Inspired by a GoodGym Portsmouth listing, I invited the GoodGym Livepool team to celebrate the Winter Solstice, by chasing the sun!

One a very soggy morning, I was surprised to find GoodGymers already waiting at our pre-dawn meeting point when I arrived at 07:40 this morning, their reflective kit glowing under the streetlights. I had dreamt of a beautiful December morning, with our team treated to a beautiful sunrise, marking the start of lighter days ahead. Instead we were given a drizzly grey morning, with the distinction between pre and post-sunrise minimal to say the least! Even so, 9 other runners joined me at Princes Park for a socially distanced run while was there in spirit Pauline, on a solo run down the estauray in Runcorn (later also running solo at sunset).

Despite the weather, it was wonderful to run with some folks I've hardly had the chance to see this year including Becky B. and Becky S., as well as Chris A..

We stopped to take a photo after one lap to the park (around 2km) then continued on our soggy journey as the sunrise broke. Sort of! The final lap was lead by Ben (currently on holiday loan to us from GG Ealing) and Roz. Their sibling rivavalry lead to a sprit finish, with Ben just edging ahead in this imaginary race ;) Mum Jo, who clocked her 100th good deed this weekend (whooop!), came in shortly after, her ankles sparkling with GoodGym red lights.

Dear Yan has had a horrible year but thankfully the worst is now over and she can celebrate the break, how else, but with lots of love runs! While Matthew made a great effort to come over from the otherside of town and join us bright and early for this rainy run. Meanwhile, Emma admitted she'd enjoyed the run, despite the rain, and has set herself a distance target of 100km for the upcoming January Challenge.

After a short break, I was back at it, heading North to Everton Park to take in a great view, yet all too aware that the sunset was unlikely to be dramatic since the clouds remained low in the grey sky. I met Sam at the top of the brow and we enjoyed a good old natter that (almost!) made us forget the park's steep hills. Despite the horrible weather, there was still a fab view from the park, all the way to the hills of North Wales.

It was really wonderful to catch up with so many lovely GoodGymers, after a year of only seeing them online or very occassionally, from 2 metres away! Just as the Winter Soltice reminds us, there are brighter times ahead.