Hillraiser

A very lucky thirteen treated themselves to a GoodGym group run, monster mashing their way through our borough, covering between 4 and 5.5km, gouging out some stubborn weeds at the Calabash Centre and playing a different sort of Trick or Treat game in a very spooky Ladywell Fields.

Flushed with the after-glow of our BBC Breakfast stardom, we very coolly and very casually took up our usual spot in the Glass Mill foyer, half expecting to be swamped by autograph hunters, but instead we just enjoyed telling those who hadn't got up at the crack of dawn on Saturday all about the really lovely report that showed our regular runner Jacqueline with her coach Gwyn and also our recent group run to the Albany in Deptford. If you did miss it, you can have a look here.

Last week we had two visitors from Bristol, this week we had a visitor all the way from...Southwark! Hello Helena, lovely to see you in Lewisham! It was good to welcome back relative newcomers Alys and George and also Martin and Cecilia, who we haven't seen for a while.

First things first, we just had to celebrate a weekend of personal bests! Well done to Kim and Helen for bagging themselves a 5k PB each at Hilly Fields parkrun (no mean feat there!) and, in her absence, to Roni, who ran a smashing time at the Dublin Marathon yesterday getting herself a twenty minute PB! Wow!

We all bowed down to Caireen's devilish Hallowe'en spirit before tripping out onto the grass for our warm-up. Our name-check was momentarily confused by the presence of a very jolly interloper (Tom or Tony?), who really could have stayed if he wanted to, we have plenty of GoodGym love to go round. Confusion continued further as we played Zombie Toe-Touch in twos and a couple of threes then all hell broke loose as we moved on to a fast-paced, still-limbed game of Zombie Run (yes, there's a theme beginning to form here).

The Calabash Centre is a relatively short run and made a nice change from heading Deptford way - nothing against Deptford, it's just we've been there a few times recently! We had expected to be ambushed by spooky revellers, but were instead cooing at a whole family dressed as vampires, including a very tiny - but pretty sinister - family member. We were met by Jason, who let us in and showed us to the outside area that leads out from the day centre, which was, thankfully, flooded with light from the well-lit rooms. Time to get down and dig, prise and persuade the weeds out from between paving stones, under benches, between plants and behind walls. A team of three worked solidly at the front of the building while the rest of the group tackled the courtyard.

How about a jumping-in-the-air group photo everyone?! Oh, only Sean? Oh well.

It wasn't long before it was time to put back tools, sweep up debris and pile up the bin bags, 'More weeding or a longer fitness session?' I asked. It's amazing how many more weeds you can find when faced with such a question!

We weren't sure how much light Ladywell Fields would have to offer, but it turned out to be aptly misty, with a golden glow from all the leaves and a spooky dampness that hung above us as we ran. Oooooooooh! Gathering near the cafe area, everyone listened to the instructions, to 'skeleton run' around the loop, light on our toes, high in our torso, with little sound from our feet. A chain formed and the back runner sprinted hard, remembering those points, reaching the front and shouting 'Go!' and so on. Emerging from the mist, the line arrived, panting heavily, cheeks aglow. Time now for a new game, Trick or Treat. Out came the little pumpkin bag, filled with scrunched up pieces of paper. Each runner took a piece and read either 'Trick' or 'Treat'. The treat? To run hard up the hill and jog or walk back down. The trick? One of a few different challenges: burpees, walking lunges, squat jumps, squats...Everyone worked so hard and with great focus.

Who'd have thought running up a hill could be such a treat?!

A short run back, where Emma proved to be a Pokemon expert (I'm very impressed) and it was time to stretch, hear about next week's run to the Goldsmith's Community Centre and to delve into a bag of sweet treats (without having to go near a hill).