Rake, barrow and roll!

Kingston GoodGym you rock on Week Two!  We salute you!  We don't need to be at The Rolling Stones at Olympic Park tonight as we used our rock n roll energy instead.  We rocked Kingston with a mega work-out involving the maximum GoodGym distance of a 10k run and a load of rake, barrowing and rolling! 

Well done Kingston for completing the challenge so successfully on Week Two - no mean feat.  It must be an evening of 10s - 10  game runners running 10k and not needing the bus back.  The runners included returning runners from last weeks's launch night, GG Richmond runners and new runner Kate - welcome!  

After a quick warm up in front of our new home, The Guildhall, we were off and soon ate up those k's through Surbiton, Berrylands (and it's one sharpener 'hill' mid route which Mark insists is just a 'slope') and before not too long we were at Manor Park and our task.  

Simeon the task owner from The Friends of Manor Park enthusiastically greeted, briefed us and equipped us with just the right tools, including 3 marvellous wheel barrows to drive.  The brief was to lay a path through the copse to make a clearer route for users to enjoy and get back to nature.  The Friends of Manor Park, is a local community group, based in New Malden established by residents to help protect and improve the park so more people can play, exercise, take part in sport, walk, and socialise.  

We quickly divided into groups to set up a production line to shovel, barrow and rake the fabulous green wood chips.  We reckon these wood chips were better than Chelsea - an aromatic and beautiful contrasting mix of brown and green foliage.  In under 30 minutes we'd moved a mountain of woodchips into a beautiful path.   

Thank you Simeon, it was a pleasure to work with you tonight and a most satisfying task so we'd love to be back soon.

The run back was a good challenge on tiring muscles so thank you Mark for an excellent stretch out and cool down on the beautiful lawn outside Guildhall.

Tonight when we discussed the news, Nick announced a new PB from the weekend in the Hackney Half - congratulations Nick. Bill also congratulations to you for a most worthy piece of news and another new PB, this time at Park Run - well played!

Also mentioned was the GoodGym Olympics, check out the events here 152 runners are already signed up!

Thanks Jane for this excellent report - look forward to seeing you all next week for a shorter run , I promise (I don't even think there are any "slopes")