A last minute task following a cancellation from Chiswick House coupled with some freezing temperatures might not have made for the most inviting Wednesday evenings, but that didn't stop a dedicated group of GoodGym runners coming together for a productive and fun evening of planting tulip and daffodil bulbs in preparation for a beautiful spring bloom.

What made it even more brilliant was that we had Hounslow's next (soon to be) qualified run leader running the session - take a bow Chris!

Chris kicked off the session with a quick warm-up, trying to shake off the chill in the air, before heading out on our run to the park. The cold air didn’t stop us, and the group kept a steady pace, chatting as we went along. We were all keen to get started with our task. It might feel quite some way away, but we kept in mind that the bulbs would soon be bringing some color back to the park come spring.

*We arrived to find our second reason of the night to celebrate! Please give a massive cheer for Leticia— last night also marked her 200th Good Deed milestone! 🎉👏 She's shown inspiring commitment and enthusiasm! Congratulations, Leticia, here’s to many more.

We wasted no time in getting to work. Armed with trowels and gloves, we dug into the frozen ground to plant dozens of tulip and daffodil bulbs. While the weather made the task a bit more challenging, it didn’t dampen anyone's spirits. Chris kept us motivated with energy and regular check ins, even when our fingers were freezing!

As we worked, we kept our eyes peeled for any signs of wildlife, and there was a moment of intrigue when we spotted a frog, or was it a toad? Either way it was a testament to the damp conditions, which at least made for softer soil for digging. After the bulb planting was complete, we gathered up our tools and headed back for a quick run to the base with just enough time to squeeze in a little fitness. Chris took us through our paces in a session featuring loops around the park interspersed with conditioning exercises to really get our hearts pumping. It was a great way to finish off the evening combining cardio and strength in a fun challenge.

Next week we've got a full on task spreading mulch at Gunnersbury park - keep your fingers crossed for warmer weather!

And congratulations to Hounslow's very own power couple - an incredible 200 good deeds and a brilliant new new Run Leader on the same night. What more could we ask for?!