Okay okay, yes I know it was actually our fourth time to the Swindon MS Therapy Centre but it was the third time that we had been tasked with tackling the outside flower bed.

After all the recent glorious weather we have had, the heavens decided to deluge us with a heavy rain shower just an hour before the start time. Thankfully after a few minutes it stopped and a beautiful rainbow and a fly past of the Thank U NHS Spitfire over Swindon assured everyone that it was going to be okay.

Photographer Mike and Run Leader Charles were first on the scene, followed by Gina, Jason and Stuart, who had run from the Oasis. They were followed by Sam C, Becky and promising that this time she would not be late was Gaby. Sarah from the MS Centre arrived with the tools and we set to work.

The Swindon MS Centre, which is a vital facility for people with MS and other neurological conditions, like many other places had had to close at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic and had only recently re-opened albeit with a very limited operating capacity.

With our numbers less than half that we had the last time, the question was just how much would we be able to clear within the allocated time? Silly question, this is GoodGym we are talking about, of course we managed to clear the whole plot. The only issue we had was that we ended up running (excuse the pun) out of garden refuse bags to store all the waste we had pulled out. The other issue of course was the garden plot was a sea of thistles and thorns (Q. Why are Partick Thistle called the Jags? A. because thistles jag you) and jag they did. I still have the lumps and bumps on my legs to to prove it despite a ton of antihistamine lotion applied.

After a tidy up and the obligatory taking of photos, it was time to head home knowing that once again GoodGym Swindon had made a big difference.

We proved we're a hardy bunch last week, battling through Storm Brendan, and braving the freezing temperatures at our takeover of Seven Fields parkrun. So the freezing temperatures and icy pavements weren't going to stop our group run to the Swindon MS and Neuro Therapy Centre - even if we did have to skate our way into the Oasis, our regular gathering point.

It was all worth it though to see the fab new GoodGym Swindon banner that will guide people to our meeting point and will help us promote GoodGym at events around Swindon. Thanks to Andrew for preparing it!

Following Blue Monday, we decided to have Red Tuesday and focus on positive things that had happened recently. Not surprisingly, running featured a lot - whether it was running or volunteering at parkrun and junior parkrun, long run Sundays or perhaps the start of a new run streak. There was also talk of trips to warmer climates, Jason's proud dad moment watching his son play rugby, Carly successfully delivering her project so she can run with us again, Richard The Vicar's excitement at being asked to marry a family friend he has known since she was two, and Lily's relief that her kettle still worked after boiling it dry!

With a warm glow from all this positivity, we headed out into the cold towards the Swindon MS and NeuroTherapy Centre, which offers a range of therapies and services to support those living with neurological conditions and there were plenty of jobs to do. What a contrast to our last group run there, which was on one of the hottest days of 2019 - no one was going to step up for an ice bucket challenge this time!

Given the icy conditions, one of jobs was to grit the pathway into the centre. Sam, Andrew and Gaby grabbed the shovels and got stuck in with gritted determination. Charles, Lily and Emma got stuck in to window cleaning and they smashed it (to be clear, the task and not the windows)! The rest of us took off our muddy shoes (revealing quite an assortment not socks...including odd ones to the horror of those who like structure and order) and got stuck in to scrubbing the floor of the gym. This really was a case of team work makes the dream work as we organised ourselves into scrubbers and moppers. We like to make the most of our fitness opportunities so while we were down on our hands and knees, we snuck in some yoga poses - pigeon pose and child's pose resulting in some unusual facial expressions from those around us...plenty of caption competition material for our next social!

Sadly Tracey's perfectly manicured nails, complete with GoodGym logo, didn't survive the evening but maybe she'll treat us to some more nail art next week? You'll have to join our run to Toothill Farmhouse to find out! More information can be found here. And if you can't wait that long for your next GoodGym fix, we will be supporting Brighter Futures on Saturday at the County Ground for our second Community Mission in January. Please sign up here if you can.

As usual we started our day at Lydiard parkrun with other GoodGym friends before hot footing it over to the Swindon MS and Neuro Therapy Centre. They needed our help at their annual Handmade Christmas Fair. The aim was to raise vital funds for the roof as well as raising awareness for the centre and the therapies provided.

There was a lovely selection of stalls selling handmade crafts and cider as well as other fundraising stalls including a raffle. I’d be surprised if we didn’t win something between us given the number of tickets we bought! Helping the fundraising in more ways than one!

Our job was to greet people as they came in, collect any entrance donations, say goodbye as people left – into monsoon conditions! - and the unplanned but vital job of pressing the button to open the doors. There was a certain amount of skill involved in judging speed and distance so the button was pressed and doors opened just in time for people to reach them!

In need of refreshments, Stuart got a round of tea in. Lovely! There may also have been some post parkrun cake. Well, we had worked hard and this was even more help towards the fundraising!

After a couple of hours, with the fair wrapped up and the collection buckets a bit heavier than when we started, it was time to head home. On Tuesday 12th November, we are going back to where it all began for GoodGym Swindon. We’re returning to the location of our very first group run, the Swindon Athletics Track, to help with a painting task! We’ll be painting the cycle storage containers for them as they need freshening up. It is now dark in the evenings and while some lighting will be available thanks to the floodlights on the track, it would be great if you can still bring your head and body torches just in case! See you there, sign up here

This is a new location for GoodGym Swindon, and one we’re really pleased we can get involved with. Many of us – this run reporter included – have friends or family members affected by MS, and so it was really great to help at such a brilliant facility.

This was also the first Group Run for new Run Leader, the Running Rector (not reverend!) Richard! This week’s icebreaker was what was the most extreme conditions we have ever run, walked, or had the displeasure of dealing with. This resulted in stories of bike rides in Mallorca, 36 degree half marathons, mist runs, Yosemite marches, sideways sleeting, drizzly darting around Canada, mountains and melting movement in Melbourne!

With it being an extremely hot day, a few of us were pleased to be able to order cold drinks at the Oasis, ready for our return

Less pleasing was the route, which took us straight past the slightly stinky sewage facility at Barnfield!

On the way there, Richard run led, Kay backmarked with Jason cycling alongside. We chatted all the way there! We were soon at the Therapy Centre, and ready for a tour around the centre conducted by one of the trustees, David Wray. The Swindon MS and Neuro Therapy Centre has been open for 30 years, and offers a wide variety of treatments including oxygen therapy, yoga, reiki, acupuncture and active therapies such as exercise classes, gym facilities, and an AlterG treadmill. The centre hosts an amazing variety of treatment for MS and other conditions, including those that can also help with gneral fatigue and recovery from sporting injuries. David even told us how a lot of the treatments they offer were also in use in many premier league football clubs to help aid fatigue and recovery. Guess they might have some new customers soon?!

The biggest form of therapy the centre offers is also one of the simplest – people talking to people.

The centre offers counselling and hosts social activities in its large meeting space. This ethos of combining volunteering, supporting people with difficult conditions, and social approach to combat loneliness makes the centre an ideal location for a great GoodGym task!

After the tour, we split into two groups – one weeding and whacking thistles, the other wiping and window cleaning. With so many of us, we split into two groups. Making a big splash window cleaning was Paul, Tracey, Stuart, Carly, Gina, Sam – who definitely was not Weed-on! Thinking that thistle do nicely weeding were Sarah, Gabby, Hannah, David, Kay, Tracy, Lily, Charles, Andrew, Jason and Rachel. Emma and Richard took photos while Mike took notes for the run report. What a busy bunch!

After the window cleaning was done, Stuart offered to help Paul cool down in the heat… with a big bucket of water thrown over Paul!

We gathered together for some great group photos, waved goodbye to the centre’s volunteers, and were off for a chatty run back to the Oasis and those well-deserved cold drinks. Well done to everyone who braved the heat on Tuesday. Even in 32 degrees,, we-ed do it all again – we hope we’ll be back at the MS and Neuro Therapy Centre again soon!

What’s coming up for GoodGym Swindon? Is there some sort of Anniversary coming up?!

This Sunday, 28 July, a group of us from Swindon, Oxford, Bristol and Bath are getting together to run the Avebury Trust10, which is a 10k taking in some amazing views at the nearby World Heritage Site. This is following the success of the recent South West Get Together at Tyntesfield. Sign up here!

Next Tuesday, 30 July, the Group Run is to Margaret Matthews Court, 4km, to do some gardening to encourage the residents to spend time there. It will be a great opportunity to help older people, and get another Good Deed in! Sign up here!

The following Tuesday, 6 August, is our 1st Anniversary Group Run! We will be celebrating running 4km approximately to the Haven Day Centre to improve the green space for the Swindon Night Shelter located there. Sign up here - did someone say there will also be tea and cake?!

That Saturday, 10 August, we’re doing a celebratory takeover at Swindon parkrun. We’ve got all sorts of ways to be involved such as pacing, barcode scanning, marshalling. I think one lucky person even gets to look after the Jelly Babies! Find out more here!

And finally, the birthday BBQ also at Lydiard Park, straight after the parkrun takeover. Everyone with an interest in GoodGym Swindon is invited, as long as you LOVE GoodGym and have some food and drink to bring and share. What an way to celebrate – more info here!