September Dawns

On a slightly chilly September evening and with no sign of an Indian summer the team convened at Splashpoint for a dose of Monday night GG magic.

It was great to welcome back Natacha back for her second week. It was, possibly, rather a shock to her that after the swimming and social bank holiday gathering on the beach last week we were back to normal this week ( well as normal as it ever gets! ) with some running, a full on physical task followed by more running and a flavour of fitness too.

It was also a lovely surprise to see Roxy back after a full on summer of working Monday nights. We can’t wait for a time when you can come along more regularly. It’s always a pleasure to welcome this lovely, hardworking, lady to the team.

Tonight’s line up also included Sue also very busy with work commitments who was also back for a second time in a row , Mr and Mrs R (aka John and Belinda) Barbara, Lucy and Duncan and just arriving on the wire Gillian and another second timer, Graham. Nick fresh from his commute in London joined us a little later at the task.

With GoodGym teaming up with Team GB to encourage more people to become active more often it was a real privilege to welcome 2 of our national athletes at the task this evening , but more about this later………….

With everyone choosing to run this evening the team unanimously chose the scenic option and set of on the 2.5k seafront route to the task.

Leave no tombstone unturned

We all had a warm welcome from church warden Rick and his wife Val. It’s always a happy glow when we see Sue and Peter, our friends from Heene cemetery who, most generously provided all the tools, gloves and first aid kit this evening.

This evening we were tasked with clearing some more ground and debris that was still covering and disguising the ruins of the century’s old chapel and air raid shelter in the grounds of St Botolph’s church.

The team headed off in all directions to get stuck in with some fairly hefty tasks. Gill and Graham did sterling work clearing the north side of the ruins. Duncan and Peter attacked the ivy and brambles on the top and sides of the air raid shelter.

Roxy, Natacha and John managed an incredible makeover of the font area of the old chapel with John doing considerable heavy digging whilst Lucy and Barbara tucked into some pruning and bramble clearing on the other side of the old chapel

Oarsome support

It was at this point that we were joined by Team GB athletes Katie Gleeson and Afton Fitzhenry.

Katie is a local Worthing athlete (also my daughter) and GB rifle shooter. She had just returned a few hours ago from Rio in Brazil where she had been competing last week.

Afton is a GB sprint canoeist who recently broke the British record whilst competing in Hungary 2 weeks ago.

It was a complete delight to have these come long and lend a hand with the task.

After a quick photo shoot they wasted no time in getting their gloves on and lending a hand with a rather jet lagged Katie doing some pruning whilst Afton piling into the heavy stuff clearing all the massive piles of brambles.

40 minutes later we reluctantly and certainly reluctantly was the word, called halt. Our hosts were all so in awe and delighted with the progress and I received this email from Rik this morning

Hi Julia – a very big thank you for bringing Good Gym to St. Botolph’s once again. The transformation of the remains of the old chapel and the area around the air raid shelter is amazing!

Rick also asked me to pass on that on Saturday September 28th there will be a working breakfast party for volunteers to continue the gardening and clearing work. All welcome!

We waved goodbye to our hosts and our athletes with several promises to return from all concerned!

GoodGym 100’s

The group split into a few groups with some heading straight home and others joining with for some GG fitness drills.

10 x 10 exercises to make up GG 100. We finished with an impromptu core game with one of the team running with a weighted backpack on their shoulder with the rest hovering or planking.

Special mention to Lucy, Roxy, Sue, Natacha, John and Barbara who all stayed for the fitness and fun and to an injured Belinda who stayed to support the spectacle :)

In other news

• Massive good luck to Lucy and Duncan who are doing their ultra run this Saturday of 100km. Keep us posted. We will all be with you every step of the way! Enjoy your holiday next week drinking and eating in Cornwall. You will have certainly deserved lots of treats!

• Congratulations to Barbara who achieved a new parkrun PB last Saturday! Awesome work and so well earned with all the hard work she has put into her running and fitness recently.

• Next week we will be meeting at Worthing Leisure Centre for our quarterly return to The Rowans. Fun and fitness on the track will follow!