Library of (Stranger) Things

30 excellent runnners do good in West Norwood, helping the Portico Gallery and the Library of Things, then race back to base trying to Beat the Reaper!

It was the night after Halloween and strange things were still afoot. The night was dark and cold and so we warmed ourselves up with a nice long 4km run to West Norwood and the brilliant Portico Gallery. We've been running to see John for years now and he always has a wacky task to hand. With lights set up, we had to move a load of gubbins that he uses for the West Norwood Feast and sort it out. There was some particularly sterling tarpaulin folding as well as other general sorting. Once made neat and tidy, we moved it all back again into a more orderly fashion before heading back to base, with the Reaper hot on our heels....

Six Goodgymers formed a splinter cell and ventured a little further afield to help out Rebecca from The Library of (Stranger) Things. An extremely helpful nonprofit community shop that boasts quite the collection of stuff available for borrowing. Whether you're after a sewing machine to create your latest fancy dress showstopper, a hacksaw for a spot of weekend DIY, or even a fondue set to make a real splash at your latest house party in 1974; they really do have it all.

Our task was to carry some wooden crates across West Norwood for an intriguing sounding woodworking workshop hosted by the Library on Saturday. See you all there!

After all this it was time to attempt a spot of Beat the Reaper. Where George Bright assumed the role of a speedy Grim Reaper (sans scythe or actual power of death for health and safety reasons) who spotted us all three minutes for the return journey before giving chase.

I shall catch you all!! Said George the Reaper

There were plenty of suspicions within the splinter cell that George the Reaper's gruelling pace setting on the way out was a cynical ploy to exhaust his future prey for the return leg. He was still no match for the speed of Daniel, Elise, Jim, Jack and Tom who lived to fight another day.

After some lovely stretching, all of us, dead or alive, enjoyed some delicious pumpkin pie and chocolate cake courtesy of Maya and Ellie: STAR BAKERS INDEED!