Tonight was our yearly Halloween run.

Michael had promised that if others came in some kind of costume, he would wear the inflatable dinosaur costume.

We met at our usual start location in the City Centre, after a quick chat we welcomed our newest person Deborah, who had joined us at a goodgym run at Love Trails.

CROESO

After a brief moment inflating, and some strange looks from the pub behind us, it was time to set off on our run.

We had cheers of dinosaur, t-rex, there were beeping cars and lots of waves. Maybe we should have a T-Rex more often.

The task tonight was helping at Cwtch Together, a charity run disability play project, which promotes inclusive play and socialisation for disabled children and their families.

They are holding 2 Halloween parties, Friday and Saturday, and our fun task was to help set up the spooktacular event.

Everyone got into the spirit as we dressed tables, got pumpkins ready, built a play house, decorated the hall and carried in sand pits and black boards.

As we ended our evening with the usual group photo, the t-rex returned for the jog back.

Join us next week as we begin our Xmas tasks for 3 weeks.

Tonight the goodgymers got together to help out our friends at Samye Foundation. One of the originals for Cardiff, and one dearest to our hearts.

We were split, the walkers meeting us at the task and the runners as usual from the Glassworks.

We had our warm up, counted the runners in and said our welcome to the newest person - Lucy.

CROESO

During the run a message came through for Michael, and it all changed. Due to dental issues, our organiser had to leave the location for the task. But as we know.......

goodgym doesn't quit

Upon arrival at the Samye Foundation, Michael had a quick look around, and hey presto, a task was born.

Gloves on, volunteers ready, let's go!

We weeded all along the raised bed at the front of the yard, around the seating area and in front of the building. We cleared up all of the fallen leaves, and then we used all of this natural material as a mulch back on the soil, just as nature planned.

Weeds became mulch

Leaves became worm food

And then it was time for home.

We got plenty done, considering the last minute change. Thanks to all for coming, and hope to see you again next time.

With the end of Summer in sight, and the school holidays nearly over, the goodgymers answered the call to help from Cwtch Together.

7 in total running, 4.6km to the task and back.

And what a task.....

The grounds had been set up as a child's dream, with toys galore, play pits and more inside.

Our jobs for the evening were to clear the garden so that we could get it cut, move all toys inside the hall, or their respective storage shed. A sandpit to carry, get those guns going! And the most fun you can possibly have, emptying the ball pit.

Another wonderful evening in the best company. See you again soon.

We were thrilled to be returning to the Samye Foundation, and even during yet another heat wave, nothing could stop us from getting back to one of our original charities that we have been helping since the very start of goodgym Cardiff.

Our very first run to Samye was back on Tuesday 26th September 2017 and the transformation that we have seen is amazing. This was our return after a break, and the garden project looked fantastic, the pond we helped to dig was now in full working order and sounding tranquil.

Our task tonight were ready as usual, set up on the flipchart at the front of the building. (I love a flipchart!)

Runners were the first to arrive, and quickly sat down under cover to rehydrate after the hot run. Walkers were next to arrive, and Michael quickly pointed them towards the water and squash - hydration was very important today, before any tasks started.

Our list of task for the evening were as follows;

• Move the 2 seater sofa from level 2 in building 252 to the front room in building 250.
• Cable tie the dogrose to the front railings.
• Cable tie the fruit trees in the back garden.
• Bring the spiky plants from the back garden to the front.
• Cut out and compost the red orach.
• Re-pot baby plants from 250 porch into new pots.
• Move the metal table from outside the cafe window to under the gazeebo .
• Display the plants for plant sale on the tables under the gazeebo.

There was a good list of tasks, and 8 willing volunteers to crack on with them. We split into 3 groups, moved to our relevant areas, and got started - wasting no time, eager to get as much completed as possible.

Aimee and Emma went into the back garden and tied up the fruit trees, then removed the red orach and cut it down for composting.

Jonathan, Dylan and Jessica took to the task of moving the sofa, the spiky plants and the re-potting some baby plants.

PIVOT, PIVOT

Emma and Flo moved the metal table, plants and tied the dogrose at the front of the building.

All groups gave an outstanding effort tonight, especially with the temperatures that we had to endure. We got so much done, and Lorraine from Samye Foundation was so happy with our effort. We finished up for the evening, and then sat under the gazeebo for some delicious parsnip soup. Then we all walked back, far too hot for anymore running.

The gazeebo was looking lovely now surrounded by all of the plants, they are opening this is every Wednesday for plant sales in case your interested.

See you all next week - sign up here

Learning Time

Atriplex hortensis var. rubra Red orach, also known as red mountain spinach is a species of plant in the amaranth family used as a leaf vegetable that was common before spinach; it is still grown as a warm-weather alternative to spinach.

What a night of celebration we have tonight as 15 goodgymers, old and new, join to take on the task at the community orchard.

Firstly we welcome our 2 new runners, welcome to the Cardiff crew Evie and Simon.

CROESO

Then we had our pre-celebration for a very special birthday for Llion, followed by a night of fun celebrations at the flyte club.

Penblwydd hapus

After initial greetings and chats, we set off the walkers first on a slightly shorter and quicker route, before Lucy led the runners off through the park on a different route. We had the return of our water rolling barrel baddies, the bowsers, which allowed us to transport 80 litres of water in total at a time. Michael ran with them initially, until we hit the park and then the running challenges could begin. Each runner took a turn of running with a single bowser, and this certainly engaged the concentration as those contraptions had a mind of their own at times.

Our first stop along the way was at the cricket changing rooms, where the outside tap was situated. we picked four people to stay back and fill up the bowsers, whilst the rest ran over to the orchard to meet up with the walkers. Michael gave a quick briefing on the tasks, and a quick overview of the orchard project - which was really looking well settled on just its second year.

We had a couple of tasks tonight, so we split the group up to tackle them,

• running the bowsers back and forth to get filled
• watering the orchard
• collecting seeds from a couple of plants

Michael handed out brown envelopes for the seed collecting, and showed everyone which plants we were collecting from and how to get the most seeds. Our plants of choice were foxgloves and honesty.

Did you know?

The Welsh for foxgloves is "Ffion", remember that next time you meet someone with that name. Other translations are "bysedd y cŵn" and "Maneg Ellyllyn".

After a good half an hour of running back and forth, collecting seeds and Michael eating blackberries from the bushes like a feral animal, it was time to collect everything together, including ourselves, take a group photo and head back. Michael had to leave us at this point to drop off the bowsers at another location so that he could then join everyone for the birthday celebrations and darts.

Thanks to everyone for coming, expect some foxglove planting sessions in the orchard next year thanks to all of the seeds collected.