From mindfulness to mangoes, the festival had it all

We attended the annual Cambridge Wellness Festival to promote GoodGym and encourage more people to get active and give back 🫶

We had some brilliant conversations with people attending the festival about the wellbeing benefits of GoodGym, and with local organisations about future community missions.

Whilst there, we had to try out some of the activities on offer, so Caroline jumped at the chance to try some inclusive cycling with bikeworks and I did some guided meditation. In need of some refreshment, we went for a smoothie, the catch being that we had to mix it ourselves by peddling furiously on stationary bikes. Cue a little GoodGym competition 💪

Big shout out to David from GoodGym Luton who flagged the festival - quite literally, by sharing the info with us and bringing the GoodGym flag! 🚩

Another brilliant morning with Abbey People, supporting their Seeds of Hope project. We were back moving soil to create bunds, which will eventually be sown with wildflowers. It is very physical, so we got a good workout shoveling and moving soil from the heap. The mounds will protect the beds, holding moisture and preventing erosion, giving the new trees and shrubs the best chance. It is a very satisfying feeling to see the soil heap reduce and the bunds take shape. One more session and they should be done!

We were supporting Coldham's Common parkrun in the sunshine this morning, cheering on over 300 runners and walkers! 🙌

Caroline was on duty as a Marshal and I was handing out finish tokens. It's always a buzz to see parkrunners through the finish line - all with a mix of relief and sense of achievement. 💪

Volunteering alongside other parkrun volunteers, we had some very inspirational chats about ultramarathons and multi-day hikes. Training started with post parkrun pastries 🥐

Cambridge GoodGymers met for a social run along the river this week and were feeling very fortunate to have beautiful scenery to run through, even in the city centre.

Starting at the famous Jesus Lock, we set out along the river towards Baits Bite Lock. Taking in the nature of the river and the commons, and the impressive chimney at the Museum of Technology, this route had it all. We even had the company of cows, a signature of the Cambridge commons. 🐮

As always, it was great to run together, supporting each other and chatting to help the time fly!

Kudos to Caroline and Alan, who joined this run as part of their longer runs. Great work 🙌

Two GoodGymers top and tailed Milton Country parkrun, arriving early doors for set up and staying to cheer the tail walkers across the finish line before packing down.

It turns out there's more to setting up a parkrun than placing cones and signs as Caroline discovered. Armed with shears, she walked the route, trimming unruly branches and nettles and clearing the path of wayward apples. Now we know!

We enjoyed running parkrun this week as well, taking in the beautiful route through woodland, alongside the calming lakes. All in all, a cracking start to the weekend 🙌

Rain paused play...

...but it didn't stop five brilliant GoodGymers watering, weeding, and wielding another beautiful batch of tomatoes. It also gave us chance to have a chat and sample the produce. Win-win!

Welcome to Alan who joined us for his first GoodGym task 💪

Well done team 🙌