The sun returned but Group Runs did not! Our spirits were high though and the enthusiasm matched that of the Bindweed and thistle that had taken over the courtyard garden at Plum Hall.

It was marvelous to see familiar faces return as well as a brand new face and new connections too. Welcome to Andrew and I hope we help you settle in Colchester! Whilst I love how positive everyone is I would like to raise a toast to Michelle 'Yoda' Lewington our NHS Key Worker vegan hero.

We split into groups to do a few tasks with the welcome help of a member of staff. There was grouting, sweeping, litter picking and A LOT of weeds. The neatly planted gravel flower beds are now nearer to their pretty former selves and one particular resident was very pleased that the weeds were cleared from around her washing lines.

Big thanks to Yvonne and Rebeca from Colchester Borough Homes and we look forward to next time.

As I mentioned at the task, the Shindig is coming up and I know our voices and thoughts will be heard and appreciated if you want to attend. It is virtual and you can register here: https://www.goodgym.org/stories/goodgym-shindig-2021-save-the-date

A bright eyed and fleet footed group of 15 Goodgymers gathered at Colchester Leisure Centre for a wonderful Wednesday night of running and helping in the community.

Before heading off, Tav reminded everyone of Saturday's (22nd February) afternoon mission run to The Cannons to help clear the leaf debris left behind from the recent storms and make it a safer environment for the residents. We need a friendly and willing team to make this happen so please sign up using the website and enjoy time running then sweeping, with like-minded people.

He also promoted the annual GoodGym Shindig, a chance for a weekend with other lovely GoodGymers blitzing ideas, socialising, exercising and helping to move the organisation on to ever better things. Again, details on the website or speak to Tav.

We were able to congratulate Etienne on achieving 10+ deeds and Vanessa on reaching 100. Etienne's huge smile spoke volumes and, as I'm Vanessa, I can write that the journey to getting my wings has been a joy and hugely owing to the friendlier than friendly Colchester runners and an excellent coach. Thank you and well done Etienne. Brighton half marathon for Nick and Vanessa this weekend so let's hope for fair weather!

Tonight's venue was Level Best Art Cafe which was in need of a spruce up. Ella led the walkers and Tav led the runners in a well rehearsed warm up on route with high legs, leg flicks and lunges. We sploshed through the park and up Castle Road, chatting and sharing torchlight. We were met by Colin who talked through the learning opportunities provided by the Dacon Trust for people with disabilities to upskill in cooking, art and gardening. We are hopeful that some participants may also be able to exercise with GoodGym which would be superb. Then the cleaning magic! All was slickly done with great team work and lots of elbow grease; masterly floor mopping, wiping down of tables, chairs and skirting and a thorough clean of the art room. The bathroom cleaning team made the room sparkle and kudos to Louise who stretched all over the floor to remove sticky mess! We were rewarded with delicious chocolate cake, handmade by Level Best students and Colin shared insight on current projects. We admired the art and took contact cards and links to blogs, connecting with the community the GoodGym way!

Our run back to Leisure World was made easier with a snappy warm up of static sprints and then we flew up the high street, through Balkerne gate and down Balkerne hill. Walkers and runners united and speedier people were kept working with extra sprint runs. Our session ended with a thorough cool-down led by Tav, who threw in a ski-ing stretch to manipulate the ankles and an elongated curtsey which flexed our muscles but made us into rather pathetic-athletic ballerinas!

Well done everybody and hope to see you all on the 26th February for an energetic Colchester in Bloom.

Welcome to 2020. A new year and a new decade with a new member Abigail who showed us what she was made of in a great first session.

The news of all the Goodgym goings on and achievements across the country flowed thick and fast. Most exciting is the January challenge and for Goodgym Colchester to do as well as possible on the national league table for good deeds and participants.

It was great to see everyone on a super return to action in which we ran to Middlebrough Fountain to clear leaves. Although there are only 2 beautiful trees there, the amount of leaves is incredible and Pam (Colchester in Bloom legend) briefed us pick leaves up and litter but not bark. The major bulk of the leaves was dealt with by our 17 heroes and then the details to allow the lovely grasses and plants to breath and flourish. Magic work finished off with a photo and some selfie madness.

We were not quite done. Goodgym never shy away from hard work and Balkerne Hill awaited. The instructions were to work at each runners best individual effort. Go down the hill, sprint up and walk down until feeling nicely recovered and repeat 4 times. So, so well done everyone.

Our task was not quite done. Because we love Colchester in Bloom we agreed to plant some flowers in the boxes outside the Townhall on the way back to base. In spring Colchester will look colourful and vibrant and we play our part. I hope you feel as proud as me!

Our gentle, downhill run back to Leisure World ended and we stretched and thought about our goals and hopes for 2020.

Saturday we treecycle and here are the details

Last year was a great one and we hope this year improves on that! GG Colchester has a perfect vision for 2020.

Tonight felt monumental. 10 good deeds for Marcela, 50 good deeds for Emma and year in which a group of friends helped some of the most worthy causes in Colchester.

We achieved so much and everyone, regardless of whether they did 1 good deed or 50, has been part of this movement and the Goodgym way of life.

After Emily rocked The Cannons on Saturday, Ella took centre stage to lead the 12 singers in her perfect version of The Twelve Days of Christmas with a Goodgym twist.

So here it is in full glorified and published awesomeness.

The 12 days of GoodGym Christmas!

On the 1st Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me… A GoodGymer in a Red Tee! On the 2nd Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me… Two litter picks and A GoodGymer in a Red Tee! On the 3rd Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me…. Three hill sprints… On the 4th Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me…. Four headtorch lights… On the 5th Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me…. FIVE GOOOD DEEDS!... On the 6th Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me…. Six gloves for gardening… On the 7th Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me…. Seven brooms for sweeping… On the 8th Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me…. Eight bulbs for planting… On the 9th Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me…. Nine parkrun PBs… On the 10th Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me…. Ten racks for stacking… On the 11th Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me…. Eleven painters painting… On the 12th Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me…. Twelve singers singing

Oh what a night. A night to celebrate, to sing, to read, to do good and to run. We started the evening with handshakes and hugs for members new, old and returning.

First to take the stage was Ella, reading out the Goodgym Experience beautifully. We certainly do feel like this is our town and the night would demonstrate how much we have done to help.

Goodgym always has perfect timing, or did Hannah plan her 50th good deed on this evening of celebrations? Either way what a superstar.

More congratulations to Ian on a smashing Dedham 10k and a little self love to me and bravo to Ella for our jaunt to Surrey for Reigate half marathon.

We set off with the sunlight fading to Firstsite with two missions, one to tidy the lawn and secondly to tour as many of the places we help with a photo at each one with our flag. At Firstsite we met our friend Eddie who gave out tools and instructions. The team trimmed, chopped, tidied and swept with the help of Toby and Harriet. A lovely job.

At the end we sang ourselves happy birthday and went on our photo-shoot tour of town. In chronological order we stopped for a photo at Castle Park gates, where we volunteer at parkrun and litter pick for Keep Britain Tidy. Next to Level Best Art Cafe where we clean the kitchen and restaurant, before we jogged down the High Street to pose by Colchester in Bloom flowers and the Townhall. Onwards (and via Ian's place of employment) we strode to Jumbo and although we have not helped the big water tower we have done leaflet drops and hill training in its shadow! Next it was to Beacon House, who help the homeless, where we painted a room and then down to Middlebrough and the River Colne where we plant and litter pick! PHEW!

After all that fun we ran back to base and heard two stories from the Goodgym book 'Fit Together'. Emily, who is a coach runner, read Florence's story and Susie read Andrew Robson's tale. Inspiring and relatable.

What a whirlwind and we ended by mentioning #GGSuperSaturday...more fun and perhaps a raised glass to toast 10 years of Ivo's Goodgym magic.

It was not just the sun that shone tonight. Twenty Goodgym heroes shone as bright as can be as they took the streets and paths to make a huge difference to Colchester Foodbank.

We started as with the news of Goodgym's expansion and new areas as well as big congratulations to the Nayland 10k runners who conquered the heat, gates and trails with some marvelous cheer-leading too.

We set off in the sunshine and warmed up on our way to the river and jogged to the Foodbank. Once their we met Mike who organised a human chain so that we could load crates into a van. Impressive teamwork!! We then swept, vacuumed and dusted our way to give the the Foodbank a sparkle and Mike a big smile.

The training was next and a little team game...well a ten minute mega game that involved sweets and unicorn cakes. The two teams had a simple but tiring task which was to run around a circle of towering trees and then do five repetitions of a chosen body weight exercise. Team one turned in the most points in a topsy turvy battle and won the unicorn cakes but nobody left without a sweet!

All in all the effort was epic at the task and training session.

See you in two weeks.