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.

*January just gets better and better. *

Turning up at Leisure World to see some friendly, familiar faces in the foyer as well as a new face and returning runners = perfect start.

Goodgym is addictive with many positive side effects!

In the news this week we gave huge kudos to the 741 Goodgymers who did community missions this week. So impressive and Goodgym Colchester wants a slice of that pie. We are pleased to hear that Oxford will launch and Colchester, as home of the best university in the country, can not wait to read your reports and social media posts. Also happy birthday to York, Birmingham and Tower Hamlet and it is astonishing that Goodgym is approaching 10 years old in September!

Our task was a classic Colchester task. We ran to find Pam of Colchester in Bloom(apologies for the inaccurate report title) to collect plants and spruce up the five lovely plant boxes on the High Street. We dead-headed, tidied and planted as well as attracting interest from passers by who loved hearing about positive news in Colchester. Emily and co. spreading the love on this occasion.

Pam was delighted as usual so we headed off to the well lit area outside of Firstsite to fight off the cold. In groups we did shuttle runs, burpees and tricep dips working as a team to reach a target number of reps. Then we relayed for 5 perfectly timed minutes in pairs with some reverse lunges thrown in. It was a super effort by all. Energy was high and we ran back to Leisure World (some runners looping back to stay as a group) for a well deserved stretch off in the warm.

Mersea Island Parkrun will be a Colchester Harrier AC takeover with a few Goodgym runers thrown in so see you there or at our next run to Emmaus.

MAGIC FLOWER POWER WARM FUZZY FEELINGS ALL ROUND!

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.