Aditya is a regular at Goodgym Liverpool turning up every week travelling over (and under) the Mersey from Wirral. So for our parkrun session this month we thought it would be good to go to Aditya's local parkrun at Birkenhead Park. Aditya had tried out this parkrun last week so we were all excited to join him. Firstly Birkenhead is a large and beautiful park - did I mention large - Heetu Laura and Sallyann arived a tad early (8.00) so had a chance to see a lot of it before we started.

At the tourist briefing our pitch for furthest traveled was usurped by runners from Cambridgeshire..... I guess we didn't stand much chance at the title having traveled less than 3.1 miles as the seagull flies. We were given a warm welcome by the fabulous volunteers without which parkrun would not be able to exist. The course is really pretty and with wide paths and two loops there was still plenty of space for the over 500 runners. Ema was an amazing cheerleader and photographer and a welcome sight at the finish. It is so lovely to have such support when we run thank you Ema. It was also a surprise and treat to be cheered in by a smiling friendly face - sister of one of the task owners we regularly work with

So the run over - well done to Liam for his first (of many) park runs and beating his PB from his last 5k, and Aditya just continues to get quicker and quicker each time he completes parkrun. Thoughtful cookie goes to Heetu for taking Laura's rucksack for Laura's sprint finish, and talking of which broad beaming award has to go to Laura who smiled the whole way around - we have photos to prove it. Oh and me ... I kept my PB in chatting (to anyone and everyone).

After the obligatory photo shoot we went and had some breakfast/brunch/treats congratulated ourselves in getting across the Mersey, showing up for parkrun and started planning for other excursions.

Thank you Birkenhead parkrun for a lovely morning.

Next month we will be back at Princes Park for our monthly parkrun come and join us.

And if you cant wait that long then come to our group run on Monday

Ode to Bruce Spring -in-my-step-steen after that lovely run!

[Verse 1]

I get up in the evening

And I ain't got nothing to do

But make my way to West Kirby

I go runnin on islands, slippin along the way

I ain't nothing but excited

Man, I'm just lovin this feelin with everyone

Hey there, goodgymers

We should definitely do this again

[Chorus]

As you can't take great pictures

If you don't have a sparkly sunset

Liam's phone arm is for hire

Even if we're just prancing in the dark!!!

[Less musical version...]

Aditya, Liam and I met Wirral Social Run group over in West Kirby to join them for sunset run over to the Hilbre Islands. There were many lovely running groups, people and dogs out with us.

We ran or more like multiple mini puddle hurdling over to the first island and got fantastic view over to Wales as the sun was going down. After varied terrain: grassy hills, smooth slidy rocks, concrete ramps, we squelched to the second island and enjoyed more views to Liverpool.

After enjoying the atmosphere, getting our fill of photos, we tried just as carefully to prance our way back in the dark with Morrison sign as our guiding light!

Every time we go to Everton Park we have good weather - this Monday was no exception. Wall to wall sunshine fantastic views and as the task is on one of the highest points of the city and the city itself is on the west coast we had a fantastic sunset which just echoed the glow and warmth of a great Goodgym session.

But lets just rewind a bit and some congratulations first - Ema walked to and from the task - and I think she may have the longest distance to cover, Ellie a constant member finally made it official and tamed the GG website and became an official member (T shirt on its way) Liam showed his commitment by getting to the task on time almost straight from work, Sallyann managed to get everyone lost briefly (more of that later), Steph managed to get a cycle and a run in to get to the task (if we could have incorporated a swim....) Aditya ran to the task and showed determination by opting for the cathedral steps in the searing heat.

First week of the month we offer an opportunity for people to set monthly goals - never obligatory and always supportive: this month goals included running goals, swimming goals and cycling goals. As a group Goodgym are so encouraging of each other there are always ideas and support shared throughout the year.

John who works tirelessly in Everton Park gave us a lovely task of clearing up the edges of a path - thank you John for choosing an area that had the beautiful sunset view. We have tidied a few path edges now and Id like to think we are getting the hang of it - but the time just goes too fast so we will be back. At the end of the task John invited us to visit Everton Community Garden - it was just down the hill and Sallyann who has visited in the past set off with the team to meet Ema and John at the garden - we managed to go round another park get misdirected by a local and have to resort to whatsapp live location - still we got some more mileage in....

The community gardens are an inspirational place - a thing of beauty, an abundant growing pace full of vegetables fruit and flowers and a great resource. We tasted the sweet grapes they have growing in a polytunnel, smelt the beautiful scent of Nicotiana flowers., and discovered a 'sock tree ' (socks as corn on the cob covers to protect from rats eating the produce ) This garden shows what can be done when you have people with commitment, vision and some gardening knowledge. They are having an open evening soon and we look forward to spending more time there.

The evening drew to a close and we made our way home - taking a bit of warmth from the sun and Everton Park with us. Thank you John for a lovely evening