Good Gym!

[Equi-geek]

Hi all! Now the clocks have changed evening running up and down a single track lane sounds extremely dodgy and my Actual Running Buddy had a prior arrangement, so I was at a loss to know what to do. Don’t currently have a training plan as just shooting the breeze a bit and will then start consolidating 10K.

Anyway, at Parkrun, the directors have been saying about Good Gym on Tuesday evenings. And of course the town streets have lighting! So I signed up and turned up just before 6pm at the Oasis.

About 18 of us set off to Christchurch community centre - which involves running UP Victoria hill to Old Town. Total distance 2.7km and thank goodness for traffic lights as it gave me a chance to catch up - although the ‘tail runner’ was perfectly happy keeping me company!

Arrived at the centre, donned gloves, spent the next hour painting!

Then, before we ran back downhill (which I was particularly looking forward to) we were split into 2 teams for a ‘fun’ shuttle relay race. And then a re-match. I did my best. I was left for dust. No-one minded and we laughed a lot! I was relieved I resisted the doughnuts on offer during painting!

So then finally came the 2.7km back to the Oasis, chatting with my new mate the tail-runner about form, and shoes (as yer do!).

Yet another invite to join the Wootton Bassett Hounds club (bless ‘em! I might have to give in!)

Next week they are painting at a different community centre, and the week after that doing a leaflet drop for a community event. There was also talk of going for a curry after we all noticed some delicious odours from the restaurants last night.

So, I’ve signed up, and while I can’t do next Tuesday due to prior commitments I may make it the week afterwards.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

What a fab idea Equi-geek and such a great thing to do! Sounds like you will be going back for more! Well done🙂

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks! It is a great idea - I agree - it definitely felt good to help out and the community centre got 3 man-days of painting done in an hour, for free (and we were careful not to be too messy, as well)

[Flaraflarkin Graduate10]

Wow what a great thing to do, good on you Equi-geek 👊 This is something I've looked into joining and now I've read your post I might give it a go next week 🤗

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Flaraflarkin]

Definitely give it a try! I would not have attempted that hill on my own, nor sprinted 😳 and it’s the first time I’ve run in the dark too, so it was nice to have company!

[Hidden]

That sounds like huge fun, though I’m not sure how you managed to resist the donuts (or even why) but then I have zero self control.

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

🤣 I’d just heaved an excess 3.5st of fat up a flipping steep hill, nothing like that experience to keep the diet on the straight and narrow 🤣😘

[Hidden in reply to Equi-geek]

Goodness, well done on both counts. You will soon lose the excess at that rate. I admire your powers of abstinence. I hope you’re going to reward yourself with some nice flashy lycra 😍x

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Took receipt of some new earbuds only this morning 🤣😍👏

[Hidden in reply to Equi-geek]

That’s the way. Now for some eye searing leggings 🤪😍🤩

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Equi-geek]

Ooh Equi I really cant imagine you need to lose 3.5st, but I’m sure you will do it!! ❤️

[mountaindreamer Graduate10]

Never heard of this before, EG, but what a great idea! 😃❤️

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

It only started this year I think 🤔 There are a number around the country now, anyway 😁👍

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Fantastic! Love the sound of it. Hope you didn’t get paint on your running gear though!

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Thanks Baddie! I was careful and it all survived 😁👍

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well done Equi. It sounds like it was a lot of fun and great for the community too.

[telford_mike Graduate10]

Great effort for the community, keep it up it sounds great!

[Fabulous450 Graduate10]

Wow Victoria Hill Equi!!.......mmm....that’s a challenge but I’m sure doing that will do wonders. Love the sound of the relay shuttle Equi! 😍! I take it that’s a race. I wish I could have been there for that (kind of anyway! Minus the hill bit 🙃). It all sounds like it was fun and I would tackle the hill too (at the very back too, of course! 😂) 😁! Aaaah, 😕 that’s another running affair that takes place in the week when I’m normally away. There’s always Parkrun though!

Well done Equi! You continue to have great running adventures and I love reading all about them. 🤩❤️

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

Thanks Fabulous! The speed of some of the other runners on the sprints was gob-smackingly fast but it was all very good-natured and you'd have loved it! It's always Tuesday evenings so, yes, if you're away it wouldn't work for you - but Parkrun is there! With my work I can go for days without speaking with anyone face-to-face, so the social aspect is another draw!

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Equi-geek]

Sounds great Equi and very enjoyable indeed!! Their lucky to have your company too!! 😉

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

Aw thanks! X

[Hidden]

That sounds like great fun. I bet you felt good for resisting the doughnut too! What a great scheme 🙂

[BarbieW Graduate10]

I was so amazed at what you said about goodgym that I googled it and found there are three groups in progress around me. What more proof do we need that us runners are great people???

Fantastic scheme. I’ll be signing up soon and telling all my friends about it too.

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to BarbieW]

Yay!!! Spreading the positivity! I'm sure they'll love to have your (collective) help and it really is great fun!