The surprisingly cold evening didn't stop David and Martin from optimistically turning up in shorts, whilst the rest of us sensibly covered our legs for an hour of litter picking.

We were pleased to see Nisar back after a break, talk about parkrun, and hear all about his other great volunteering work recently! Russell also returned after a short break and of course he and Andy talked at length, with Disneyland on this week's agenda for them. Martin casually slipped into conversation that he'd run a marathon in Colchester at the weekend, and spotted an unknown Goodgymer.

We tried out a different litter picking location down by the river, and whilst being stared down by an understandably angry swan, filled up two very heavy bags. Andy ventured into the bushes and produced an almost unbelievable amount of Tesco cider cans, followed by posing for a photo with a gleeful wine glass holding Sallyann.

Our task this evening couldn't go past without mention of some of the group's previous love, Beat the Street, or without a photo of a once frequented lamppost on Waterloo Lane.

With it being Fay's birthday tomorrow, she very kindly brought us delicious homemade lemon drizzle cake, thanks Fay! It's also Sallyann's birthday on Saturday, David's birthday on Monday, and it's just been Nisar's birthday. We funnily enough didn't discuss gifts, but plans for birthday food, including Moto, homemade pizza, fish and chips, and Chinese takeaway. Hope everyone enjoys!

Thanks for a great litter pick, and see you all soon.

Laurie

God it was cold tonight! That didn't stop 12 of us eager to get litter picking though. We met at ARU and I bragged about winning a prize through beat the street and meeting the mayor before being knocked down a couple of pegs when I realised I forgot my beat card. No points for me today! Something also looked a little off, Russell trying out a new fashion strategy by wearing his t-shirt backwards.

We ran a route out to get to Odeon to meet Ben (excellent star wars hoody and all), Jess and Angela. We dived into the litter we could find. It was when we hit the B&M car park we hit the motherload. Andy found a mystery key for locker 96, Jess thought Angela had left a bottle from work..., Sallyann has a worrying tendency for finding the booze bottles, and a huge amount of the usual snack packaging. Bianca won the prize for most full bag. We posed for a photo by the green wall, Laurie questioned Martin's face which she declared confused.

We braced the cold weather to run back to base and hitting some more boxes on the way. But just when we thought the fun was over, Fay whipped it out! That's right, her bag of treats to celebrate her 100th good deed last week! Amazing work Fay! and thank you for the goodies, even brought some dairy free ones for Jenny. Joel also did 250 good deeds last week but he didn't even show let alone bring me anything...Can't wait to see the new t-shirt!

See you all soon.

On a glorious Spring evening we met outside the Old Factory Gym and admired Chris' new, crisp and odd smelling Goodgym tshirt while discussing what happened during the social on the weekend at the beer festival. If you would like to know maybe David can tell you.

With the legends that are Fay , Sallyann and Andy being our awesome walking crew they set off with litter pickers and bags to meet us at Meteor way.

The rest of us set off on a longer route to start Beating the streets.

We reconvened and began picking (and continued chatting) during which conversation turned to why Chris' Dj name is DJ Wolf Leg. I cannot say why here because it would literally blow your mind. But please feel free to ask Chris if you would like to know.

With bags full (and photos on slides taken) we made our way back to base, said our goodbyes and looked to see how we are doing on the Beat The Street app. Great is the answer.

Thanks all for coming and hope to see some of you at Parkrun this weekend and next Wednesday where Laurie will be the legendary run leader.

Run Happy

Rich

11 GoodGymers ran and walked to litter pick and Beat the Street

We were happy to see Chris back for his second GoodGym and although Joe hadn't signed up, we were pleasantly surprised to see him too (and his photo taking!).

Joel led us out on his expertly planned route to capture as many Beat Boxes as was reasonable on our run, whilst also fitting in some litter picking. We met Fay and street beating bandit Sallyann with the litter pickers on North Avenue, and started to pick many cigarette butts. We missed Ben and Bianca, but David eventually caught us up and fit straight in with the box collecting and litter picking.

Everything went a bit foggy after we turned off North Avenue, so that felt like an appropriate point to stop picking and head back, until Andy spotted a photo op with a Beat the Street sign. Rich couldn't let the evening go by without some sort of daft pose, and Erin hadn't had an opportunity for her usual eyes shut photo, so we got into position for a group photo!

So much Beat the Street chat, I apologise. But, we are currently fourth on both average and total in our category, so if we can push ourselves up at least one more place in either or both, we'll be in line to win a prize!

On a final note, I can't believe I just heard that Leanne doesn't like easter eggs?!

See you all soon,

Laurie

12 Goodgymers embarked on a mild January evening's litter pick along Princes road

Fay and Sallyann (the legends that they are) helped by bringing the pickers, bags and bag holders to the picking point so the rest of us could run unimpeded from our HQ.

Starting from the car park by Lidl we ventured along the road towards the local college filling both bags as we went. The bag holders worked but after a while some wrist ache meant the only way to hold them was to pin against my hip. Those hips really don't lie.

When it was time to turn back and make our way back the car park we decided to break into a group of 2 and cover more ground. With bags full we posed for a photo (the unblurry ones are NOT taken by me) and set back off to HQ.

Thanks all for coming and know that by doing so we have absolutely smashed our January Goal of 45 tasks and 1000km. A BIG WELL DONE TO EVERYONE THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS. This is fantastic and good to know that our little "running" club is in a healthy place with so many wonderful people joining in the fun and enjoying DOING GOOD WHILST GETTING FIT!.

My Challenge to all of us is to try and get to 80 tasks and 2000kms by the end of Jan. I know we can do it.

Next week we will be litter picking in another area of need and led by another legend that is Laurie

Thanks for reading

RUN HAPPY

Rich

Hello there - and a big hello to the three newbies tonight: Bianca, Lewis and Azizi!

Great 14 person turn-out for an almost freezing Chelmsford at the ARU gym. Sallyann helped us all by taking the pickers and the fancy new bag hoops (which Laurie struggled with) up to Kings Road. Bianca was nervous about the running but at GoodGym we are happy to have everyone, however it also turns out she is a running machine!

We headed off up there with some walking and others running and then got to litter picking! Lewis was filming the good work we did, check him out on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/magneticmovements/?hl=en - he has over 103k followers to share our good work with! Russell stopped for a snack of monster munch, and Ben tried to pick up the remnants of a concrete pole. Neither were successful...

Jess and Joe had a 'who had the most full bag competition' (easily won by Jess). After a good session of picking litter and filling bags we headed back, some running which made Jenny happy as she wanted to keep warm! Martin tried to keep up but couldn't keep up with the pace. Azizi will be making sure to bring his running kit next time!

Rich also got some delicious Rok Kitchen for his dinner (too far for Erin to travel) maybe testing a possible social venue for the future! Although he has been about 40 times before...

Next week we have another litter pick but a further run this time - get signing up! Wonderful to see you all, happy running to ensure we smash the January challenge!