A couple of weeks ago I went for a run with the new(ish) neighbours of our self appointed Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator after they rescued me from an interrogation from her when she stopped me on my warmup walk. We had said hello as we passed each other on runs before but never spoken.
We had a slow jog rather than run as we chatted away not really following any planned route and at one point were unsure of the quickest route home. The option of turning round and retracing our steps seemed a bit drastic but we eventually got to roads we recognised. When I finally got home I found I had run for about 14Km, two to three more than I have ever run before.
As I passed their house this morning on the school run, it appeared that they were supervising the unloading of something from a large van on their drive. We exchanged glances and a quick wave as I walked by.
On the way back, the van was just leaving and I was called over and asked how I was after our run the other week. "Not too bad" I said. "Oh" was the reply, "we could hardly move for about three days.". Apparently they do not normally run for that long. After a warm up, the do a few minutes jogging, then alternate a short sprint with another jog for about 20 minutes then home. They also class themselves as being fair weather exercisers as they only go out if it is not wet, too cold or too hot. Before covid they only exercised at a sports centre which was close to where they used to live so this winter was difficult for them. We had a bit of a laugh about it and they said we will have to repeat it once they are up to it and that it should be easier now that they have their own equipment. They then took me to see their new delivery.
We went round the side of their house and into their back garden. The gardens on that side of the street are all a split level with a drop part way down. The upper part of their garden is one big patio with steps at one side leading to the lower part. With no sheds or buildings on the upper part, I was surprised to see none visible on the lower part either as we went down the steps. The lower garden quite overgrown and they said it has not been touched for over three years. But where was this kit they were talking about?
All was revealed when we reached the bottom. The patio on the upper level is actually the roof of a very large room with glass folding doors across its width. Inside is a treadmill, two exercise bikes, a cross trainer and a rowing machine, plus some piles of metal that are some sort of weighs equipment, wow!! These were their new delivery.
They did not know about the room went they bought the property as the steps were overgrown with trees and they had not been able to get to the lower part. They spent 15 months getting the house habitable before starting on the garden and discovered it. What a fantastic find.
They explained that the gym equipment was an absolute bargain because it all failed health and safety tests and was classed as scrap. That didn't sound good! It apparently all works fine and is safe to use, but the covers are broken in places and if you tried hard could find a way to touch the inner parts. As the equipment is old, the covers are either not obtainable or cost more than the equipment is worth, so not worth repairing for commercial use. The gym they bought it from was paying out to store it and was just glad to see it go.
They have a lot of work to do on this room but when it is finished it is going to be fantastic. My husband has been talking about a garden office, I wonder if I can persuade him to get a garden gym?
What have I done? 
The run I planned and the run I ran (ranned???)
Being tired is not an excuse...😴!
Need IT genius for (hopefully) the next "Virtual" ultra-relay :)
