Sallyann enticed us all to come to parkrun by announcing that if you attend all 12 Goodgym parkrun sessions in the year, as a runner or volunteer or even a breakfaster, there will be a mystery prize. This drew lots of us in, including Liam even though he was setting off for Costa Rica later in the day! Sallyann, Lucien and Pauline came to cheer on and photograph Liam, Bekah, Ellie, Julie, and Sian who joined a huge crowd of enthusiastic runners, numbers probably swelled by New Year Resolutions to a total of 669. It was Goodgymmer Eileen's 100th session as a parkrun volunteer, an amazing achievement. A special shout-out also goes to Heetu who wasn't able to join us as she was doing a trail run on the Llyn Peninsula. After the run we went to escape the cold in a cafe for brunch, arriving at Espresso on Park Road moments before the shutters went up for the day so that it felt like it was opening just for us. We're experimenting with a new nearby cafe for brunch each month, and February might see us heading to Lodge Lane. We had a lovely chat and catch-up and are looking forward to the next task!

This get together was an opportunity to celebrate our Amazing Area Activator Ema. Only the night before Ema had been succesful in winning the Merseyside Women Making a Difference award in recognition of her amazing work Ema is choir manager of Choir With No Name Liverpool as well as our Area Activator. Well done Ema I know everyone who knows Ema knows what a difference she does make but its fantastic she has had the recognition for this. Ema dutifully bought her award along for us to see. Its lovely unfortunately the photo i took of Ema holding it doesnt show it as its a beautiful glass award.... note to self leave photography to anyone else but me.

Well done to David Bekah Julie and Vikky on running the parkrun before breakfast in what started out as a bit of a drizzly grey day. Each and everyone finished with a smile and still looking fresh. I know this as I was handing out finishing tokens under the mentorship of Eileen who is a member of the core team at princes parkrun -team token... this week had an international flair as we tried to say well done in as many different languages as we knew (or were taught as the morning went on) Team scanners today included the family duo Roz and Jo both part of the furniture at parkrun as both have run so many all over the place as well as volunteering at both parkrun and junior parkrun.

The wonderful thing about our parkrun get togethers is that people can pop in and out of the morning it really is a smorgasbord of a social it was so good that both Liam and Ellie were able to take time out of their busy schedules to celebrate Ema's achievement and catch up with everyone and lastly but in no means least it was so wonderful to see Laura who we figured would be the last time we saw her for a little while as she will have her hands full and her time occupied very soon.... (her gorgeous baby was born the very next day 💕).

This truly was a winning breakfast.

The season has definitely changed and the weather was decidedly parky on parkrun day. This didn't put off a crowd of Goodgymers turn up for our monthly parkrun session.

Eileen is a core volunteer at park run and true to form she was at her regular spot with her stack of tokens. It may have been chilly but that didn't deter Julie from hardily wearing her Goodgym t shirt. Well done to Farnaz for her first parkrun the first of many I am sure as she made it look so easy. Liam wasn't running today but that didn't stop him coming down to support the runners,ensure everyone had a point to gather at the end and remember to get the photo taken. Aditaya and Ellie both ran with springs in their step throughout and and incidently both ran good times.

Parkrun done it was time for the task at Urban Green Up - and Aditya ,Ellie, Farnaz and Liam joined by Sallyann went down to the Urban Green Up - finding we had time to spare we decided some refreshments were in order and yayyy there was a cafe (aptly named Thoughtfully cafe )right near the tastk which served delicious treats and a mighty fine chilli hot chocolate just right for a chilly day.

Whilst sat in the cafe we heard from Roz who was doing some park run tourism in Stretford congratulations Roz on your best time this year.

It was Sunday morning in Liverpool and the Goodgymers were going to be busy today. There was an all day event organised for Car Free Day in one park The NHS games happening in the morning in another park and a 10k race happening in nearby Warrington.

Whilst Ema set up and kept the stall going at Car Free Day 5 Goodgymers (Amina Chris Eileen Heetu and Sallyann) went to help out at NHS games. we had been asked to help out at this two run events a 5k and a children's 1k which was organised for staff from the local NHS trusts.

The fabulous 5 or as someone called us Goodgym Kings and Queens were given the task of marshaling the courses. As we had plenty of time we walked a lap of the 2.5 lap route and gave us a chance for a chat together Eileen is part of the Parkrun volunteer team and as this 5k was using the same route it have Eileen a chance to share her knowledge with us.

it's always a pleasure to marshal and today was no exception. So many smiling faces despite the hills. Everyone achieved the 5k and were awarded medals (including two dogs).

After the 5k it was time to start the 1k... we had to run back to our marshal positions fortunately getting there in time. The children flew past with several parents having to work hard to keep up. Before we knew it it was over.

it was such a lovely thing to be involved with we all really enjoyed it. Thank you for the invite.

We left the park to reconvene over at our next task where Ema was holding the fort.

... oh and that Warrington 10k our Goodgymer Roz cheered on by her Mum and Goodgymer Jo only went and ran her legs off and came in with an exceedingly good time and a smile on her face. Well done Roz.