A' lot ment great progress

Pun _day Monday

Good evening from sunny Worthing and a very warm welcome to Ross who was a first timer tonight. We hope that this is the first of many sunny Monday visits for you and we also hope that we can assist you with achieving your fitness goal whilst doing good in the community.

It was one of top attendance evenings tonight with 15 GoodGymers turning out on a rather blustery and chilly August evening. It was especially nice to welcome back Tamsin and Emily from their holidays. As Tamsin later mentioned it felt like the first day of term!

In no particular order, kudos to all the following, Barbara, Daisy, Emily, Christina, Belinda, John, Ross, Tamsin, Paul, Lucy, Duncan, Gill, Paula and, steaming in at the last minute our very own super hero cake man ,Jay.

Thank you to you all and especially those who got to the leisure in advance of me and were so 'understanding' after I got stuck in ridiculous post work traffic on my way home from Brighton.

Walk, jalk, run- repeat

With the walking group setting off first, there then followed 3 running groups to accommodate all abilities with no one getting left behind. We were returning to one of our favourite places at May Close allotment to meet our 2 friends from Breathing Spaces, Lisa and Claire.

This evening’s tasks comprised 3 different jobs. Some high level pruning, some heavy digging over of a grassy bed and also digging in some long railway like sleepers to start making a path down the middle of the allotment . This will make it more accessible for visitors to enjoy the beauty of this hidden community garden hideaway.

No sleeping on the job

The team all picked their tasks and immediately got stuck in with energy and obvious talent. Tamsin and Emily optimistically started the quest for a good 'dig in' to get the sleepers 'dug in' Ross, Paul and Duncan did the same. We will revisit this scene later…

Over on the other side of the allotment Paula, Daisy and Christina were in charge of Steve and Jay who opted for some heavy weight digging. Jay famously mentioned that Worthing work harder than GG neighbours Brighton. Ha ha! Yes he really did say it but he forgot to add that we also feed him more cake:)

And in another universe alongside the privet hedge Harry Potter aka Lucy was in her cubby hole doing some pruning being ably ‘supported’ by John (that photo didn’t make the censoring) together with Gill, Barbara and Belinda who were all busily and highly effectively multi tasking with a bit of GG banter together with a lot of ‘fine pruning’

Let the sleeping dogs sleep

Back to the railway sleepers scenario……

Superhero Cakeman had to fly over to rescue Tamsin and Emily from an epic but endearing fail on the digging in of the aforesaid sleepers.

Cakeman didn’t have to be asked twice and, together with Superman Steve rescued two relieved damsels swiftly and efficiently relieving them of this burdensome task that threatened to swallow them up (we could make a comic strip of this!!)

However I digress with all this exaggeration….

Being on a timescale to get back to the Leisure Centre by 7:15pm the team finished up and headed back to the leisure centre in 3 groups. The 4 walkers followed by the girls set off with Paul, Duncan, Jay and Steve putting their finishing touches to the bedding down of the new path before the 5 of ran back to join the rest of the team for the final part of the evening.

Junior parkrun and GG – a perfect synergy

We had been enlisted to test run the exciting up and coming junior parkrun so after a 'clear as mud' briefing from Duncan we all set off to either run or marshal the proposed course.

2k later we declared the course a success and posed for a post task and run for a final photo with our new friends from the core team of JPR.

Congratulations to first timer Ross for this first good deed, run and surviving the run with us. Next step is the What’s app group :) :) :)

In other news

Congratulations to Barbara who has been asked to train to become a run leader for RAW. Belinda has an inspirational story which I’m encouraging her to share publicly. Next step GG run leader?!

Congratulations to Mr R for yet another parkrun PB. You are definitely smashing them out. Truly inspirational. Let’s keep focused on the next goal. You know you can do it!

Next week is bank holiday Monday. Its all about the social afterwards. Meet at Splashpoint LC for pole painting and possibly planting out the flower bed again followed by fun fitness and drinks and cake after.

Well done to Daisy and Christina who are keeping up with the new routine of Monday night . Its great to see you on the regular team.

If anyone isn’t in the What’s app group but would like to please do let me know. All welcome in this fun crazy thread.

Speaking of crazy …. Have a wonderful week full of energy and good vibes.

Julia xxx