Last night we met as usual at Leisure World full of enthusiasm and energy. The wonderful Jade completed her document check and it is fair to say when she gets paired with a coach it will be an epic relationship. To further add to the joy of Wednesday evenings we welcomed not one but two new runners. Sarah and Sophie slipped smoothly into the Goodgym vibe. WELCOME.

The news included Vanessa's delve into the world of Strava and we await the results on the Heroes Leader board. As well as that everyone was amazed that Goodgymers ran twice around the world in January with over 6000 good deeds done. Incredible to be part of it, right?

Huge congratulations went to Ian and Andy who over came injury and beer to complete the Great Bentley Half Marathon and the Craft Half respectively.

So 19 of us set out to Firstsite with spring in the step and in the air. On arrival we received chopping and snipping equipment before we went to clear bushes from the lawn. There was one huge bramble bush and some smaller bushes to tame. Safe to say the bush has gone in impressive style and with Goodgym force, power and finesse. As the team worked a figure in pink arrived by bike! Louise turned our chore into a score. TWENTY runners is a record attendence for Colchester.

With the bush gone we posed for a group photo and went off to North Hill. In groups of three we attacked the hill on the way up, used gravity and leg speed on the way down and recovered while we waited our turn in the relay. As I watched on it was clear everyone had earned their dinners. It was time to say Bon Voyage to Ailish who has completed 9 runs and good deeds and is off to wear her Goodgym t-shirt in Asia and Australia. The Asian food was a delicious taste of adventures to come.

Well done to the record breakers of Colchester, 20 was plenty but can we get more?.

Also it was great to meet Tiffany to do her document check and Emily met her coach for the first time meaning that 21 good deeds where done. WOWZERS.

Despite being mid-week in mid-January, with drizzle in the air, the Goodgym Colchester runners brought a wave of positivity to the streets and to Level Best Art Cafe. 17 of us!

We began with news about our epic take over at Junior Parkrun, as well as someone coming 1st at Parkrun!! We are all also super proud of Ella competing for Colchester Harriers Athletic club in a cross-country race for the 1st time. What an athlete!

We welcomed Hattie and Alex for their first runs. Great to see you do so well in the task and on the hill! Also great to have Andy back who smashed the hills too.

We warmed up with some weird compliment lunges and high knees before jogging up the hill with Ian at the rear, Emily and Helen leading the way and a spring in our steps.

Alison Ling welcomed us into their cafe, fresh from her yoga session. She showed us around and told us what needed doing and as always there was no hesitation. The skirting boards, bathrooms, tables and floor sparkled after 30 minutes of effort. WOW!

Alison told us about Level Best and their amazingly worthwhile work with adults who have learning disabilities. Inspiring! Alison then surprised us with chocolate cake but you have to earn that, so off to North Hill we went.

We took the longer route to the hill and then I timed 5 minutes of 3/4 paced hill efforts on the way up and recovery on the way down. Loved the enthusiasm and the heavy breathing! Go team GG Colchester.

We returned to Leisure World happy and with freshish air in our lungs to stretch and eat cake.

Next week we are helping Colchester in Bloom again which is always fun with a physical element.

What a great turn out at 8.30am on a Sunday morning. Grey skies and blustering wind could not overshadow the hi-vis heroes of Junior Parkrun with a splash of red and black Goodgym mixed in.

With our very own Susie and Christina helping organize the volunteers everyone was ready to run and roll.

I took the warm up on top of the dog agility ramp with enthusiastic, childish, innocent, giggling people all around me...and over 100 children. Once the bodies were warm a big "I love parkrun" and "I love goodgym" cheer rung around Old Heath Rec and the kids took to the start line.

The Goodgymers took their positions, with Louise sporting the tail walker tail. Everyone did their jobs exceptionally well and the kids were happy, worn out and should be proud of themselves. Some future Goodgymers in the making and the results are here.

A big welcome back to Christophe and Cristina who did her first good deed for Goodgym.

Thanks to GO4 Cafe too and we look forward to helping them out as well as the juniors in the future.

*Everyone is welcome at Goodgym and with the same ethos as Parkrun: anyone over 18 can join in to help their communities and improve their wellbeing both physically and mentally. *

To join us at Goodgym follow this link and check out Junior Parkrun Colchester and Parkrun Colchester.

What a start to the year.

Goodgym Colchester welcomed in 2019 with the usual enthusiasm and umph! Ten runners braved the cold and blustery showers to end the night running under the stars and shining bright themselves.

The evening began with news and congratulations to Ella who was 1st at Mersea Island Parkrun andHelen who came 3rd at Haverhill Parkrun. Brilliant work. Everyone who is signed up is looking forward to the Junior Parkrun Takeover and there is still time to come join the fun and bring a friend to see what GG Colchester is all about. Also the upcoming races locally, such as the West Bergholt 5miler, Colchester Half Marathon, and the international GG trip further afield to Sofia, Bulgaria were mentioned.

We warmed up with some bouncey fun and set off for the historic fountain at the bottom of North Hill. We lit the way along the bank of the River Colne with lots of chat and stories of festivities.

Last time we cleared leaves and Pam said that as a result the grasses have flourished. We set about filling bags with leaves and allowing this lovely fountain to be surrounded by greenery. Stuart used his initiative to make a branch into a brush and the jobs was done in record time as it began to spit with rain. Pam was super happy and impressed that we were out in the cold and wet.

With the rain in mind I remembered some super training sessions in my youth that occurred in car parks, so we did a car park circuit! The group showed strength, speed, power and static endurance as they did shuttle runs, partner squats, reverse lunges, planks, partner press ups and very amusing bunny hops (or human hops for those with niggling injuries). See the Facebook group for the boomerang videos! I would suggest that there were stylish bunnies, frogs, kangaroos and grasshoppers (all with great power and athleticism) amongst the group.

The photos how good the grass is looking at the fountain thanks to our help before Christmas and Pam would have us help,her every week if she could. We will be back soon for Colchester In Bloom but next week we go to the fabulous Level Best Art Cafe with a great starter session on Sunday after we inspire the kids at Junior Parkrun!

Thank you and see you soon.