A balmy night (given that it is December) and 24 good Goodgymers met at our usual meeting point in good spirits, with as usual, lots to be positive about. Firstly a big shout out to our very own Vicky who is always very busy at the beginning of Dec and yet again organised a very successful Chase the Pud over the weekend. Over £4000 was raised for the British Heart Foundation and having 250 Santas chasing a xmas pudding or mince pie round the racecourse now seems like a normal thing to watch in early December. She was of course helped by several GGers but the credit for such a successful event must absolutely go to our amazing Vicky.

As well as several GGers volunteering at the fun run, it is another big shout out to Rebecca and Sam who both ran the fun run. Sam came second and nearly caught the pud while it was an incredible effort from our very own Rebecca who completed her first ever 10k run :-). Finally before warming up it was a pleasure to welcome Ruth who joined us for the first time and who in getting muddy and wet later fully got fully involved with the delights of a GG task. while numbering off every 5th person had to come up with a different warm up while Pete led the walk group to the task. Ed led the rest with Vicky backmarking to Rowntree park - our destination for the night, while Michael hot footed it direct from work.

As usual Stu had plenty for us to do. Babs and Leanne were quick to volunteer for shovelling bark chip and pushing the load up the hill to the garden in a vehicle more akin to a tip than a wheelbarrow - strong (!); another group headed up to the gardens for various tasks while the remainder of the group started attacking the debris that had collected in the pond. Using a variety of rakes, spades and other long handled devices the amount of debris collected and deposited in the undergrowth was both impressive and smelly. Teams at both ends of the park worked hard, although when Micheal and Alex went to help out with Amy's group later in the evening with seemingly clean lower legs, Amy was heard to say that she thought that her team had got the slimey end of the stick that night - at least I think that is the phrase she used ? Meanwhile the garden team had worked hard - with Helen and Jane quickly finishing their sawing task - Stu remarked that he had forgotton how hard the GG team always work.

Finishing with the team photo, Ed split us into 4 teams with tonights fitness involving a team member running while the remainder did exercises but in sync with each other. Surprisingly they were done quite well and whilst perhaps not ready to form a syncronised swimming team everyone acquitted themselves well. It was then just time for sharing round some home made xmas themed ginger biscuits before returning to base....

A cool autumn morning in Rowntree Park was ideal for seven of us to shift soil and move some green waste to the edge of the park for collection.

Everyone got stuck in and made light work of the task, despite the distraction of trying to get a place for next year's Snake Lane 10 when the online queue opened at 11.

Tonight we had a last minute change of task due to the original being cancelled. Luckily Rowntree Park came up trumps!

First we met, named and numbered off saying our favourite smell! Mitch then headed off with a walking group and Ed led out the runners with Laura back marking.

We were given a selection of jobs to do. Team path were charged with clearing and sweeping the steps and ramp. Team soil shifters moved soil from two big piles in the park to a planter behind the lodge and team shift stuff filled bags with, well, green stuff. It was a beautiful evening in the park and we were treated to an awesome full moon... the perfect setting for murder in the dark! This was tonight's themed fitness led by Jenna!

On that note, a huge shout out to wonderful Jenna ,who has now completed an incredible 400 tasks! And if that isn't enough goodness she also brought along some delicious cake! Thank you Jenna for everything you do.

Our last head torch group run for a while saw a bumper 26 GG Yorkies turn out for the choice of either soil inversion at Rowntree Park or prepping a flower bed at Southlands Church.

Knowing full well how difficult it can be organising a group of GGers (what is our collective noun?) at the end of a task, tonight started with a warm up which saw Ed introduce some of the exercises the gang would be doing later on as part of the fitness session. We then set off a steady group led by Nick to Southlands church, whilst Laura backmarked the bigger group which headed to Rowntree Park

After the brief run across we met Vicky at the task who had been left instructions by task owner Christine, who unfortunately couldn't be there tonight. Whilst Vicky is confident she got the details about the task correct, we're bot entirely sure that the tools were quite right as there surely must have been better options for shifting wood chip than a small bucket and two children's wheelbarrows! To her credit, Charlotte did make the most of the only full-size barrow, even if it was pretty broken

Whilst one group tackled the wood chipz the rest of the Rowntree Park crew cracked on with soil inversion at two designated areas. One proved significantly easier to get the spades in than the other so there were a few grumblings from Nikki when she was moved over to the tougher area, although her suffering didn't last long as she was handed a tiny wheelbarrow and joined in with the wood chip spreading

Over at Southlands Church....

The two groups came together at the end of the night for a fitness session (with some of the moves we'd rehearsed earlier). The workout featured 10 exercises, with 20 seconds rest between each one, and with each exercise being done for 30 seconds. Vicky was so disappointed that there was no can-can as one of the exercises that Ed caved-in and added a bonus exercise at the end. And this time we were determined to get it right. So after a quick tutorial from Leanne, everyone lined up, linked arms, and performed what felt like a perfect can-can. Although the video tells a much different story!

At dusk they wake, no time yet for cake. Laces tight, keep up with Jake (aka Rich). Through mist and chill, no backache shows. Their steady rhythm swiftly flows.

Each footstep sends a gentle quake. As they quickly start to rake the lake. Leaves and twigs the currents take. Drawn from depths they can't forsake.

Vicky laughs aloud 'we'll take a break'. But not just yet, no breath to take. The lake now clear, their work complete. A runner's task, both tough and sweet .

But before they're done, a photo to take. Do good, get fit, have a shake. Finally finished, trot back to base. They have done good and shall now eat cake.

p.s well done to all the Tibthorpe runner, to Paul Kelly for doing his 400th deed and to Rich for being February's awesome goodgymer of the month

4 Goodgymers made their way over to Rowntree Park after park run (via a stop at Dark Horse Espresso of course) on a sunny Saturday morning. We met Abigail from Friends of Rowntree Park and immediately got to work inverting soil to prepare the ground for a wild flower meadow. After initial uncertainty, Steve Rice became the envy of all, getting deep with his narrow spade whilst Vicky quickly realised she was better off forking about. Much laughter was had and we made a big difference to the area, whilst leaving enough work still to be done on a group run in the near future. A perfect start to the weekend!