Tonight was a sensitive task as we visited the baby gardens at the local cemetery.

This all started following the appeal of a small local charity, Tyler's Friends, for volunteers to help their garden clean up. It coincided with our run night and although we had another task booked, it was moved around so we could support this event and join the team of volunteers.

There was 2 options on the table tonight on the run there - both involved running up! The first option was a gentle incline up and the second a longer route way round to add in extra half mile or so whilst going up. This option also gave the runners who wanted it, an option to do some additional hill work as they looped back round. Pleased to say the majority opted for the longer run! We even found a shorter section for a quick sprint 100m or so where Rob as ever showed off his sprinting ability and shot past the rest of us!

On arrival at the task, we met another half dozen or so volunteers, many of whom had personal links with the gardens. Kirsten from Tyler's Friends was there and pleased to see us and gave us some task direction. It is a small baby garden with a round 30+ graves from young children to premature babies. We spent time just clearing leaves away, pulling weeds, raking areas and making it look a lot tidier! After 30 mins the difference was really clear and Kristen was so pleased that 15 of us being there for 30 minutes could really make an improvement and save many hours by just 1 or 2 people alone.

Thanks to Richard for back running tonight as a new runner too! Welcome to new runners Julie, Ruth, Lauren, Karen and Sarah x2! You all got stuck in with the task and chatting to each other in super quick time!

Kristen was happy for us to take a final pic although we didn't take pictures during the task tonight out of respect

Tonight we had eager runners ready and waiting in the sunshine of Daveena's Cafe courtyard at 6.15pm and it was a while before I realised we had special guest Katie who had travelled all the way from Portsmouth to join us! Katie is the trainer in Portsmouth and she set up the Goodgym there so I will be picking her brains in the future about how we can continue to build up Goodgym Poole!

So we set off up the steady incline of 2 miles to St Aldheims Church for our first task with a return visit! A few warm up drills in the park along the way to make everyone think about what they are supposed to be doing before each run (but probably never do!)

Up the hill we stomped and to the final resting place (well sort of...) of St Aldheims Church where we found some wheelbarrows, forks and spades and our task leader, David hidden amongst the bushes!

David as the church volunteer once again got us organised with clear instructions on getting the roots up! He quickly spotted Aaron as a potential tree puller so he was soon given a fork (which lost a prong 10 minutes into his gardening) and up came some bushes! Good training for the next Ultra adding in the power work! Jason and Nicki worked on some beds (deju vu for Nicki who did this just 2 weeks ago!) whilst Sian and Katie happily pulled weeds from around the church.

The hard grafting it turns out was around the corner as the Liz's, Anne-Marie and Rob worked on cleared a thorny patch of ground ready for future planting! It was pretty hard work but Anne-Marie took satisfaction of completing an edge of border whilst others were digging for roots! Rob was kept busy emptying wheel barrows into compost heaps avoiding the prickles! Both Liz's are graduates of a Couch to 5k programme so good to see they are now adding in strength training with the gardening!

As a amateur gardener, tonight I learnt that roots of brambles are not prickly (thanks to David) and moss can be killed with salted water (cheers Jason!)

Pip, the minister came out to chat to us and we finished by checking out the inside of the local church and hearing about the history of it in the local area - what a great way to end our task! The church inside is beautiful and just celebrated 125 years of being in the local community. You can really see how the church is looking more open to the local area with the work they are now doing - both phyically and with the support it offers.

Thanks to Jason for being back runner and Aaron for leading (he bearly broke a sweat all night i'm sure - next time we will find him a bit more to do!)

I hope we can go back to keep working on the grounds with David again - The difference is already so great!

Ps Pun courtesy of David himself! Pps Goodgym Tourism is clearly a thing just like parkrun tourism - I look forward to visiting others in the future! Katie you rock!

What a difference a week makes!

Last week 2 of us set off in blazing hot sunshine and this week 20 of us turned up in the pouring rain!

Fantastic to welcome 13 new Goodgym runners to the session (don't forget to order a free T-shirt!). We were represented by runners from the Hot Steppers massive (Vicki, Jo, Vanessa, Fiona to name a few!), Poole Runners and Poole AC Couch programme (well done Helga and Julia!)!

It started with a change of plan as The Spire unfortunately could not accomodate us to give us a brief due to staff sickness. So it was onto the Poole Park to support Poole Park Volunteers by litter picking!

We started at the Pavillion and split into equal teams and a bag each and set off in different directions. One team found a boot on this stage and some packaging giving a lighter but bulkier bag to start with against the other teams heavier offering. Next it was time for the GoodGym Olympics session with a 1km run around the lake! Options was a fast one, a selfie shot along the way or the final more complex option of Strava art (sadly no one took this up!). So if you are on Strava upload this run with the tag #GGOlympic2019 to be with a chance of getting a medal for your photo or speed! More details and instructions head to this page

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-oiympics-the-nationwide-race?fbclid=IwAR2Ud8QjhzBST90eLC9HWZJwbzdzo5YhD71RcuR5S0BqtQwmIJcGieOWquE

Judging by the puffed faces - many of you went for the fast option whilst Shelley, Helga and Julia decided it was all about the selfies!

Next onto the skate park where highlights included finding a pram and a hunt in the bushes revealed a kettle (good work Sian!) and bags will soon filled and left for council to collect!

Final bit tonight was a run around the field maintaining pace before finishing up with Flying 15's with a few to considering our form! (Amanda keep those eyes up and Anne stand taller!)

Jason and Rob as ever were outnumbered by women and not phased by all our chatter!

Lovely to meet new runners and faces I had coached before (Liz!) so hope to see you again Rosie and Sarah Welcome to the Goodgym Poole!

Great fun along the way and you did your Park a great job!