Eight GoodGymmers ran 5km up to the Donkey Lane allotments above Walcot to help Sue from Transition Bath to clear paths and cut back nettles.

Hot n' Hilly

Welcome to Laura, who chose a nice hilly run on a warm May evening as her first GoodGym group run; we're pretty sure she'll come back. Becca's back from her trip to Eurovision (no she didn't see the stage invader) and the video from Ollie's talk is up online here.

We had a short warmup by the riverside before heading up past the weir, over Pultney Bridge, and up Walcot Street to Hedgemead Park. We took the short, steep stairs up through the park (Ollie and Rob helpfully pointed out that they'd done sprints up there), stopped for a photo on Camden Crescent, and headed up to Perfect View and beyond to the allotments.

We weed well when warm

Sue quickly explained where she needed us to weed and handed out sheers and butter knives (they cut through the stems like...well butter). Pascale and Ollie tackled the top path and we quickly lost sight of Pascale in the overgrowth. Marcus and Rob took the big sheers and chopped down some head-height nettles, while Becca and Laura cleared the lower path and Chris edged the weeds from the main path.

What goes up...

We made short work of the run back down with only a few complaints about our knees and stretched out by the river.

Coming up!

Good luck to Chris who is revising and to the Bucharest crew who are flying home from a successful GoodGym racing weekend in Romania.

Nicola's band Giovanni L’Immigrato is playing Party in the City on Friday night.

Next week we're back at Oldfield Park Baptist Church to clean toys. Sign up!

Well, not sure what happened to that lovely sunshine but the April showers have put a stop on this evening’s task to finish painting the railings at St Marks Community centre for  16 committed to the cause runners at Goodgym Bath, so a last minute discussion was made to head up to Alexandra Park to do a bit of ‘plogging’ with 3k run and the 126 meters of elevation was  guaranteed to put a smile of a few faces.

A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS TONIGHT

Well Done to Olli and Alison on completing the London Marathon on Sunday in HOT conditions…HIP HIP!!

Pascale completed the Bath Beat over the weekend, so big shout out to her and anyone else that did something amazing for themselves or someone else. Emma H getting close to her big 50 now.

A NEW ADDITION TONIGHT WITH MONTY THE DOG

Lucy has launched her Wildgym fitness classes and personal training, you know a bit of this will benefit your running so why not take a little browse at what`s on offer https://www.wildgym.co.uk/

Time for the off with the lovely Lydia back marking for us this evening, tonight’s route up involved a whole lotta leg burning steps off Lyncombe hill and up into the park but we all agreed a perfect exercise for those legs. Beechen Cliff school is located on the far side of the park so it is a good spot for a bit of litter picking and after forming three teams it was a race to see who could collect the most litter in 20 minutes. Emma, Lucy and Joe volunteered to lead their teams of 5 and take on the challenge set them and off into the distance they went in different directions of course. Steph was on timing them duty and blew her whistle for the groups to gather back at the allotted rendezvous point.

Dora found a door, Mary found a toilet and Becca and Nicola found a pair of nickers each, it’s amazing what you find but obviously we couldn’t fit some of it in our bin bags.

THE WINNERS!!

Emma’s team took the title and had the pleasure of putting the group through some exercises of their choosing for a 10 minute 10 rep fitness session ranging from burpees to single leg lunges and mountain climbers topped off with some Christopher style tree shuttle runs.

Off we went down the hill and back to base for a good old stretch out and final decider on the pun which was a truly difficult one   Thanks everyone for embracing the last minute change to the task, sometimes the weather dictates.

Thanks Pascale and Joe for tonight`s pun.

FINALLY our very own OLLIE is giving a talk up at BATH university on Thursday evening titled Endurance and Resistance Exercise: Friends or Foes by Ollie Chrzanowski-Smith you can booked your tickets on EVENTBRITE so do come along https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/endurance-and-resistance-exercise-friends-or-foes-tickets-44957983539?utm_campaign=reminder_attendees_48hour_email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb_email&utm_term=eventname

A delayed start to spring but no delay in the 16 runners coming along for a 4k hilly run to Park Street Guerrilla garden to help Bill out on the community garden.

A few announcements and lots of cheers before heading out this evening

Double Heroes!!

Goodgym Bath coach runner Sarah has gained her wings with 100 Good Deeds and Steve has hit The Big 50 and become stealth like earning his black T-shirt, so CONGRATULATIONS to both.

Marvellous Marathoners

Double cheers for Sam (aka Paul) on completing his first Marathon in Paris and didn`t he do well, Pascale our seasoned marathoner on completing Taunton Marathon making that number 46 …. Great work!!

New face tonight ... Welcome Farrah poached from CAMDEN and she loves our hills.

The run out involved a little bit of hill climbing but nothing we aren`t used to in Bath and well worth it for the architectural beauty taken in on route to prove a great distraction and some additional speedy loops around the Circus for the faster members in the group before taking in The Royal Crescent and final push up to Park street itself where Bill was eagerly awaiting our arrival.

All for One and One for All

The Goodgym Musketeers to the ready weeding and ensuring the foot path was relayed with fresh bark chips by EMMA and kept clear of any overhanging growth, in all it took just 30 minutes to complete the task and Bill was left a very happy chappie, but we certainly need another visit here with lots to keep us busy.

THE WORM TURNS

In the firm of a few hill reps for those naughty ones in the group, not sure how our snap chat queen avoided these but theres always next time.

We headed off down the hill for a synced fitness session and core work on the Crescent lawns, a bit more practice is needed, it was even suggested that we have a dance class social.

Alison had a mini photo shoot for a health magazine for her recent interview with JO Willacy, looking forward to reading that one. Thanks to EMMA for back marking and to BARRY for a fabulous pun.

Goodgym Bristol is celebrating their 5th Birthday on Friday, so why not come along and show your support for our Goodgym neighbours https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-bristol-5-year-celebration-a773c9e9-b290-4f61-9f0a-b2a40ee13b17

A disappointing weekend with running events being cancelled for everyone due to the snow, however this didn’t stop a hearty group of 15 fabulous runners from coming along this evening to take on the mighty 7 k run up the notorious Holloway hill to St Phillips and St James’s Church to give the institutional room a fresh lick of paint.

Welcome along to Ella joining us for her first Goodgym run…Whoop!! and fab to have ALLIE and MARCUS back for more.

CONGARTULATIONS to CHRISTOPHER on a 2:1 in his Exam results

We have a few landmark Good Deed achievers looming ever closer, which will mean some more new T-Shirts amongst the group…. Great to see the commitment we have in Bath.

Headcount with a memorable moment incorporated ... This never runs smoothly but always raises a smile or five and some really cheesy moments going down tonight.

Two groups heading up

The run out this evening was taken in the form of two groups to ensure a smooth transition up to Odd Down to our task destination, the big question being do we take Bloomfield road or the wellsway?

Andy our host was full of energy and enthusiasm on our arrival. Rollers at the ready to get all emulsional for this worthy task for a great community space for the residents of Bath and with many isolated older people attending weekly groups here, it`s all the more rewarding to be able to help out. ANDY did a sterling job guiding one or two on the art of using a roller and generally lovely to hear everyone 'whistling while they worked' if you get my drift.

licked it in 35 mins

A quick clean up before rushing off . Joe proved to be great support for the group photo., with some asdistance.

Heigh ho,Heigh ho, it`s back down the hill we go! to the leisure centre for a much needed stretch out with PASCALE at the helm for this one, she's a super star that one.

Thank you to EMMA, PASCALE and myself or back marking/ leading the individual groups and to CHRISTOPHER for tonight`s pun for the run report.