% so instead ran to and from Woking Park. Wayne had volunteered to help set up the event as well as usher the runners who were looking at 2:10 times into their pens as the start of the race, who was also assigned to be at the finish line to hand out medals at the end 😄

Anne was also up early and was stationed at different area's along the 21k route cheering the runners around especially the GG Runners.

It was great seeing Maya & Andy as they walked past, both who have been getting some impressive training in recently. Rich was aslo there looking to complete this years race as last year he had to pull out 10k into the race due to injury.

There was about 3, 500 runners who took part this morning Wayne . First thing that Wayne had to do was sign in and collect his High Vis and was also given a free hot drink voucher which he gave to Anne as he was fasting. He then had to separate the 21k medals and 5k medals and put them on their hook in preparation to be handed out along with other volunteers who were very curious and interested about Goodgym.

15 mins before the start a few of us were taken to the stage area where we were given start time boards which we had to put high as we we could so the runners could see what their target times were and the follow us to the start line 🏁

Once the 21k runners had gone through their was a 15min wait for the 5k runners. The atmosphere was amazing with music and laughter in the air. In no time the 5k runners were at the start line and off they went 🏃🏼‍♂️. There then was a 10min wait for the kids 2k race to start, it was great seeing so many faces from the junior park run taking part.

Even though the sun was out the wind was cold so staying warm was fun by dancing and moving about. Just after an hour the first 1/2 marathon runner was coming along the last straight followed by two others it was a close top 3 and the time was amazing. As the time ticked away the 5k runners were also coming through the medals were flying off the arms and around the necks of the runners.

Wayne was looking out for his fellow GG Members, First person he saw was Rich, who finished an an impressive time 1:32:10 and was delighted with Wayne giving him the medal. Rich was followed by Adam who was returning from injury with a brilliant 1:46:09 (Fantastic rub by Adam) followed by James another great time.

Rebecca who was also recovering from a foot operation also completed the 21k and when she came through Wayne ran to her to give her a big hug and present her with her medal, (Amazing run by Becky 👏🏻)

All runners did so well but the GG Runners were incredible, you all deserve a well earned drink and a greasy burger afterwards 😄

As we approached the 3 hour mark most of the runners had gone through the last runner came through shortly after big cheers were heard all round. Then the tidy up started and GG leaflets that Wayne had taken were handed out to some volunteers who wanted to know more.

What a great morning ☀️

Anne, Rebecca, Nadia and Wayne attended one of our favourite community missions, Woking Food Bank. It was nice to see Alison as it has been a while since we were last at the Food Bank in the summer. 😀The Food Bank was open and busy today, so Alison was grateful for our support in the clean up operation. Nadia got to work straight away hoovering the floor, 🧹followed by Wayne with the broom. Anne and Rebecca completed the job by mopping the floor behind them. There was much excited talk about Surrey half marathon at the weekend. All work was complete in a flash and Alison was particularly pleased to have the corners and under the tables cleaned, especially as Wayne found a rouge swede hiding under some boxes! We posed for the traditional photo on the stairs and Nadia rushed off to her next activity of the evening. Well done to Anne, Wayne and Nadia for running over 12k between them to and from the mission. Rebecca prioritised trying to get the smell of Dettol of her hands over running! 🏃‍♂️

Wayne organised a fantastic venue for GoodGym Woking's Christmas Party 2024: The Sky Bar on the 22nd floor of The Hilton Hotel in Woking. Everyone was looking forward to celebrating 12 months of friendship, fitness, and, most of all, remembering the collective efforts of GoodGym Woking, which have contributed to improving the lives of others in Woking. Unfortunately, Wayne's Euromillions ticket entry was fruitless, but the evening was successful!

Adam, Alys, Anne, Rebecca, Caterina, Julie, Kirsty, Lauren, Nadia & Wayne were settled in their reserved seating area and were thrilled and surprised when Agathe arrived to join the party. As a recent GG joiner, Agathe shared how much she has appreciated the warmth and friendship offered by everyone since the first time she attended GoodGym. We are pleased you chose to join us, Agathe! Kirsty shared that by joining a community whose purpose is to altruistically help others, she discovered an unintended benefit, 'helper's high' or, to phrase it more scientifically, discovering that completing acts of altruism releases endorphins and boosts oxytocin and dopamine levels.

The first cocktails arrived, and everyone was very interested in observing the chosen concoctions. Each glass was greeted with choruses of enthusiastic 'ohs and ahs'. Nadia wandered over to one of the huge windows before deciding quickly if it was 'a bit too high'! Alys made everyone laugh with her irrepressible sense of fun and gift for storytelling, while Lauren wanted to know if Wayne would consider stopping at McDonald's on the way home. Like Anne and Alys, Rebecca wore her red tutu to keep the event on brand, which is fitting for a GG Trustee! Adam and Wayne seemed too attached to their woolly hats, wearing them throughout the evening. Other revellers were impressed by their efforts. Caterina enjoyed meeting the GG stalwarts properly for the first time and having time for a good natter; she was rather concerned about whether those with early starts in the morning would manage to get up for work. Welcome to GG Woking, Caterina!

Soon, it was time to go home, and thanks to the designated driver, Wayne, those who were too far from home were driven there by Wayne. And yes, he did stop at McDonald's on the way!

What's ahead for Good Gym Woking between now and the end of 2024? The group's 'Run up to Christmas' distance challenge continues raising money for mental health charities until Christmas Day. Five members are participating in Battersea's Park Run this Saturday. There are volunteering opportunities each Sunday in December at Woking's Junior Park Run, where we help children enjoy running. Also, this Sunday, we will support the All Aboard Club by creating an inclusive play setting for children with additional needs. Later in the month, there will be a GG promotion event and a gardening task at a local church. We will support the Woking Rotary Club's Christmas collections on several dates. A litter-picking session is also scheduled. A 10 km trail run at Polesdon Lacey for some training benefits and also leaflet dropping.

Christmas comes, but once a year, and so does this very special task for GoodGym Woking. The purpose was to assist Woking Foodbank with filling 50 bags with 36 food items ready for distribution to Woking residents who likely find December a particularly challenging time of year.

As usual, the GoodGym Woking team was delighted to be requested again to help Woking Foodbank with this vital service: to provided free food to vulnerable Woking residents. The GG 12-strong crew arrived at the task ready to help bring some Christmas cheer to others less fortunate. The team, welcomed by Alison, the Foodbank Project Manager, arrived at 6.30 pm; some had travelled together in Wayne's car or made their way to the location independently. Anne ran 4.5 km to the location, and Kirsty ran a shorter distance from her house to the Foodbank premises. Both ladies are participating in a Good Gym Woking group distance challenge to raise funds for mental health charities by 'running up to Christmas'. Every km helps!

The GG crew was excited. The excitement increased seeing Wayne wearing his fancy Christmas shirt, the girls put on their December tutus, provided by Kirsty, (GG red, of course), and the boys wore light-up Christmas woolly hats. Everybody was very enthusiastic about dressing up, having heeded Kirsty's warning that any 'Grinches' would have to complete a set of dreaded burpees!

Adam, Alys, Anne, Rebecca, Caterina, Julie, Katie, Kirsty, Lauren, Louise and her son Henry, Nadia & Wayne were ready to begin the task. Wayne quickly gathered the list of 36 items provided by Alison. He nominated each item from the list to an individual whose job it was to collect them . Meanwhile Rebecca carefully counted out 50 bags ready to be filled with said items. Having previously completed the challenge on many occasions in an organised fashion, GG Woking was confident of being faster than ever.

Organised quickly turned into disorganised chaos as the 12 elves raced around the unit collecting the required articles losing count and their way in the process. Order was eventually restored, and enough of each item was located. Adam and Rebecca were designated 'quality control', ensuring each of the 50 bags contained the requisite items, then lining up 'finished' bags in neat rows of 10. Some of the 'finished' bags had to be completed more than once, and 5x10 is harder to count, with 'helpful' teammates darting in and out with an item that had been missed. Wayne was spotted checking the list more than twice.

Everyone felt pleased as the task was achieved; it was time for the obligatory team photo in front of the 50 stuffed bags of goodies. We all agreed this was our favourite task of the year, and we hope we are invited back next year. Then we may remember to use a systematic approach ! :) Everyone bundled outside and on to our GoodGym Christmas party at the new Sky Bar in Woking town centre!