David Balch


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Doing good since August 2019


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David Balch
David Balch has done their first good deed with GoodGym. 🥳

Tuesday 20th August 2019

GoodGym Runner

GoodGym Runner

David Balch has done their first good deed with GoodGym.

David is a now a fully fledged GoodGym runner. They've just run to do good for the first time. They are out there making amazing things happen and getting fit at the same time.

Klara Kjellgren
David Balch
David Balch went on a group run

Tue 20th Aug 2019 at 6:45pm

Exe-citement and Exe-ercise at Exeter launch!

Exeter Report written by Klara Kjellgren

61 runners turned up to the very exciting GoodGym launch in Exeter! We ran 3.5 k to help the Newtown Community Association get their new community building in Belmont park ready for opening in September.

WOW! We had an incredible turn out for our launch run in Exeter! 61 is the highest number of runners ever to come along to a GoodGym launch. Absolutely amazing to see! Most of the runners who came along were totally new to the GoodGym, but we also had some experienced GoodGym runners joining us from Bristol. Great to meet you all!

We started at the Exeter Phoenix Art Centre. This will be our starting point every week which is great as it has toilets, a safe place for us to lock our bags and also a lovely cafe-bar for refreshments and chats for anyone who fancies that before or after our runs.

From the Phoenix we jogged over to the Rougemont Gardens where we were joined by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Mrs Yolonda Henson and Mathew Bryne, the CEO of the Westbank (who we work in partnership with and is funding the GoodGym in our area) who gave some lovely speeches.

We then carried out some dynamic warm-up exercises, getting our bodies ready before we headed over to Belmont Park. During the run we re-grouped at regular intervals, so that we didn’t get too spread out and we managed some press-ups, wall squats and high knees as well on the way. Thank you to Helen Stevens and Ed Field who back marked so that no one got left behind and a big thank you to Dave Guest who led the walking group.

At the task we were welcomed by Rory McNeile, the chair of the Newtown Community Association, who showed us what to do and explained that the community building will be an important place for educational and social events and that it will have a very positive impact on the lives of local residents. The community building will be opening on Saturday the 21st of September, 11 am-3 pm, with fun activities for all age groups and everyone is welcome to join!

We then got stuck in and worked hard for 45 minutes, focusing on the following tasks:

  • Shoveling soil onto a trailer and transporting it to the preschool nearby
  • Picking up rocks from the ground
  • Digging out flower beds
  • Raking up grass
  • Sweeping the ground
  • Cleaning the floors inside the building
  • Clearing out gutters

These tasks gave us a full body work-out and it was amazing to see how much we got done!

45 minutes of GoodGym runners getting stuck in made such a difference. Fantastic work everyone!

On our return run we stopped at the Cathedral green where we all enjoyed (I hope!) a fitness session involving 5 types of squats and 4 types of planks. All these exercises strengthen muscle groups that are important to running and by keeping these strong we both improve performance and reduce risk of injury. Hot, sweaty and happy we then returned to the Phoenix where we carried out some stretches. We also took some great photos!

After the group run some runners stayed around for refreshments and chats in the Phoenix which was lovely. Some runners also got their documents checked so that they can start doing coach runs (regularly running to see an isolated elderly person), or so that they can take part in mission runs (running to help isolated elderly people with one-off practical tasks). Fantastic to see that runners are getting involved with the GoodGym in Exeter in this way already and thank you Dom Tooze for helping out with the document checks.

It will be brilliant to see you all again next week when we will run to help the Sylvania Environment and Community project with some gardening tasks along a footpath in the Sylvania Estate. The outward run will take us up a rather steep hill but don’t worry, we will stop to catch our breaths and regroup at regular intervals! Also, what goes up must come down so the return run will be a lot easier! Sign up here to come along.

To finish of with a big shout out to everyone who took part in the launch of the GoodGym in Exeter is very much in order! You all really showed Exeter how to get fit by doing good! It was fantastic to see how everyone chatted to each other and got along during the whole evening as well. Such great GoodGym vibes!

See you next week and happy running until then!

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Klara Kjellgren

Hide comments (11)
Colchester runner

Wed 21st Aug 2019 at 6:38am

Excellent report Klara.An amazing turnout for your first group run.Well done.

Vicky Tester

Wed 21st Aug 2019 at 9:02am

Thanks Klara for leading a great session! will definitely join you again when back down in the area.

Klara Kjellgren

Wed 21st Aug 2019 at 9:04am

Thank you so much! It was great having you there!

Redbridge runner

Wed 21st Aug 2019 at 11:07am

Well done, Klara on your first Exeter group run!

Matthew Byrne

Wed 21st Aug 2019 at 11:18am

Absolutely blown away by the success of the launch and the feedback from runners. Well doen Klara and all at Goodgym - it's a pleasure to be working with you.

Klara Kjellgren

Wed 21st Aug 2019 at 12:55pm

Thank you all so much! Still buzzing from it all! Hope everyone who took part is too 😃

Tav
Tav (he/him)

Wed 21st Aug 2019 at 5:31pm

61 ! Shut the front door.

Katie Carew-Robinson

Wed 21st Aug 2019 at 9:28pm

Wow, that's a lot of GoodGym Good! Congrats on the launch Klara, take a breath and then enjoy it all again next week. Lovely photos too :)

Benjamin Annear

Wed 21st Aug 2019 at 11:12pm

WAHOOOO - Amazing number. Welcome to the family guys!

Shona Buchanan

Thu 22nd Aug 2019 at 3:37pm

Well done Klara and Exeter! What a showstopping launch!

David Balch
David Balch signed up to a group run.

Tue 20th Aug 2019 at 6:45pm

Help Belmont Park Community Building get ready for opening

We will help tidy up the outdoor area surrounding the new community building

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Klara Kjellgren