10 runners went digging at Broomfield Hospital Sunken Garden

We continued the good work at Broomfield Hospital, helping to transform their Sunken Garden back to a relaxing and usable space for patients. The run was 4.25km each way.

Because it was such a chilly evening, we decided to do some warm up hopping and skipping on the way, which was well received by all. Joel and Kate led the way to Broomfield Hospital, with Lewis and Leanne back marking. Well done to Leanne for her first trip to Broomfield Hospital with us, and for her longest run yet!

Once we arrived at the Sunken Garden, we were met by Barbara and Catherine. Our hosts told us a bit more about the project and we got thoroughly stuck in. Everyone worked really hard to continue digging out semi-circles in the soil, and progress was made (even though it may be hard to see on a dark Wednesday night!).

After plenty of strenuous work, we jogged back to Anglia Ruskin University and completed our stretches. We discussed the next Social event which is Thursday 25th January from 7pm at San Chinese Restaurant in Chelmsford for some hard earned food and drinks.

We have an additional Starter Session on Saturday 20th January, meeting at Broomfield Hospital and continuing our gardening work. It would be great to have some regulars there to welcome our new runners!

3 runners went digging at Broomfield Hospital Sunken Garden

January's Starter Session took us up to Broomfield Hospital, where we continued to dig out semi circles in the Sunken Garden. Rachel and Laurie attended Chelmsford Central Parkrun's rather damp 5th Birthday, while Catherine ran from home to meet us there. A fitness filled Saturday morning for all three of us!

We met at Broomfield Hospital, and got straight to work on the garden. We were a little concerned about the weather for the outdoor work, however the rain cleared up at 11am to allow us to get plenty of work done. It was great to be able to see the Sunken Garden in the daytime, and we could see more clearly the progress we have made in the time we have been undertaking this work.

After the hard work we decided to go on a run through Pudding Wood and along a countryside lane near to the hospital. It was a refreshing run through an area we don't usually get to explore, and a pleasant finish to the morning.

See you next Wednesday!

14 runners did our first Broomfield good deed of the year!

This week we had to fight past the waiting paparazzi after the legends that are Laurie and James G appeared on BBC Essex. You can listen to it on the link at the bottom of this run report. Tell your friends! The person who made that possible also came to their first of hopefully many Goodgym runs - a warm welcome to Charlotte! You picked a great task for your first one, with us all excited to go to Broomfield in what seemed like the first time in forever!

As we set off on our way, we picked up two extra runners at the pub, Leanne and Lindsay, who claimed they'd been warming up. Running past St Mary's church and up through the graveyard we arrived at my car to pick up some of the tools. With Andy eyeing up my boot beers, I had to swiftly move us on to meet David. We were needed to trim down the red dogwood bushes so that they will grow back even redder ad stronger. As you can see from the before and after photos, it was the perfectly timed task. We crushed it! David outlined the incredible plans they have for developing a walking route around the outside of the hospital showcasing their history, everyone was hopeful that we can get involved in the willow-weaving of woodland creatures. Although I am not sure our skills will stretch to that...

As Goodgym, we are celebrating our 50th launch in Coventry so we needed to take a photo of our number - 16! I am pretty pleased with the result, with the build spearheaded by Rachel and Julie, although I am not sure it was the best photo I've ever taken, with only a couple of people not looking windswept. No names. We then ran back to ARU, bumping into Chelmsford Goodgym founder Ken on the way, for some stretches and excellent work on one of our longer runs. Great to see you all and don't forget to fill in the doodlepoll if you want to come for the unlimited pizza in April!

If you'd like to listen to their BBC Essex radio appearance from Saturday morning, you can listen via this link at 1hr 5mins in. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p071kvbp?fbclid=IwAR1qkYhiGOOBHKkZCU0sxsfcUc5W-mfD8PRDVOLKszqH996OU9VyvsuB5e4

9 Goodgymmers ran to Broomfield Hospital to plant some beds

Not everyone was put off by Ken's return and the cold weather, so 9 hardy souls set off to Broomfield to help get the hospital beds in order. The flower beds at the front of the hospital that is. No lying down or changing sheets for us, but a long line of plants to be put in.

Fortunately the ground had been dug over and was nice and soft so everyone whizzed through the task, probably in an effort to keep warm!

We were told some exciting news about forthcoming projects that we will be working on in the new year, then we set off with Ally and Henry leading the charge for home.

A nice stretch down whilst we discussed how great the run was going to be next week as Rich was leading a soon to be confirmed task, then we retreated to get a bit warmer!

I have to say it was really nice running with the group again and seeing some familiar faces and a few new ones! I hope to cantch up with you soon!

We met in our usual tree-house at Anglia Ruskin University Sports Hall. 9 runners made entries to our register and I introduced myself as the new Goodgym Trainer for Chelmsford from January 2019.

We spoke about Saturdays parkrun and Goodgym runners giving their illustrious time by volunteering as some of them are running the Chelmsford 10k on Sunday, have a great run.

We lumbered off to one of our mainstream and favourite tasks at Broomfield hospital.

This run is one of our longest at 4.5k there so it is important to treat the warm up properly so your limbs and muscles are ready to engage the treatment they will get on a long run.

We started off by toe walking to stretch the calves and engage the ankles, then some walking lunges, knee raises and then a few sprints between lamp posts on the pedestrian path out of the Uni.

We jogged on at a pace with Joel leading and streaking ahead with Rachel tail running, along the main streets heading to Broomfield. Heading through the church grounds there was a tapestry of leaves on the ground as there were in the forestry area next to the hospital, quite damp and slippery and certainly not as sultry as the summer.

We were met by David and after the pleasantries he explained that the treat of a task was tree planting. Trees are very important and intriguing in so many ways being terrestrial organisms they absorb and block noise and reduce glare. They create an ecosystem to provide habitat and foods for birds and other animals. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from industry and potentially harmful gasses, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide from the air and they release oxygen back out, a fantastic chemistry. We should treasure trees and all they can do for us and the countryside around us.

We paired off and set to digging holes big enough to place the potted saplings, Joseph and Paul, Laurie and Rachel (I helped to make a trio), Adam and Joel and finally James and Jennifer all planted a tree each in full symmetry. Four trees planted, world saved!

Time to run back, on the run back there was lots of food chatter between Laurie and Rachel tail running, about pastry, entr'ees and cooking. Yummy!

Luckily the *4.5km back *is mostly downhill so the pace picked up quite well, to give those quads a full work out we stopped to do wall squats.

Back outside the sports hall the important stretches were undertook and after digging it is important not to neglect your trunk and ensure you give that a stretch as well.

So, how many “trees” and “tree” references can you find?

Oh, did I forget to mention that Rich has entered a full Ironman in Copenhagen next year? I am sure he will mention sometime!!

Happy running and tree hugging to you all.

9 runners ran 8.3km to Broomfield Hospital to plant

We met at Mildmay Gym and commiserated over none of us getting into the London Marathon. After those brief seconds (or joy for me!), we set off to Broomfield Hospital. No one offered to lead, but David, Joel and Joseph naturally led us out. Catherine and Lewis backmarked, chatting the whole way there.

Richard greeted us at the Quadrangle. He asked us to plant some hedge plants along the edges of three beds, and remove some geraniums for replanting. Everyone got started on planting the hedges, with James digging a large hole as a temporary home for the geraniums. We managed to get two of the four beds completed, and David, Jenny and Lewis making a start on the third. Once Fay, Catherine , Joel and Joseph had finished their section, they were drafted in to help finish the third section with the others. It was easily done in ten minutes, although Fay did have to tag in Joel for her last one, due to over-squatting.

Once done, we popped over the sunken garden to show those who hadn't seen it in its beautiful finished glory, and then set off back. We left Catherine, Fay and Lewis on the way, and jogged gently back to ARU.

Thanks everyone for coming along - it's always lovely to go and make a difference in the hospital gardens.

Next week we are led by Gerry to Kids Inspire, see you all then!

Laurie