Day: Tuesday 6 November 2018

Location: Solutions Gym, Croydon Occasion: GoodGym Group Run

Runners present: Andy, Vicki, Ingrid, Ian, Nicola

Today 6 runners, ran 5.6km to St Augustine's to help clean the walls of the hallway.

Our planned warm up had to be scrapped and a swift improvised one had to be put in place as the cones that I had put out for our warm up began running away from us in the wind, to the amusement of the group as I chased them. I think thats natures way of telling me to warm up too instead of giving out the orders!

Today's group was not it's usual size but it was just right as six of us alongside Sue and Bill crammed into the hallway of the church washing the walls. Looking at the walls and the water in the containers you could see the difference instantly. Throughout cleaning Bill kept us updated with the various things happening in and around Croydon in the run up to Christmas, Croydon Churches Floating Shelter. Being a church member of any faith is not required; compassion and a willingness to help, listen and talk to the guests is all the qualifications you need. With our job completed and us all standing and admiring our handy work, Sue rewarded us with some delicious seasonal biscuits.

Having chalked up another good deed and one step further away from the naughty list be bid our good byes to Sue and Bill and headed back to Solutions, as we ran back the size of the group got smaller and even smaller as those who did not want to stray too far away from home branched off as they got to their respective junctions.

As we ran through the Queen's Gardens I suggested we stop and take a breather, obviously I had an ulterior motive! I guess Ingrid and Ian must have been thinking I was being nice today there would not be a fitness session as there were only 3 of us. Wrong, there is always a fitness session! We did our session and a few stretches then started running again back to solutions.

Do have any unwanted clothes that you can donate to someone in need? Why not bag them up and drop them off at St Augustine's. They are collecting clothes for the homeless and less fortunate as part of the Churches of Croydon drive in the run up to Christmas.