Katie Thomas

It's Tuesday so it's a group run, meeting in (and returning to) Queen Square and leaving there at 6.30 - insect repellent may be a good idea!

We’re spreading GoodGym loveliness back in Brunswick Cemetery, where the weeds are trying to take over. We may visit St Matthias Park again soon, too!

Changing facilities, lockers and loos are available at Workout Harbourside - bring your own padlock or inventive personal prized possession to swap for one of theirs if you want to lock your, er, locker. Otherwise it’s just an er. Make sure you’re back out in Queen Square for 6.20!

Gorgeous blue skies, temperature below 25, these are the summer evening we love at GoodGym Bristol.

It was back to Hugh at the Southville Centre to get the garden spick and span before his well-deserved holidays.

Brooms and paintbrushes were wielded like pros, leaves disappeared before our very eyes as Hugh and Nicoleta seemed to fit a forest's worth into a small bin. The Wendy house was emptied and summer-cleaned, the pergola was swept, the sand was swept (with tiny brooms) off the new artificial grass. The brown bench started its journey into blackness with very thin black wood paint and because wed all been very well-behaved, we played with the water chute system whilst Hugh wasn't looking.

Back to Queen Square the long way round and after a stretch and gossip, into Club Haus at workout for the brilliant semi-final of England and Sweden at the Women's Euros 2022 - roll on Sunday for the final!

I'm not sure we've ever arrived at a task to find the beneficiary ready with mini ice creams and lollies but I'm sure it could catch on! We had to explain to first timer Lucy that this was a bit special!

Having confirmed the bridge was still open even though Sarah K wasn't there to update us, gallivanting on holiday somewhere, we took the short route to the Southville Centre as it was hot and sticky enough for running.

Hugh reappeared with sweeping and painting brushes plus the weird weeding trowel and we were set to work tidying and painting blue paint that he assured us was really black but we were pretty convinced dried clear. Meticulous cutting in was demonstrated by Andrea on her second group run to leave the Wendy/Wendo/Tarquin house with white window frames.

Loads of brushing progress made, a second round of mini ice lollies was offered before the downhill walk (with lolly still on sticks) then run (when lollies finished) back to Queen Square and on to workout for a drink after stretching in the daylight.

It was Plan B for the GoodGymmers old and new in Queen Square on a balmy (barmy?) Tuesday night as the runners set off for a run up a big hill with the promise of farm animals and drinking water at the top.

Chris was ready to welcome the team with the sprinkler already on the go for anyone needing a cool down - de-bindweeding the fruit cage (eating as many ripe berries as possible), de-grassing the maize field and turning the compost heap until there was actual compost accessible - all warm work on a hot evening so breaks to see the goats, chickens and pigs were encouraged.

It was great to welcome some new faces and recognise returners from pre-pandemic days. We (over) filled three wheelbarrows with naughty weeds which were moved to the bonfire before tidying away the tools and enjoying the run back down the big grassy hill.

We finished off with stretching and congratulating Richard on his 50th parkrun before heading for well-earned drinks on the back terrace at Workout - perfect!