A group of pondering runners could be found by their home windows across Poole at 4pm as the heavens were open and rain was pouring!

But the plan remained to attend and hope we can do some digging.

Just like when our problems feel too much, the clouds cleared and the sun returns like a new breathe of air.

We arrived at Hamworthy Park at 6pm to meet Stan, the trustee turned gardener of 'Friends of Hamworthy Park'.

Tonight we were armed with spades and the chosen plot was to be dug up, ready for wild flower seeds. Sounded simple enough, turns out it was a pretty tough job breaking into the ground in the first place! Office workers, retired ladies, care workers all turned into gardeners, with a fight for the soft turf!

The second job was carting the piles of turf a few 100m to be reused for future projects. Wheelbarrow wheelies were on!

Richard proved his strength 💪 with his tough action on his spade whilst Patricia showed us, whilst small in stature she is mighty in power! Becky is one of those quietly working in the background, then you realise she has cleared a big patch of grass whilst you lent on your spade! Maria proved she could talk and dig just like a Goodgym Pro (Go order that T-Shirt!), Nicola proved that mathematicians can wheel in a straight line, sort of!

1 hour later, there was a clearly dig area, ready for stage two of the project!

It was time for a run, Nicola had walked 2 miles in so we headed off in the direction of her area, across the old bridge onto The Quay. A 5k route affecting every one of our senses! We smelt fish from the sea, chemicals from the factory and fumes from smokers we ran past. We had the feel and look of mud and dirt in our finger nails from the digging. We had the views of dark clouds, boats, the sea and beyond. We had the taste of the sea in our mouths We had the sound of seagulls, the wind across the boat sails and blowing through the streets around the old town. It was a sensory overload but bringing a calming of the soul.

Nicki peeled off at one end, Pat was dropped another and a 5k completed by final musketeers, all ready for a cuppa back home.

Great work everyone!

Its blowing a strong Zephyr out there! (You may need to look that up - If you don't- Please write up the next report!)

Stan from Friends of Hamworthy Park was ready for us at 6pm with his little green van and many paint pots and brushes!

Goodgym runners were straight onto it, a brush each, a paint pot between two and a quick calculation of what the colour order was on the fences!

We had two groups tonight as plenty of space to social distance, with a few people being in bubbles with someone so they are allowed a bit closer!

It was a delight to welcome to the group Gemma! Gemma already knows a few of the team and she was straight onto a fence panel before we could introduce her to everyone else! Great to have you Gemma and please join us again - Just next time no need to aim the paint at me! 😏

It was wonderful to welcome back the fabulous faces of Richard and Maria! Only last week we mentioned we missed our Knowles family! Maria is looking great and really enjoying her running currently, without feeling need to chase PBs!

Many of the runners had raced this weekend so after the task, headed home with a run or walk - All good as we need to make sure we also listen to our bodies!

Becky joined us again, becoming one of the team alongside Shelley and always fabulous leggings!

We painted so many panels tonight! Patricia was a wizz with the yellow, Jane took again on the red, regretting it but then admiring her handiwork at the end!

Ali swopped paint colours just to chat nearer to Richard as it had been too long! Elizabeth was making sure none of that purple paint got in her hair with a neat use of a buff!

Gemma, Esther, Robert, Sian, Richard and Maria all headed off to Lake Pier. A wonderful spot with lovely views across the bay and a trail pathway. We had hoped to run back along the sand, but the tide was so far in, it wasn't possible. We enjoyed the views and reminded ourselves just how blooming lucky we are to live here next to all this!

What a fabulous evening, non stop chatter, so many fences painted and a real sense of achievement, with views to finish!

We are delighted to be back to non essential but Covid Safe tasks!

This week, we finally made it to St John's, having previously delayed as we went into Lockdown 2.0.

The church, like so many, is supported by volunteers who maintain the grounds. I walk through this church daily and noted there was a few weeds around and had emailed the vicar, Helen Bailey, asking if we can help at all. A handful of emails later and it was all agreed! The church had recently been struggling with volunteers in the garden due in part to Covid and were delighted we can be there to supply some Goodgym power!

Within our limit of 6, we were joined by the lovely Ellie who has been Goodgyming in Leeds and Bournemouth and we are delighted she could join us tonight! We hope you will join us again in future for more friendly chatter and tasks!

Hannah cycled from home so earned extra kudos for the activity.

Richard certainly got stuck in, including an attempt to unblock a drain! He cleared the side of the church of weeds, moss and leaves!

Elizabeth and Robert tackled a side pathway down by the car park full of leaves and debris.

Rev Helen Bailey joined us for a chat and thanked all of us for the work we do. We will be in touch with Helen and the other garden volunteers for future tasks.

After we finished the weeds around the Yew Tree, cleared the side paths and swept up, it was time to run!

We chose to run the quarter marathon route that is usually on New Year's Day. This took us down the hill, around the streets of Broadstone (with a few inclines and lights!) and up Gravel Hill to finish. It is definitely a puffy run with those gradual but persistent inclines!

It was so amazing to have opportunity to run and chat! Often its no more than just a quick 'hello and how are you' as we often give in passing with lack of social interaction. With gardening and then a run, we can really get to find out a bit more about each other!

Good work everyone!

It was the lockdown Eve Eve and 6 runners dressed in lights and gloves headed for the centre of Branksome!

All feeling a little disppondent that soon, once again we would no longer be able to meet for these types of tasks or runs, it was a good distraction to find ourselves with brushes, black bin bags, litter pickers and even a leaf blower!

John met us at the task and Patricia, in her usual give it a go attitute / AKA Ninja Nana (!) was the first to volunteer for a leaf blower experience!

Robert and Zoe made quick work of the litter whilst Richard grabbede the noisiest tool he could fine (a rake!) and attacked it with the point to max out all noise levels! Christine meanwhile took the quieter apprach, filling bags of leaves as she went!

It wasnt long before we filled 10 bags of leaves all pilled up in front of the centre, ready for Nigel, the Manager, to collect and compost. Apparently John thought we would fill just a few and Nigel said 20 so we were in the middle!

All the side entrance, the front of the building and around the court all sweeped and Robert managed to litter pick the park too which was full of bottles!

We finished up and headed out for a short run - Well done to Christine and Zoe for runnign to and from the task making up those miles!

We have to cancel the planned tasks for next few weeks due to restrictions but watch out for some fitness tasks!

The clocks have turned back and we are well established in our autumn season.

This week for me, the thought of getting out to run, is signifiacntly less appealing! There are no races in the calendar, no holidays booked and just not the motivation to go out into the weather.

Well thank goodness for Goodgym to kick us out the door! We come along for some fitness, to see our Goodgym friends and to complete a task in our local community.

So it was fantastic to have Jo back with us tonight for her second run (go get that T-Shirt Jo!). Sian also joined us after she keeps knocking out 5k PB's all over the town. Robert rocked the show with his halloween leggings (I feel like we didn't give them enough air time Rob!). Christine and Zoe both ran down and looked very fresh and casual about it, before running back again. Richard as ever provided us with his sense of humour and for that we are always grateful!

I, Esther am delighted to tell you I am now officially on my 50+ deeds with Goodgym! What a really fortunate person I am to have had this chance with Goodgym!

Tonight we finished the first batch of leaflets for Branksome Centre around the streets, up many driveways and steps.

We were absolutely rubbish at photos but it was a contstantly moving session where we all covered around 5km, even if a more run / walk session!

Well done everyone!