Backpacks and Gladrags

Tonight's run at Goodgym Bath was undertaken by a not so Hateful Eight although the weather was a little hateful with Jonas storming in to batter our Goodgym Bath runners on a 7k run around the city.

The Task tonight involved carrying Backpacks and handbags full of essential everyday items for homeless people organised by Julian house an organisation that provide shelter and support for homeless people in Bath and the surrounding area.

A very warm welcome to Irena and Miriam this evening on their first Goodgym run and welcome back to Lydia who has been travelling in New Zealand (not jealous at all ...much).

An intro to Goodgym and everything Good we do in the community. The group headed out with a backpack each and I must say some were really quiet heavy, It was going to be a case of running around the city streets looking for the homeless in doorways and under the many colonnades as we figured most would be trying to shelter from the wind and rain tonight.

It wasn`t long before we located a man who we met just before Christmas, It was good to see he was on the mend after a short spell in hospital because he had been set upon by a group of drunken men.

The hill up ahead was no problem for the super fit bunch, so we ploughed onwards and upwards finding two guys sheltering in a shop doorway but very happy to chat with us and grateful to the group.

A little rest for the backs was called for at kingsmead square but not for the legs as Steph paired the group up for a parlouf session being closely watched by the police in their car, Think they wanted to join in really.

After managing to hand out the first batch of backpacks it was time to head back to Steph's car and reload the group with more backpacks and head across the other side of the city hopefully making a little difference to a cold evening out on the street for the rough sleepers. Sam managed to catch up with us tonight after he finished work showing us his commitment to Goodgym Bath and helping to share the load.

A final reload and offload with the last of the Backpacks being left at a sheltered area in a carpark used by the homeless to bed down for the night, they will get a nice surprise when they return tonight.

We met some great people tonight with their lovely dogs, although I have managed to forget the dogs names, it must be an age thing.

Just enough time for a high five before our stretch out back at the leisure centre with a reminder to bring your ID next week if you wish to get paired up with your very own running coach and help make a difference to someone who is isolated and lonely.

Ann was super pleased to have ran 7k tonight for the very first time, great stuff.

Thank you to Lydia for tonights pun

A super run tonight with a super bunch ....Now that`s hard to top.