Mark Barun

GREAT pun from JP and a great run from the team too!!

My title would have been musically 'My First, My Last, My Everything as it was my first group run back since pre covid, my last as an Area Activator and in my time as run trainer with goodgym it has felt like I have given it everything and so holding that note I will cherish the evening and all my time on every run with such awesome teams. Thank you all for keeping it special.

It was a beautiful setting for our warm up and meet prior to a 5km (approx run). The sun was sinking behind the trees with golden streams shooting through the leaves as GG Kingston and Richmond members arrived looking radiant and excited to get a group run going again after so long. The young deer and its mother trotted off to make way for us to try to remember how to move like we used to 18 months ago!! AND we did it - SO WELL DONE!!...... Maybe with a few groans and some huffing and puffing but we survived a traditional type warm up and was still looking ready to tackle a run too.

We opted for the steady paced run which gave us a chance to catch our breath and catch up, swap stories just like the old times and then before we knew it we were at United Response feeling a little thirsty but ready for action.

The gnome got off lightly as he was on the menu for painting but materials were in short supply for him so we set about painting everything else we could from the list. As the light of day was fading Dave mowed the lawn to a standard that centre court at Wimbledon would have been pleased with and the swing chair and the bench started to look all the fresher for some colour. The paths got some TLC too and were all the cleaner for a good sweep. I am certain as this was all happening I spied the gnome grinning smugly to have got away with a face lift but his time will come ... perhaps on our next visit.

Great work GG and thanks to the team at United Response for the hydration too!

A quick stretch set us up for the end of the session and the next one which was in the pub.... Where a blanket of red GG shirts had gathered to give this old trainer a night he would never forget!!

Thank you so much all for everything x

Well we managed to crowbar in a session initially set up to help prime a team to run to a CM but we couldn't make that FIT this time around!

What we did though was focus on some other fitness elements - Of course we ran but there is more to fitness than just running (Oh my god did he just say that ...YEP!) So we worked strength, flexibility, some endurance, core, fast and slow twitch fibres, plyometrics and more all in one hit and then as we arrived we left running ; - )

Super to see the girls in action, especially Chloe among the red shirts for the first time!

Happy 3rd Birthday to GoodGym Kingston.

Wonderful to have a wee celebration tonight straight after the task for Mencap with you lovely people. A charming picnic party it was despite the rain with bubbles and birthday cake and everyone bringing something to make a fantastic spread. Extra thank you to Martel for the very impressive 'rose gold' balloon and to Michelle from Mencap for saving us from the rain with indoor facilities.

Also thank you to all the wonderful volunteer runners, task owners & supporters of GoodGym Kingston over the last 3 years, and here's to hopefully another successful bumper year to come.