Happy As A Sandbag

Another cold, dark night and another trip to our beloved Bombed Out Church with a super 16 runners getting fit while doing good this week.

Following a quick run around the back streets of the Georgian Quarter we were greeted by centre Director Ambrose at the gate of St Luke's. After a history of the Bombed Out Church pop quiz, which we dismally failed in spite of the number of times we've helped the project, Ambrose put us to work. The first task, one we've done before more times than I can count, was to move the very heavy pews. This time however, it could be our last. We repositioned the pews outside of the church where they will sit for the foreseeable future with chairs being hired for summer events. We'll miss the 10-people bench lift though, right? Right?!

Next up was some more lifting and shifting, with giant paint pots being carried from the tower room to the crypt and sandbags hiked from outside and down to the crypt. Finally, the original clock pendulum which proved to be very, very heavy indeed needed carefully and slowly moving into the crypt. There was some excellent team work throughout, and as we know, team work makes the dream work.

A big shout out to newbie Vera who joined us for the first time and worked really hard at the task and the fitness session - nice one Vera, do come and run with us again soon.

We were also really happy to welcome another not so new newbie, as we were joined by Clodagh who we work with at the Liverpool Irish Centre. This was Clodagh's first time "on the otherside" and she did a fab job! You're welcome to run with us any time :)

It was also great to have Pete visiting from GoodGym Stockport. Take our greetings back to our North West GG neighbours.

Some of the team had a mini adventure, climbing the narrow staircase up the bell tower while those of us who prefer to keep our feet on the ground, enjoyed an impromptu fitness session of squats, lunges and skiing.

After waving goodbye to Ambrose, we climbed back up the hill and hit the stairs at the Met Cathedral, getting our blood pumping and our heart rates nice and high as we climbed the 56 steps on repeat as many times as we could in 3 minutes.

A huge shout out to our Sam who clocked his 100th good deed today. Having hit 50 in November, it could be a new record for the second half of the century. Sam, you are a local legend and we applaud you!

Finally a shout and a see you soon to Effie. She will be running with the team next week (and clocking her 50th good deed) but I will be away then. After that, she'd heading off to join GoodGym Lambeth and moving down to That London. Effie, you have been a brilliant team player, a wonderfully organised Task Force member and an all-round good egg. You will be missed.

Well done to everyone on completing tasks that are impossible/would take hours for the tiny team at the Bombed Out Church to complete. Great work team!

Next week I'm off on my jollies but John will be looking after you and the team will be helping at a foodbank sorting centre. Support John and sign-up here.

P.S. Kudos to Jo for this week's title pun.

P.P.S. My phone crashed and I clearly didn't know how to use the camera on Emma's phone so apologies for the blurry pictures this week!!!!