Chilly nights and fairy lights as Santa warms our hearts

Twas the night... two weeks before Christmas in many a house - and nothing was stirring not even a mouse..

AND THEN

GoodGym turned up with Santa on a Sleigh - loud music fairy lights and 10 helpful souls shaking buckets and helping the Rotarians collect money for charity.

The night started not at our usual meet point but by mutual agreement we met at the Peepul Centre so as to make the run distance achievable.

Mel and Rach (suffering a bit from end of term school lurgy picked up from her charges) drove to the meet point taking with them our warm clothing for the inevitable freeze fest later on.

The remainder followed Dave on a nostalgic journey through his boyhood neighbourhood with Jim bringing up the rear.

It must be noted about the improvement of both Sharon and Irene since joining the group. Both came as brand new members a few weeks ago and have become dependable regulars who have thrown themselves into tasks with great enthusiasm but their running has come on leaps and bounds - great stuff ladies long may it continue.

Huw also completed a 4 week streak and I am pleased to say will be taking over the reigns from me in the New Year.

Despite the "nearer" start it was still a decent distance but everyone kept a fine old pace - plenty of chat so no one overdoing it but a really good workout.

We met Chris (remember him - the Race Director from the Watermead Challenge) and he gave us our hi viz vests and collecting buckets then it was "follow that sleigh" as Santa set off around the streets of Rushey Mead,

Curtains twitched and doors opened as Santa made his way around and we certainly made the night of quite a few young folk on the estate tonight.

We shall find out in due course how much was collected. Chris explained that this was the first of a ten night stretch of street collections and anything collected tonight would be a bonus as without our help tonights collection could not have happened.

With the mercury rapidly falling our session came to an end so we handed back our bibs and bid farewell to Chris, Santa and the driver - whose name I never caught but lets just assume it was Rudolph.

With a very slight diversion at the start the route was pretty much a reverse of our out run. It became increasingly difficult to chat as our jaws froze but in surprisingly short order we were back at the Peepul Centre for a debrief.

Last one before Christmas next week - indoors at Scope then perhaps a drink or two before we all say our goodbyes - who's in?