We're Digging and Weeding In The Rain

"Let's just give it a few minutes for this heavy shower to pass".......famous last words as we stood in the foyer of the Waterfront Building with torrential rain cascading down the windows. Only 15 minutes earlier it had been a bright but windy evening and the BBC weather App had given no warning of the downpour to coincide with Goodgym kick off time.

It soon became apparent that this was no passing shower and so 13 hardy Goodgymers set off for an epic 2ish mile run to Chantry Park.

We welcomed back Steve, Libby, Andrew, Robin, Sally, Tony and Lesley from last week's inaugural group run and it was great to also welcome Richard, Susan, Laura, Anna & JJ on their first Goodgym run.

With Andrew back marking we set off along the Ipswich Waterfront, and boy was there lots of water - some of it was in the river but it was mostly falling from the sky by the bucket load along with flashes of lightening. By the time we crossed the Sir Bobby Robson bridge we'd passed Noah and there were a number of sightings of dolphins along London Road.

As we arrived at Chantry Park the rain had begun to ease and we met Danny from Activ Lives who manages the Walled Garden. He led us into the most amazing garden and explained a bit about the work that goes on there. Showing us past rows and rows of plants, wild flowers and greenhouses to a wonderful patio and paved area with raised beds for wheel chair gardeners.

Despite being soaked and cold everyone set to work with Sally and JJ clearing up a barrow load of fallen pears (is that cockney rhyming slang?) Libby and Steve donned some wellies and got stuck in to weeding the paved area. Laura and Anna were digging over a potato bed and harvested a huge crop. Susan and Lesley were also weeding and the rest of the gang set about digging and moving compost across a number of beds, with Richard literally getting stuck into the compost bin! In half an hour there was a huge amount of work done and a real visible difference made.

We set off for the return journey, grateful that the rain had stopped completely and we could dry out and warm up on the run back to base.

Massive kudos to everyone tonight. The conditions were horrible when we set out but you all dealt with it fantastically, in great spirit; and we achieved an amazing amount of work at the Walled Garden which Danny and Activ Lives really appreciate.

See you next week - remember it's a shorter run and no rain guaranteed.