For the last task of the month, both a running and walking group set off from Tap Tavern in the centre of Richmond to cross the bridge and run along the north bank river path to Lynde House Care Home. A very special welcome to both Beth and Sunny who joined the walking group for their first ever task.

We haven't been there for some time but Jp and Salwa were so excited to see that a raised bed they had helped to make on a previous visit was in good order and full of bulbs just starting to grow!

For this evening's task we set about sanding three bird feeders and two benches, an aerobic workout that should never be underestimated!

It was dark, but headtorch inspections suggested we had done a thorough job before we ran/walked back off into the night!

Starting at Tap Tavern in Richmond, a walking group led by Liz headed straight over Richmond Bridge at a brisk pace while a running group led by Jack did a warm-up before getting a good 2.5km run to meet at St Christopher's. A very warm welcome to Elidon for the first time!

The group split into three: one to get stuck straight into cutting back hedges at the front of the beautiful building, one to do a running session with Sam to finalise his run leader training and one to head to the back garden for some HIIT training with Liz. All groups put in a brilliant effort then rotated round to take on the next activity. Everyone active, job done and fitness increased, Monday night for the win!

There was a fantastic turnout for GoodGym Richmond’s first group run of 2023, visiting Buccleuch Gardens, Richmond where GG Richmond maintain two plots on the Thames Path: The Arcade Rockery and The Three Pigeons Plot.

Walking and running groups set off from outside The Tap Tavern with a rendezvous in front of The Arcade. Expecting gardening, some were initially flummoxed by a request to create a human ‘2023’ but, with great ingenuity, human numerals were created to herald the New Year. To the relief of many, there wasn’t time to try and create a giant Rabbit to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Instead there was plenty of work to be done and plenty of GoodGymers keen to grab trugs, trowels, brooms, forks and brushes and attack an array of winter gardening tasks. At The Arcade small groups worked to turn over the compost heap, rake leaves off the lawn, weed the steps/paving/paths, and recycle all the green waste generated. And at the Three pigeons Plot a small group did a magnificent job clearing weeds from around the river steps as well as sweeping up the leaves around the plot itself.

Back at the Tap Tavern, hard work was rewarded with drinks at the bar for those who could stay for the January Social. A special mention goes to Jarryd who came to try out GoodGym for the first time, to JP who dropped in to say hello on his way home from work with jetlag, to Kate who came to see everyone in the pub for a catch up and to Lucy and Salwa who brought bakes to the pub for everyone!

A lovely evening at The Shaftesbury pub in Richmond to celebrate Christmas and a year of great deeds, 621 of them in fact!

Between very tasty courses we raised a toast to:

🥂 The 64 people who were metaphorically around the table as that is how many GoodGym Richmond members have been active this year.

🥂 Our top three: JP (79 deeds), Anita (74 deeds) and Chris (59 deeds).

🥂 Our most devoted cheerleader, Monika who has racked up 1246 cheers on this website!

🥂 The runners who have clocked the most distance: Rebecca Bissell, Sam Jones and Jenny Murray.

Happy end of 2022 everyone and thank you for everything you have done already and everything you are yet to do 🥳