We were 3 of 743 finishers at University Parks Christmas Day parkrun! A chilly but lovely start to the day ❤

This was the kind of session that makes my heart happy. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face all evening.

A huge team of Goodgymers assembled at Port Meadow to clean up the tow path and picnic spots. A big welcome to Blossom, Thomas and Millie.

The litter was not too bad but as usual we found a random selection of objects - a chair, a very rusty bike frame, various items of clothing and a plethora of picnic detritus.

The main event though, was OBVIOUSLY the pizza social. Last time we attempted this it absolutely slammed it with rain. This time, despite a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms, we managed to descend on The Medley and enjoy delicious pizza and a really good chat.

Heres to more socials - once a month maybe?!?

GoodGym Oxford made a triumphant return to The Children’s Allotment after several years away. It was a gorgeous, sunny evening with a breeze that made the summer heat much more manageable than recent weeks. Because it had been so long since our last visit, the site was brand new to most of us. We were thrilled to welcome three fantastic new recruits - Simon, Hannah, and Celestia who jumped straight into the action after our run out from Richard Benson Hall.

Our host, Vita, had a long checklist ready to get the community space back into tip-top shape. The team quickly split up and crushed a variety of physical jobs. We shifted timber, lopped back overhanging branches, weeded raised beds, and cleared out thick patches of prickly brambles and nettles. We also collected windfall apples and damsons and dragged out piles of broken, abandoned paraphernalia to clear the site for an upcoming skip removal.

With the hard work done, Vita invited us to vote on how tonight's session had influenced our personal well-being, with apples! It was a wonderfully creative, grounding way to reflect on the power of community and fresh air before our run back to base. An absolute powerhouse of a session and we promise not to leave it as long 'til our next visit.