Homeward 'Bound'

Another week of lockdown can only mean any virtual challenge! This weeks challenge was to run the furthest possible distance while staying as close as possible to home, and you lot absolutely smashed it.

We seem to be growing in a virtual world, with a turnout of 29 this week rivalling our real world attendances. It was great to see strong contingents from GoodGym York and GoodGym Redbridge, we definitely need to organise some GoodGym tourism once this is all over (unless your group run is on a Wednesday of course!) We also welcomed back Liv from Ealing after her fab entry into last week's challenge (still chuckling about "Upper Butts") as well as runners from Coventry, Liverpool, Huddersfield and of course plenty of GG Leeds regulars.

It was great to see the maps all coming in, and lots of them are very satisfying. I realised the issue with asking for your strava data meant we don't get to see any of your fabulous faces! If you want to rectify that and make the photos at the top a bit more personal, then send a picture my way. It would be great to put faces to all of these new names we're getting to know.

It seems there was a mixed response to this week's task: while everyone embraced the challenge of it, with some clearly spending a lot of time planning, for those who like to stay away from the roads, at least, this was a bit tough.

"I got bored and hungry so didn't quite do my planned route" Egg, GG York Legend

"We were swearing and sweaty by the end of it!" Liz, GG Leeds

Some people were definitely struggling with the fact that going down a road just to come straight back out of it again makes for some funny looks, particularly when there are lots of people around with nothing better to do.

"In some cases I decided I looked a bit dodgy walking up and down obvious cul de sacs with no apparent purpose" Leanne, GG York

"I was angrily questioned by a resident about what I was doing in a private estate!" Rob, GG Leeds

There were lots of people who sounded like they really enjoyed the challenge which is exactly the sort of thing you want to hear as the challenge-setter. I particularly enjoyed this effusive praise:

It was not quite as a boring as I feared" Liv, GG Ealing

My favourite meesages to receive were from those who are not being held back by the current situation, and managed to record their longest ever runs! Linda from Redbridge recorded her longest ever run! Similarly Kati and [Ben] completed their furthest ever distance on road, so I think they all deserve a massive cheer!

Now, onto the results. I'm expecting some controversy here as Andy from York is currently on lockdown with Covid-19, and so he ran every available street to him (that is to say zero streets as he's not allowed out of the house). So his Strava proclaims a distance of 0.02km without ever leaving the house, giving him an infinite score. I suppose that means technically he wins, but I'll leave it up to you in the comments to decide whether you're accepting that result! Also, Andy, I hope you're coping well with the lockdown, and I'd like to wish you all the best from everyone at GG Leeds, and I'm sure the wider GoodGym family.

There are a few people where I only have your distance covered, but not how far you were from home - I'm hoping to work this out myself but it might be a little later on. I'll update when I can!