What a SCREAM! It was an EMULSION (al) Evening at Christ (that-was-cold) Church!

It was our coldest run of the year, but that didn't stop 18 Swindon GoodGym'ers rocking up at the Oasis in their finest clothing ready to run to Christ Church halloween-style. Yes - we had some strange looks as we gathered outside the Oasis, with Fran dressed as a cheeky red devil complete with tinsel (classy); Paul as a (gender neutral) witch (the hat was £1 from Wilko apparently - go and grab a bargain before they sell out?!); Kirsty dressed as a cat with full on face paint; Owen sporting some boggly eyes on the top of his head (amazingly they did not fall off during the run - were they stuck on somehow? Will he be wearing them to work today?!); and, the lovely Tracey looking skeletal (sporting the finest white t-shirt complete with Rib Cage)! Thanks to Helen for bringing the glow sticks. I was rather pleased with my purple bat bracelet; I just can't quite work out why it isn't working today?!

So, we stood about for a while, chatted, welcomed our newbies, Sharon (who I met at parkrun the other day) and Chris (who I've known for years, who once said to me that running was a 'no go', has since lost 2 stone and completed a marathon) and went round the circle for a head count (while those running late joined the circle out of breath, sweating and unable to speak - Graham, for example, had been on the squash court just minutes before. Squash, running and volunteering Graham - I am officially impressed!). The headcount theme was 'scariest movie ever watched'; the responses were interesting and varied, particularly Richard's response of Little Shop of Horrors - a classic film from the 1980's, only the 40+ years would remember. Quite a few of you had never heard of it?! I am starting to feel old...! The good thing about GoodGym? Age is no barrier! LOL!

It was getting cold and we needed to get going, but I had Strava to sort out as well as a bat bracelet to put on! What a nightmare (on Elm Street - Chris?!) Sorry for the delay everyone! Oh dear - I really must start looking more professional at this...?! So, we left the Oasis, passed Swindon College, went under the bridge that numerous lorries have got stuck under, ran past the motorbike dealer that now seems to have three shops (when did that happen?!), and made our way past the Wyvern Theatre. It then dawned upon the GG crew the route we were taking, and it was at this point the comments about THAT HILL started. Some of them positive; many of them negative. Hill climbing is good for the soul (it is Halloween after all), so it was onwards and upwards with Jason at the rear shouting words of encouragement and praise. Good job Jason! Everyone got to the top with a smile (or perhaps a grimace) on their faces?!

We turned the corner and there she was - the Old Lady on the Hill (our last visit was in August to do some weeding in the Rose Garden). Today the task was something more suitable for this time of year - painting (in the warm) inside the Community Centre next to the church. Chris, marathon runner AND Centre Manager, led us to the front door, keen for us to crack on with the painting. There was a lot to do - we had a hallway (with a very high ceiling) to paint! Yikes! Thank goodness we have GG'ers like Owen and Dan who are so tall, they can reach places that the rest of us can't. And Ellie, who was a dab hand with the long roller that I kept breaking, seemed to reach the ceiling with it?! The dust sheets were down, the paint was out and everyone grabbed a roller (except Jo who was excellent with a paintbrush) keen to get on with it after spotting some donuts on display - a post GG treat for those that finished first! So the race began; who was going to be the first to grab a donut? Being a dab hand at taking photos (!), I have photographic evidence that it was Dan - the Tall Man. I must say - it was good to see GG grafter Steve enjoying the post GG delights; he had burned quite a few calories that evening going up and down that ladder!

We said our goodbyes to Chris, prepared ourselves for the Big Freeze outside, and re-set our watches. We stepped outside, started running but before we knew it, we were doing some shuttle runs, kindly set by Drill Master Emily Crazy Legs earlier on that day via a WhatsApp conversation. She wasn't there in body, but she was in spirit (how spooky!). In two teams, GG'ers did their shuttle runs; some like Sam sprinting so fast, I didn't think she was going to stop. What energy! Yes - trick or treat sweets were promised to the winning team. I will bring them the next time I'm at GoodGym, for everyone to have of course!

We had a nice downward run back to the Oasis, with Andrew and I at the front discussing suitable puns for the Run Report. Andrew is very good at puns; I am not, hence the reason I always ask for a pun when I'm leading a run! What team work! And what a fabulous evening with the GG Swindon Crew. Why not join us again next week? With Paul leading the run, we will be heading to the Open Door Centre to paint their toilets! More painting?! Fantastic. We're almost semi-professionals at this now. Just click here to sign up to next week's run And if you would like to join our WhatApp group for all of the latest GG Swindon chat and gossip, just click here!