11 runners tried to make 17 tonight .... How? Well that is the question isn't it!

It proved a tough beginning, 'Where is everyone' was asked, while Whats app flashed with GG runners struck with a bug or stuck at the daily grind! A semi healthy run trainer to boot tried to encourage the team that we were still mighty and good will happen.... It had too, we had a new task at a new organisation for us to help!

St Christopher’s Fellowship, a charity founded in 1870 to create brighter futures for children and young people was our destination in East Twickenham. They work across the UK and Isle of Man providing children’s homes, supported housing, fostering and specialist support services, all designed for young people in care, on the edge of care, or leaving care. They then work alongside young people to support their development, grow their confidence and reach their full potential. A fantastic organisation in our community and our task was to battle some large and stubborn weeds in the back garden to clear an area so the residents will have a space to create and care for their own vegetable patch.

Before we get to that part though let's welcome back Lenka on her second run, talk community missions, shindig and how the hell we were going to make 17.

For those that don't know 17 represents Richmond Goodgym as the 17th location launched in our soon to be 50 sites and we needed a photo with that theme for when?... well tomorrow actually! So we contemplated a collage, trainers in the shape of 17, a human plank of the number which was quite hilarious if you were lucky enough to watch that one being put together. So pleased now we never tried it vertical as that was an option too!! Ok we had to come back to this as work was to be done and with a ground now wet from light rain a plyo warm up was postponed for a softer ease into the evening warm up as we headed off for our 6km round run. (We had some on lookers tonight though, even thought of charging some of them. Clearly the warm up was too tame)

Anita did a great job back marking and our two walkers were on the scene by the time we arrived so after a briefing with Ricky from St Christopher's and meeting some of the team who welcomed us all we got to work.

'What's the pun gonna be folks' shouted the run trainer, but no reply. This is usual but normally there is just silent contemplation - tonight his words could not get through the melodic tones as the group had been caught up in singing anything with the number 17 in the title, band or song, so East 17, Beatles and just 17, some Abba and dancing queen, it was all lovely of course. One could not help join in as weeds were pulled in record time and 'Oh My look at the size of those Thorns' blended into the chorus as we got the job done. We even hit the high notes as a few butts got too close to the holly bushes!! Missed it on video though! Time had run out with no pun and no photo of our theme done. The patch we cleared though looked great and a huge start had been made already so we are looking forward to going back to carry on the good work for sure! For now we had to down tools ....actually 'pick them up again' and there it was.... our photo!! One might say WE DID THE BEST WE COULD WITH THE TOOLS WE HAD AVAILABLE !! (I like our style). Time definitely up so a quick sign out dodging the largest bee seen in this country I think and we were away back and stretching, fighting over who wanted to write the run report as usual ; - )

Monster weeds on a Monday! #goodgym #community #voluteering #running #task #richmond #doinggood pic.twitter.com/CJLliIlwpX

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) 19 March 2019

Well done team and thanks Ricky and St Christopher's for making us welcome - Sorry for some mud from our trainers (side gate next time as we leave for sure!) Good luck to Salwa and maybe Holly for the Hyde Park 10km this weekend and next week is WWF with a challenge awaiting us - We got it though right!!

Until then have a great week all!