Kevin and Connie
"I’ve never been a morning exerciser, I always felt heavy and sluggish first thing. Being paired up with Connie has given me that motivation to start the day with a run. Getting to know her has been a breeze compared to the run there!"
Wilma and Melanie
"Wilma has lived in Hackney since the 60s, she worked in a hat factory on Hackney Road earning £5 a week. She's also shown me pictures of her family home in Antigua and jokes that she'll take me with her in her suitcase on the next trip!"
John and Flo
"The first question Flo asks me every Friday morning when I turn up at her flat is, “Do you know me?" This is then normally followed by “How did you know I was here?” I tell her that I have known her for 4 months and that I come every Friday especially to visit her."
Wondering what it’s like to visit one of our coaches? Here are some of the stories that have come out of the relationships between GoodGymers and older people.
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There are lots of lonely older people waiting to be paired with a runner like you.
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I liked the idea of the coach runs, but was so busy that I didn't think I'd have time to commit to visiting someone weekly. After thinking about it for a while, I changed my mind and decided to sign up to get a coach in March 2014. I have been visiting John ever since - not only does it keep me running regularly, but it brings a smile to my face each week!
Before I got paired with a GoodGym coach, I was worried that they would be disappointed if I couldn't stay for very long each week. I now visit before group runs on a Wednesday for about half an hour. My coach, Harry, knows I have somewhere to be and so is always making sure I leave on time so I'm not late! / Before I got paired with a coach, I was worried it would be an issue if I couldn't make it one week. My coach Harry is actually really flexible and understands if something comes up now and again.