Sand AND Deliver!

On possibly our wettest group run yet, a gritty eighteen ran 8km, sanded doors and door frames, delivered flyers and got soaking wet through, all in the name of community goodness.

Did you see that weather?! We didn't just see it and we certainly didn't look out, decide it was the wrong kind of rain and curl up on the sofa, oh no! We immersed ourselves in its lovely autumnal freshness. When you wait in the (warmth of the) Glass Mill foyer, it's difficult to see what's happening outside, because the glass becomes a massive mirror, reflecting our curious faces back at us. Our gauge then was each runner who traipsed in, either at a leisurely pace and looking dry, or legging it in and shaking off the drips.

We were very pleased to welcome back Sarah, who has been missed recently and also new-comer Nykolette who came back for more after last week's task.

Time to go for it and take whatever Storm Angus had to throw at us. We checked names, always good to have a little reminder, we ran hard on the spot, we lifted our knees, we side-stepped and we did some dynamic stretches with the support of a partner - handy (if a little wobbly) in the absence of a wall!

Tonight was a return visit to Goldsmiths Community Centre, to get on with some more sanding and to help spread the word about the upcoming Christmas Fair. This run is a longer one, totalling 8km and including a lovely hill within the first few turns. Thanks to Stephen, who offered to be back-marker (having already run 7.5km to get here!), we didn't lose anyone en route and all arrived safe and happy after regrouping at crossings. We were, however, a little soggy by this point, having endured an almighty downpour as we neared our task (cue yelps, groans and squeals and perhaps a little increase in pace).

Katharine met us, handing out masks, gloves and strips of sandpaper, as we steamed up the entrance with our moist presence. With two tasks to tackle tonight, it was decided we would spend half our time on each, starting with the cosy, indoor element before heading back out to warm up again for our return leg. All around, eager volunteers scrubbed hard at the doors and frames, getting all of the surface paint off, with some venturing along the corridor to explore new territories. The scratchy sandpaper noise was momentarily interrupted as we cheered in Helen, who had arrived at our start point just as we left and, not wanting to miss out, had made her own way to the community centre, trying to catch us up all the way!

These fifteen or so minutes flew by and it was soon time to pair up and grab hold of some flyers. It seems those living in the area immediately around the centre have been missing out on the news of the Christmas Fair, so our small groups headed out into the wind (and rain?) to spread the word and blow away the dust from their hair and faces. As they scattered, we were joined by Alys, who had also been delayed and had decided to meet us at our task. Respect to both of you for being so dedicated and so determined not to miss out!

Alys, Katharine and I got on with sweeping and hoovering up the dust and our energetic flyer-flyers gradually returned, having covered the roads all around and hopefully encouraged some more visitors to enjoy the fair. With the rain pausing for now, we went on our way, chatting about parkrun, with Niall having tried his first run at the weekend and Lucy having tried her first volunteering role - both enjoyed the experience and will be back for more of the same!

As we stretched, we talked Christmas get-togethers, Santa Runs and we all wished our Mo Runners good luck for Sunday, as they take on the hilly Greenwich Park course. Next week we will head over to the Honor Oak Adventure Playground, why not join us?