It was a warm summer evening and we met at the usual place and it was amazing to see a new goodgymer - Maryam! She had seen us on social media and the red tshirts around town so wanted to get stuck in.

Sallyann modelled her fashionable red tshirt, red watch, and MAGA red GG hat, lamenting Strava wouldn't recognise multiple watches.

Some decent finds tonight: 1. Andy found a metal bar and some socks 2. Russell found asbestos (probably not really) 3. Maryam found a cuddly duck 4. Richard found a massive bag of tinnies 5. Jane found a jellyfish bollard to go with her story of when she used to throw jellyfish around at the beach 6. Sallyann found she can't carry a bag once it weighs a measly 8.2kgs

Clearly, someone had moved the bins but we did find one, dropped the litter, and headed back.

great work everyone! Next week is meadowview cottage and led by the ginger ninja!

2 sacks collected, 1 mile covered, Area looks better.

Meeting in the rapidly fading sunshine Fay offered us the option - take on #FaysFysicalChallenge and be legends or wuss out. Naturally, Andy wussed out. You can see the challenge and the rest of us tackling it on the gram. Newcomer Steve must have wondered what he got himself in to! Welcome.

We undertook a bit of democracy and decided to go for the run first, as we were picking litter very close to base. Leah was confident she knew where she was leading us and we set off for a jaunty 4.5km run.

Once we got back we picked up the pickers, the bags, and the area activator. Some disgraceful littering by people, but graceful GoodGymers got to work.

Some lovely finds tonight. My personal highlight is the (empty) parking ticket we found which Steve put on the car blocking the pavement. I'd love to see the driver's face when he saw it.

Rich W will be gutted he missed out on spoons. Someone won't be best pleased they lost their credit card. But even worse, someone will be devastated I'm sure that they ended their night without their trousers and underwear! Three very full bags found, excellent work.

I am looking forward to hearing how Richard gets on eating a kiwi with the skin on as though its an apple, and how Rob's race goes this weekend! Jealous of him going to Prague at the start of April, less so for needing to do the half marathon...

The clocks go forward next weekend so it'll be light for group runs soon, that'll be almost as exciting as getting my hands on some more of Martin's allotment produce.

Happy running everyone! See some people at Parkrun, if not next week.

After a warm March day it had started to cool down by the evening. but that didn't stop 3 hardy Goodgymers ( 4 if you include yours truly, D'Artagnan 😜 )

Meeting outside the gym we decided that we were a merry band and that we would go for a run first before getting our swords (litter pickers ) out and tackling the bits of rubbish around.

We also had some new shoes on show 😍 as Robert was preparing for the first if his epic half marathons this weekend in Portugal. Good luck and we want to see lots of photos and the medal. Linn had bought a new pair as her old pair had literally split apart during last weekends Chelmsford half marathon, wow and congratulations . And then to round it off Ben was in jubilant mood as he had changed his working hours on Wednesday so he can come to Goodgym more often, yay.

Setting out into the bunnywalks the chat turned to Roberts crazy european running challenge and all the bonkers logistics its going to take to get to the start lines ( yes, linesssssss) on time. And then food was discussed (standard) and the possibility of going to Back Inn Time after next weeks task.... more of that on the WhatsApp group 😉. Linn took a tumble but got straight back up. grazed palms and a bruised ego, there was no stopping her. even when i mentioned doing Kenyan Hills up and down the Avenues ( although it was decided this was a stupid idea and chatty run was better).

Arriving back at the gym we collected our sword(pickers) and set about the car park and hedgerow and made our HQ that little bit nicer.

Thanks guys for coming and i shall from now on think of you three as the musketeers (you can decide who is which character😂)

until then.....

Run Happy

Rich

On a cold Feb evening we met outside the Old Factory Gym and welcomed back Linn back for her second good deed. Great to see you again and so glad we didn't put you off after the first time 😂

The task tonight was for us to do some litter picking around a known cut through into the city centre behind the B&M car park.Fay and Andy helped get the litter pickers and bags as they planned to walk to the task (which didn't quite go to plan in a good way), and I had teased that we had a special guest appearance at the task which started a guessing game and people had agreed it must be Ed Sheeran. ( But it turned out to be better).

As we started to run, Fay said she was going to run a little with us until she couldn't and then walk the rest with Andy, as we neared the task I looked round and they we're both still with us. Fantastic 💪

We arrived and just as we we're starting to unfurl bags and snap our litterpickers a head torch glowed in the dark on its approach to us. And then from out of the cold dark night the legend that is Laurie appeared with smiles and a makeshift litter picker arch was formed. Welcome back Laurie we've all missed you so much 🥰.

Setting out we picked away to our hearts content while chatting even more and our head torches scanning through the undergrowth with Kate trialling the spare head torch i had brought. And in no time at all we were done with bags full and we were on our way back.

On our way back Robert told us more about his epic multiple half marathons coming up. Which involves two half marathons in two days, in different countries.🤯 Good luck Robert,we know you'll smash it 💪

And again on the way back we had Fay running with us. Whens the marathon, Fay? 😜

With litter pickers put away we chatted about our dinners and about doing some painting at Beaulieu community centre next Wednesday, hope to see some of you there

Thanks all for coming and remember

RUN HAPPY

Rich

p.s. Martin (good) wasn't late for the meeting time 😜 and as a reminder to Robert it's every Wednesday at 6:30pm. 😂

p.p.s. Hello Ben, who had just finished work as we passed him on the way out.

5 goodgymers braved the new year cold

New year, new January challenge! After Rich said he was too unwell to lead I dragged my fragments of spine down eager to get some kms and good deeds towards the Jan challenge!

Andy was giddy when it started snowing, alas stopping about 30 seconds later. Fay couldn't resist grabbing extra pickers and bin bag rings I think in the hope some more GGers would show up!

We headed out to where Joel had assured us there would be litter but it was thin on the ground. It was great to have Martin back after his amazing sounding trip to South America and hear more about that.

As we meandered down to the edge of town we discussed the price of steak and Sallyann proclaimed sea bass the better dish. We are all eager to try guinea pig now though - apparently very rich and gamey.

See you Saturday - if the water in the park subsides!

Another 5 good deeds knocked off the tally! Great work!