Goodgymmers were welcomed by blue sky and a spitfire flypast at Brickfields parkrun so it was already a great day before we'd even got going! Having been assigned our marshaling points the run director gave us brief instructions, all while an inflatable birthday cake was getting ready in the background - a bit surreal for a Saturday morning. Out on the course we cheered a record number of participants along their way, including the aforementioned cake which arrived at the finish line to much applause. A happy couple of hours well spent in great company helping a wonderful health initiative. Volunteering at parkrun is very easy and everyone is welcoming and supportive, so why not give it a try next time, it's a piece of cake!

Did you know that jelly beans and flat coke are ideal for long distance walkers? Apparently they are highly effective budget-friendly rocket fuel. The cola is flat to provide a quick energy hit without the bloating associated with fizz.

Clearly, the organisers of the Alongside Circuit of Bath fundraiser had done their research. You could tell by the way the event was planned with 4x4 drivers and paramedics at hand and manned checkpoints along the 20 mile route circling Bath.

GoodGym Bath has supported the charity formerly known as Julian House for a number of years but this time was different. Firstly it now has a new name - Alongside- to reflect the way it comes alongside people facing homelessness and domestic abuse. Secondly, it offered a mini-route more suitable for families at ‘just’ 11k long. Thirdly, everyone went one way for 2026 - clockwise. And finally this year runners were also invited to take part. This is one of Alongside’s biggest fundraisers for the work it does and the organisation must be hoping these changes will bring in more money.

GoodGym Bath’s role was to join one of the checkpoint teams - in this case the penultimate one at St Gregory’s School. We clapped the participants in, took down their numbers and made sure they were fed and watered. My job was to stamp their maps to make sure each achievement was registered. Quite a few dogs took on the course, including Bailey in the photos. Maybe next year they’ll get their own medal.

After a few hours volunteering I obviously had to test the power of the beans (a few times) and I can say they definitely fuelled my walk home.

It seems that after the driest summer since records began no one expects a downpour but Sunday was that day. St Philip’s Church in Odd Down, Bath organises a special “One-2-One” meal for people in the community to combat loneliness. GoodGym Bath helps out by delivering takeaways to vulnerable residents who can’t make it to the church.

This month we were given five roast turkey dinners to deliver across the area - a trek of more than three miles and, with the rain pouring down, it was a case of #dogoodgetwet rather than #dogoodgetfit.

Everyone was really pleased to see me and didn’t even mind that the paper takeaway bags didn’t survive the torrents. They say the roasts are a thing of wonder.

Bath GoodGym trio Cosmo, Ruth and Tanya returned to Grow for Life's walled garden where they helped the regular Saturday volunteer group tackle an overgrown area. it was a battle against bindweed, brambles and burdock with the odd surprise find of an old rake, long lost loppers and even a selection of wellies amongst the undergrowth! Great progress was made in clearing the area which is destined to become an additional space to be used in therapeutic sessions. Join us next time in this lovely place to help Grow for Life continue to transform lives through gardening.