An outstanding crowd of 44 GG Yorkies completed a huge range of tasks at Millthorpe School as part of our #runandtalk event

Mental Health Ambassador Nick opened up the evening tonight with a brilliant explanation of what #runandtalk is all about. Running is great for mental health in many ways but GoodGym really helps by making us feel connected to our communities, being sociable with other people and giving runners an overall sense of fulfillment.

We introduced lovely new runners Ian and Zoe, and gave massive cheers to Nikki who finally got to wear the Cape of Good Deeds after completing her 50th good deed months ago. Next up was the Brilliant Bev who got to wear the Centurion Cape for completing 100 good deeds!

Our task tonight was with Emma, who runs a 'Forest School' on the grounds of Millthorpe School. Emma had saved us after our original task was cancelled and had a job list as long as her arm. We had to (take a deep breath):

• pull up two pond liners from a pond which hadn't been entirely drained
• dig a series of holes along the fence for bushes to be planted
• bark the whole campfire circle (with bark that was really far away)
• weed a border
• dig up deep-set posts from the old boardwalk
• remove all the old wood/chicken wire from the boardwalk and fill up Emma's car
• move loads of bits of wood to make a new, neat pile

Phew. Good thing a big crowd turned up, eh?

Barbara grabbed a wheelbarrow and set straight off to collect some bark with Tristan, Emily, Leanne and some others. The bark pile was so far away and with only two wheelbarrows it was going to take far too long so the team commandered a wheelie bin and filled it with bark so it could be done in less trips.

Where you been? Nick

Right over at the other side of the school! Babs

No, where you wheelie bin?! Nick

Dan had grabbed the sledgehammer and was tackling the big wooden posts whilst everyone who had baggsied a spade was digging holes for bushes along the line of the blue fence.

Most of the team were on the pond liner task, which was dirtier and stinkier than anyone had imagined. New runner, Zoe, was right in the mix and had already ruined her trainers on her first run.

It's okay, they'll wash! - Zoe

There were many tactics for extracting a giant pond liner that was stuck under a disgusting pile of sludge and it was getting pulled in all directions like a slippery tug-of-war. Every time a bit came up it would flick up and whoever was nearest would get splattered with grim pond slime, but that didn't put anybody off!

Over in the stick relocation department, lots of people were branching out and not sticking to the plan. Ste found a pair of knickers in amongst the foliage and we didn't know what to do with them so he put them in a bucket. Shortly after this, Katie found a bra and was so worried about being photographed with it that she chucked it at Tim.

I'm used to women throwing their bras at me - Tim

The bra also went in the bucket. Even with all that drama though we ended up with a huge and very neat pile of sticks in the right location.

Lizzie and Becky weeded the borders and Paul Kelly jumped onto sledgehammer duty whilst the pond team tackled the second, even deeper pond liner. Emma was welly-deep and doing her best honourary GoodGymer bit and nobody actually fell in which was a total miracle, even through Christine and Jenna both came pretty close.

As the last bit of pond liner came out, a huge cheer erupted and a crew of very grubby GG Yorkies were done. It was just the bark crew to finish off spreading the last wheelie bin of woodchip.

We had just enough time to fit in a Back to Basics Workout with all the best stuff like squats, lunges, burpees and a few partner-assisted single legs squats too!

10 GG Yorkies made the most of the beautiful sunshine to meet at Naburn Station with Peter of Greenways and Jonathan and Enya of St Nicks.

3 hardy folk had run all the way there in the heat... then Peter announced that the task was a further 1.2 miles along the cycle path... and so they kept running!!

Our challenge was to scythe the long grass beside the cycle path, and clear all the cuttings, the aim being to allow wild flowers to flourish. We also pruned back some trees and with all the cuttings created habitat piles to provide a safe home for wildlife.

As the sun set across the fields, we cleared a strip about 50m long. The difference was incredible!!

A year already? That has flown by with so many good deeds done, and kilometres run, that some of us lost count! 21 GG Yorkies met at Forty Five for a GoodGym York 1st birthday party. We were warmly welcomed by Louise, one of the original runners who met in the Premier Inn one cold, dark January evening in 2017.

Everyone brought food, and the bar was well stocked, so we were set for a evening of fun. Nick Griffin began by making a very moving speech, thanking our leader Egg for everything she has done for the people of York in the last year. He used words such as “motivational, indefatigable, inspirational” and there was a huge round of applause as he presented Egg with a beautiful photo album full of snaps from various group runs and missions, accompanied by some truly lovely words from the GG York members.

Paul A had been busy creating a quiz, and oh what a quiz it was. Our knowledge of GoodGym, York, Egg, parkrun and, obviously, fruit juice flavours, was really tested! Despite Lizzie, Nick, Leanne and Bev’s team having the advantage of being compiled of 4 GGers from the very beginning, and some insider knowledge, they were pipped to the post by the formidable Aron, Barbara, Mel and Jenna. Aron has obviously been stalking Egg’s Strava/parkrun data, whilst the others had incredible skills with anagrams.

What a lovely evening, with a lovely group of people. Here’s to the successful future of GoodGym York, and forging of fantastic friendships!!!