Kelvin, today's Run Director, was a bit stressed this morning. There was lots to organise and the person with the key to the equiptment had arrived late 😥. Everything came together in time and the warm up and briefing were given to a big group of parents and children.

The runners set off and a few minutes later, the first runners crossed the line, cheered by Kash and Steph who were marshalling and high fiving. Today's timekeeper took everyone back to the 90's as they shouted

Boomshakalak!

...as the first 2 runners crossed the finish line. They were equally excited by the next 105 too (but no boomshakalak-ing), until Jacquie, who was tailwalking in the traditional orange vest reached the finish line. Jacquie also stood out for other reasons, surprising the other GoodGymers with her presence, in a good way. Sevan was having a rare go at handing out finish tokens and managed to not mess it up.

So 107 finishers wasn't quite a course record. The number of participants at Pitshanger Juniors is consistently high though and they're building a great community which GoodGym is proud to be involved with. If you want to be part of it, sign up here for July.

Friday lunch time service and the weather was very hot today outside reaching 29degres which means it was very hot in the kitchen and in the crypt of the church. Freya was on clothes and Jacquie was on kitchen duties, serving lunch then helping to clear up. Menu today :

• Roast Chicken Dinner
• Veggie Sausages Both serve with honey glazed parsnips, carrots, mashed potato and onion gravy
• Jelly & Ice Cream

Ice cream is the best dessert in hot weather.

Jacquie is back from her travels and joined Freya at the Friday Hub. Not only did they sign up for 1 mission each but for 2 missions. Two for one ! They started on tea/coffee duties from 11am until 12:30 then were serving food from 1pm. Jacquie helped with washing up while Freya carried on serving. They both helped clear up after lunch. It started quiet then got quite busy. Food was delicious and much appreciated by all.

Menu today :

• Beef Chilli Con Carne with rice and salad
• Veggie Chilli with rice and salad
• Swedish Choc Cake and Strwaberries + Yoghurt

New boards to display todays activities!!

Dining service reaching the end as nearly 3pm : both Jacquie and Steph Ducat stayed for another shift to finish a great service at ESK. You could hear the leftover food whisper : take me away ! Steph Ducat was getting takeaway boxes ready, which Jacquie was handing out to customers and other volunteers. That was an "encore" for the casserole!!Then we were on a cleaning spree with some of the regular volunteers, feeling scrub-tacular! The cleaning crew came and went leaving the area sparkling clean!!

Nearly 1pm and it was nearly time for dining service. Jacquie moved from the tea service to the dining area to serve food to guests. Steph Ducat stayed in the kitchen to plat the food that was going out to the dining team.

What was on the menu? A casserole that included halal chicken served with leek. mushrooms, cream, tarragon and potatoes. As veggie option casserole without the chicken but with some beans. Both had some green beans on the side. We made a casserole that was so good, it got invited back for an encore during the dining service. Dessert, we had a lovely fresh fruit trifle and a banana cake : yummy!

The casseroles were in shape as they do a lot of bake-ercise!!Also did Steph Ducat get the extra energy from the MEGA mushrooms?

Early Friday morning and 3 goodgymers were up early to go and help at Ealing Soup Kitchen. Were they woken up by the rooster or simply early birds? Welcome to Eman who joined Goodgym and this was her 1st mission. Jacquie and Steph Ducat are regulars at the church. Both Eman and Jacquie were at the tea service. Steph Ducat was in the kitchen and the crew was much smaller than the last 2 weeks, but the team Steph Ducat was in the kitchen and the crew was much smaller than the last 2 weeks, but the team didn't flake and got on with it. Preparing lovely food for the guests that would turn up in the dining area at 1pm. Jacquie came several times to get milk which was really more than usual. No surprise as today a massive cereal box was at the tea service - and we had a lot of cereal killers in the foyer. Eman enjoyed her 1st community mission with goodgym and said she will be back to volunteer at ESK.