With lots of talk of corona virus, flu and other viruses it took its toll on our gang. Quite a few missing out on the run tonight to do good due to being sick! We wish you all a speedy recovery!!!

Despite all the sexy mucus and phlegm 16 of us manged to sty healthy enough to get ourselves outside for a fresh run through the gardens.

We met Andrew at the Square and it was a very long time since the last time we saw him, so it was great to have you along again!! See you next week!

Today was also extra special, because our much loved Pri was making her

200th

(way more really, but according to the website...) good deed!!! What an amazing achievement and what an amazing person too. Always up for anything, happy to help, turns up despite not having slept after a night shift, welcoming to everyone and has been part of GoodGym Bournemouth since the start. 200 good deeds mixed in with coach runs, missions and group runs.

WE LOVE YOU CAPRICE!!!!

Apart from all that loveliness we had a task to do! And tonight called for helping out one of our favourite people; Paul at Bishop Aldhelm's Primary School! Our run was a little longer today, 4km each way. The way there being up through the gardens along a gentle and steady incline...not really noticeable until you get to the top...and then even more noticeable on the way back when it all seems a little easier!

We dodged the mud at times...other times we didn't realise until it was too late that we'd taken the wrong line...slosh slosh through the puddles and mud we went and now being hardy runners, weren't too phased by it.

We stopped at the road crossing to make sure everyone was ok and to allow the group to gather again. Caprice being our back marker tonight, making sure no one was left behind.

Tonight's task was to help the school do a deep clean of their cookery classroom. So wit gloves on and each person manned with a cloth and cleaning products the gang set about cleaning all the cupboards, trays, doors, sinks, fridges and taps. In 30 minutes the place looked spotless and again Paul was so grateful and impressed y how much we can get done in such a short amount of time. Well done gang! Brilliant work as always!!!

With the place looking clean as a whistle at that was left was to take some creative photos to celebrate Caprice's achievement.

Paul volunteering to climb up some monkey bars to make sure we had a great angle! And we managed to get some great ones!!

All that was left was to gather ourselves, say our good-byes and start the 4km jog back to base. This time along the more lit route, but also more suspicious smelling...

Once back we stretched and chatted about upcoming runs and then headed home for some well deserved dinner!

Thank you to Phil for taking lots of photos, and again Caprice for back marking on her special evening.

See you all next week for the quiz night! Thank you Daryl for preparing that for us!

Byeeeeeeee make sure you top up on Vitamin C, ginger and garlic to keep the germs away!!!

Tonight called for a change of plan...from going to see Mark at Hope Housing to going to see Denise at It's all about culture in the Sovereign Centre.

17 of us gathered, ready to take on any task and distance that was needed to do good and give it heart!

Our route out to the task took in as many wind assisted routes as we could find, soon cracking out some Strava segment PBs....in our minds at least. And it was amazing running with a lot less effort than usual.

When we came into Boscombe high street we were trying to figure out what the lights were. Were they Christmas lights, or Easter ones? Well when we got closer we realised they were hearts! So it must have been from Valentines? Or they knew that the GoodGym theme for February is Give it heart! We took it as a sign to take a group photo right there!

Denise was very happy to see us when we arrived and soon gave us the low down on what needed doing.

Team bunting, consisting of Karen, Charlotte, Molly and Hannah took on hanging up the bunting at the entrance to the unit....and did an ok job......but then we realised that it had to go higher up, so Marianne climbed the ladder and with some help and direction from David tidied up the work.

Roshana and Fredrika got their hands on the two hoovers and cleaned the floors, the other cleaned and dusted all over and another team of Laurie, Daryl, Sophie, Keith, Chris and Phil put another coat on the green mile we didn't quite get to finish last time.

We also manged to tidy up the kitchen area and leave it with lots of space to be able to work in and allow new cabinets to be brought in.

We had time for another team photo but then we had to set off and try to make up some time on the way back, but also try to avoid the strong head wind that was our friend on our way out.

The route back took us away from the coast and on some parallel roads, lined with pine trees.

All back safely we stretched and headed home to the warm!

Next week we're heading to Bishop Aldhelm's school to help with a clean and tidy up of one of their arts rooms.

Thank you Fredrika for back marking for us and Hannah for taking some snaps too! See you next week!!

Tonight was the kind of night where in 2019 quite a few would have decided to stay home and stay warm rather than brave the cold. But 2020 GoodGym Bournemouth are stronger, more determined and even more amazing!

15 of us weren't deterred by the cold and wet weather, and we even had our first walking option available!! That's really exciting. It mean that we were able to have Sue back on a task for the first time since the 20th of November accident. Wohoo welcome back Sue.

Emma was also making her comeback after knee surgery, and it was her first run back since the 20th of November too! What are the odds??? Hope to have both of you ladies back with us injury free soon!

Caprice is edging ever closer to the mystical 200 good deed mark, super exciting!! Next week could be the one to get you to the mark!? Drinks to celebrate???

So last time were were at St Peters it chucked it down and we were really grateful to be cleaning indoors. This week we were semi hoping for the same as it was cold, dark and wet...and those combined with litter picking in a cemetery aren't top of the list for many people....but we're GoodGymers and we're pretty badass!

Fredrika and Sue headed off on their walk which is a direct route of around 800m and the rest of us went on a little 2.5km detour around the back roads exploring new places and catching up on all the week's gossip. When we arrived at the church Fredrika and Sue already had bin bags ready so we passed out gloves for everyone and used our super powerful and blinding butterfly lights to guide our way.

We found handbags, lots of wrappers, duvets, bike racks, bike lights, a domino and lots of cans! All in all we filled 5 bags worth of rubbish and didn't come across any ghosts or zombies!

Thank you to Marianne for back marking for us again! Hannah for taking some nice shots of her team and Fredrika for leading the walking group!

With the gang close to getting pneumonia in their hands the decision was made to set off and head back to base to warm up and get some much deserved food at home!

Next week we're down to go and help out at Hope Housing, or it may change and we could head to the Sovereign Center to help put a second coat of paint on the green mile for It's All About Culture. Stay tuned to the website to find out!

Well done everyone on coming out and doing some good in your community! Hope you're all wrapped up warm with food in your bellies!

Finally January is over! And that felt like a very long month...you could say it felt like running up the BIC hill!! Having done pretty well in the January Challenge and finishing up top of the Bronze division, some could have taken it as an opportunity to take their foot off the gas and cruise into February...

.....well they didn't and 17 lovely people turned up this evening to run and make a difference at Abbeyfield Wessex Care home in Westbourne. A not for profit care home who rely on funding and tonight we were able to do a little bit to help with that too!

We had Sophie and Amber back after a little time away, and Molly hit her second good deed on the trot now. You know what they say: "Once you pop, you can't stop".....no wait that's a Pringles thing....They're tasty....

Our route out took us along the coast line, in search of a few hills but also the sound of the waves..anything to distract from the pain of the climb! But also to take in all the fun that the promenade lights bring to the seafront. It was eerily quiet along the prom, perhaps all knew we had the steady climb up the chine into Westbourne ahead of us.... It's very deceiving as you can't see very far ahead, and when you think you're getting close to the top, there's another bend and more of the route is revealed. Magical really!

We arrived to Mark having managed to get lots of the residents together, having promised a bit of a multi tasking session. This way there was something for everyone. A couple of tables were full of die hard quiz enthusiasts. Another table was tasked with creating bird feeders to then sell for the amenity fund. And the fourth table did a mix of a quiz and creating little chicks from wool.

Sam, Molly and Charlotte took on the bird feeders and soon had loads of cheerio strands made up for the birds. They also used pine cones and coated them in peanut butter and seeds as hanging bird feeders and also made up lots of labels. A little money making machine!!

The rest of the gang split up amongst the tables and caught up, lots of chatting and laughing and a really rewarding evening for both the running gang and the residents. I think we'll be sticking to quiz nights from now on with some craft stuff added in for those that like to be kept busy!

They run back was a ore direct route but did just happen to take us along and up a little hill again, the last one for the evening and I'm sure everyone had already forgotten the hills at the start of the run.....right?

Happy Birthday to Claire by the way, it's today and the only reason she would have missed hanging out with us tonight!!

Next week we are down to clean at St Peter's Church and Fredrika will be leading a walking group. So if you're fitness isn't great, you're injured or just fancy a stroll instead come on down!

Thank you to Hannah and Fredrika this week for back marking and making sure no one was left behind!!

Have a great week everyone!!!