Couple of weekends volunteering at Uni parks parkrun and Florence Park Junior parkrun. Getting up above 350 runners for the former, handing out finishing tokens to those running and helping set down. Had 69 juniors last week and over 80 this week in Florence Park, with a new bench (courtesy of Florence Park woofers). Helped out with setting up, bar code scanning, and marshalling.

Our once-regular GoodGym Bromley tourist Tim devised a route several years ago taking in all the View Cones of Oxford - places from which the view of Oxford’s historic centre are meant to be protected. Having often talked about attempting the circuit this weekend we finally gave it a go.

The View Cone locations are:

• Raleigh Park
  
• Boars Hill
  
• Hinksey Hill/A34 Interchange
  
• Port Meadow
  
• Elsfield
  
• Doris Field Memorial Park
  
• Headington Hill Allotments
  
• South Park
  
• Crescent Road
  
• Rose Hill
  

We covered the 24 miles in 5 hours 40 minutes, discovering paths and parks we didn't know existed.

Number of view points - 10
Number of runners - 11
Number of (human) walkers - 4
Number of puppies - 1
Number of icecreams consumed - 6
Number of views missed due to mist - 3
Number of near face plants (just about saved) - 1
Overall pace of the runners - 14 minutes 10 per mile
Last walker standing went as far as Rose Hill
Number of people attempting further than they were really prepared for - all of us!!

It was lovely to spend the day exploring with the group, and fun to have people join for sections at a time as suited their schedule/distance they wanted to do. When the morning mist cleared the views were good, some even quite surprising, although we're really not sure where we're meant to go in Rose Hill for a view across Oxford! To our knowledge no-one other than us has attempted the route since this run in 2018, so we're now part of a very select group mad enough to try it! Great to get cheered into The Perch at the end by Julia and Vicky, and to have Samantha waiting there with a table already reserved.

If you fancy trying the route yourself the route map can be seen on Map my Run here or Strava here.

GoodGym - Masters of tree care!

After several sessions recently caring for saplings across Oxford we are now the self-declared masters of (fruit) tree care. This Wednesday we were in another orchard area planted by the Marston Community Gardeners weeding around saplings, laying cardboard, mulching and watering. We also detangled trees and rhubarb from brambles, and saved gooseberry bushes and black currant shrubs from the encroaching Goldenrod... no, not a Bond villain but a tall yellow flower!

Chips in the pub rounded our evening off nicely.

Congratulations Hattie on your 50th Good Deed!

Spent Saturday morning marshalling and number checking at Uni Parks parkrun where we managed not to lose ANY bar codes for all those that attended!

Sunday morning was as fulfilling seeing many new junior parkrunners complete the 2 km course.

On a scorching August morning, 4 Goodgymers helped out at Florence Park Junior Parkrun, where 37 youngsters completed the 2 km course.

Anwen and Ben were barcode scanning to make sure all the runners got their results, Trev marshaled the route expertly, and Bethan tail walked to make sure no youngsters got left behind. Given the heat, only a short warm up was required but couldn't resist the standard 10 jumping jacks to make sure the runners were ready to go!