Over 30 smiley and energetic runners, including 4 new faces (Hannah, Elly, Yiyin, and Kate), amassed at Vivo this evening for a incredibly productive flyer session and a harbourside run.

After the massive run of half a mile to meet our host for the evening Hannah and her ever helpful assistant Marky we were introduced to this evening's task. We were required to help Redcliffe Care deliver their most recent newsletter to the local community promoting all the great stuff they have coming up this year. This was no small feat as the community included 10 blocks of flats and two estates of flats and houses. This needed organisation and the most efficient distribution network Bristol has ever seen. We split into groups with pairs taking on blocks and groups taking one estates. Marky ran around the blocks and let the guys into each one as they went round. Soon everyone was posting and we were delivering to more houses than Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, covering more steps than a 90's tribute act.

We were all expected to meet back at base at 7:20 but most of the guys finished way before that so we did a little lap of the most beautiful church in Bristol lunging and jogging all the way. After an initial group photo with the the speedy posters a group went off with Godfather Dave to start a 3 mile lap of the harbour. Soon after the remaining teams returned having gone a bit rogue and started handing out newsletters to passers by, we'll call these the initiative collective, great work guys. Our wonderful host Hannah thanked us for our help and gave us water and biscuits (we always get looked after well in Redcliffe!). The remaining group ran the opposite way around the harbour and met the leading group halfway round and then back at Queen Square. In a run that was more perfectly timed than the gold medal winning flamingo synchronised swimming team performing their world beating performance at the waterhole world championships.

We stretched, punned (thanks Dave for you classic suggestion), and sang happy birthday to Debs; go on give her a cheer she deserves if not for bringing cakes then definitely for her 20 mile run at Larmer Tree this weekend. Big respect to everyone else who ran there too, it looked awesome and you represented the Bristol Red Thunder impeccably.

I am still gobsmacked by the speed you guys worked tonight, it was brilliant and Hannah was seriously impressed. Thanks so much, your are awesome.

See you next time.

Gary

One drizzly evening in February a gallant group of 21 GoodGymers stepped out of the warmth of their homes to help Emmaus Bristol sort, fix, iron and clean their way to greatness.

Emmaus are a wonderful charity who help homeless people to build better lives for themselves by giving them opportunities to achieve and develop. Our task for the evening was many-fold, as the lovely Xanne explained when we arrived in their warehouse. They have recently opened new shops so a lot of the donated toys, books, records and crockery they have needed cleaning, sorting and boxing ready to be sold. And they also need transfers to be ironed onto t-shirts for the Big Sleep Out this Friday at the Pip 'n' Jay Church in order to highlight the reality of homelessness in the city.

We split into several groups. Disco Jack was fast to put on his ska hat and lead the crockery cleansing team. Chloe spent some time toying around with whether Upsy Daisy had a kite mark. Our London guest Steve was sorting vinyl faster than a flooring expert who needs to how every sample of his wares to the treasurer of the sliding bassett hound association buying a choice selection for their clubhouse. Ted nailed his comeback from injury with some master craftmanship fixing up furniture. Georgina and Rachael created the latest in Bristol Fashion by ironing on transfers to t-shirts ready to promote the Big Sleep Out. And a special mention to Mel who was by far the most glamorous taking on a myriad of tasks wearing her tiara (I know there were loads more of you who did a great job but I'd be here all night if I mentioned all of you!)

After 40 minutes we had smashed through the tasks and Xanne was very happy with what we had achieved. We had a quick photo shoot, waved goodbye to the pig playing guitar above the door and then hit the road. On the way home I set the group the task of perfecting their hill running with some reps by Castle Park. They took up the challenge with much gusto and did themselves proud. Especially Charlie who earned herself the technical sticker of excellence (catchy I know!) for her technique.

After stretching in Queen Square it was time for the night to end. Thanks to everyone who came out tonight. Especially debutantes Stella and Elisha who got well and truly stuck in. You lot are the absolutely amazing.

See y'all again soon,

Gary

Bear runners (26 to be exact) turned up to help the paint planters and pick up litter at the the Bearpit tonight working alongside the Bearpit Social

In a last minute call to action the Bearpit Social, a great cafe with a massive sense of community, asked us for some help sprucing up some seating/planters in a much loved and highly diverse area of the city centre. Our runners were given the opportunity to select a colour of their choice and then paint away.

As we had so many runners tonight a splinter group was tasked to collect litter from the area to make it look tidier than a Welsh germaphobe's kitchen counter. One passer by commented "it wont make a bear bit of difference" but we did not pander to this as others, including ourselves, thought the polar opposite as we pitted ourselves against the jobs in hand.

Both teams did some sterling work and our contact from the cafe, Carlo, could not believe how much we managed to achieve in just 40 minutes. Finishing so quickly gave us a great opportunity to go for a longer run back, so we split into two groups. The sporadic sprinters with me and the habourside cruisers with Chris. We all met back in Queen Square for some skip/sprint/jog drills to improve our strength, balance and recovery rates before stretching out.

A massive round of a-claws to everyone for your efforts tonight especially Suzy who came on her first run with us and launched into the task and drills with grizzly determination.

Koalaty work guys,

Gary