It was a great turn out as 19 of us huddled into Daveena's cafe at 6.30pm tonight.

It was so lovely to see two new faces join us - Sarah and Ella. So fab to have you along ladies!

Sarah is in the process of setting up a new run group that we will fully support here at Goodgym Poole. It is Run, Talk, Run. The concept is that a group meets for a 5km run (or a 2km walk) to have a chance to chat to others to improve their mental health. It will be on a Monday in Creekmoor so spread the word! We hope we can work together with the group in the future. As we all secretly know - our mental health is really improved by feeling part of the community at Goodgym and even more so when we feel we are making a difference in our community as well as looking after our health. We all have our own 'why' for coming to Goodgym and what it offers us! (What's your why?)

Onto tonight's run - A quick warm up on the forecourt before taking on the mound of opportunity that is Fernside Road! Onwards to Ringwood Road and another opportunity! We found the small path that leads to Dorchester Road and it was a chance for a bit of form coaching. Each person had to think of an area of form they need to work on and run the distance (with acceleration / deceleration) working on that form. So perhaps standing tall or using those arms or just working a bit of head up. After 1 repeat, the scores were in. Either we are all terribly British or not trying hard enough as scores of 5/6 were given to themselves! Well practice makes perfect and after 3 of them the scores were more of an 8 so on the right path.

Onto the school where we have been over the past few months with painting, gardening and even moving a library of books around! Tonights task came with the promise of stickering and in a bizarre way this had been a real draw! We were met again by the dedicated Mrs Armstrong (Head Teacher) and Mr Thomas (Deputy) with a big stack of stickers with labels for books for a new reading programme. Sounds simple enough! However as we all quickly discovered, there was no order on the sheets so each time we had to go through the lists and try and find a book in the entire library with often little idea where it actually was! Well this has got to be our most frustrating task to date - it was a bit of a needle in haystack for some of the books! Elizabeth suggested another way to try it - call out authors on the shelf and like a game of bingo we could match to our sheets. This worked for a few but it was still not moving very fast. In the end we settled for calling out popular authors or books and seeing who could help. Sadly we left the school, with many sheets barely touched as we could not find them! Nicola topped the leader board with 8 books found and stickered! Tim was heard loudly saying he was 'looking for bad girls' which I hope he found before we had to go, whilst in the depths of despair at lack of progress, Richard was looking for a book on euthanasia! Fiona who has hidden knowledge and background - knew a fair bit about how libraries run so was more helpful than many of us wondering aimlessly looking for a random book we had never heard of! Time ticked on and Sarah asked me if we had to stay till they were all done - It would have been a very long night!

We decided to give it a end point and took our lack of satisfaction of not completing out into the fresh air, for a quick run back to base. We left on the promise to return if we can help further! Leaving behind Mrs Armstrong and Mr Thomas scratching their heads at the system that had been created!

What a change from last week!

It was dry, crisp and even a little icy tonight as we all met inside the cafe, those that came last week just a little smug against those that bailed due to pretty horrendous weather! (Tim you had that look!:)

First off - Great to be joined by a fellow runner Marie who is new to Poole but not new to Goodgym! Marie has run some good deeds already up in London so we are really pleased she has looked us up here in Poole. We hope you come again soon to join us all!

We were really pleased to be able to return again to St Mary's School - each time we have had great tasks and we had no real details of this one so it was hotly anticipated!

But first there was 30 mins for a run and some warming up to be done! Onto the back streets of Heckford Park for some running! Having found a nice dark block - we got to go round it a few times. Job Done! All about adding those little bits of speed in! Sarah then took us around the dark back streets of Poole till we appeared at a pitch black alley way she assured us was our way to the school. Thankfully she was the local of these parts and we appeared just outside the school a few minutes past 7 where Andrea was waiting for us having taken a shorter run / walk.

This week we were met by Mr Simon Thomas, acting Deputy Head of the school. We were delighted to hear that we were in fact working in the library tonight to move books. It sounded simple - empty all books off shelves, move cupboards, put books back on shelves! Just with a little rule to follow - the books must go back EXACTLY in the order they were originally in! Two teams were formed and it was clear thatSian had found her calling with her organisational skills! 4 shelves to each bookcase and each bookcase was a triple case. A couple of tables to place books on - stacked high, low and to the sides. It appeared chaos but 5 mins later, shelves were empty and cupboards going back against the wall. 10 minutes later than that and books were back on shelves! There was a few moments o f 'which pile' and 'was this left or right' followed by '...are you sure?' If Mr Thomas was fearing for his next liaison with the librarians he did not show it! Two triple bookcases moved and books back on it. It was a brain teaser as well as a physical task! A final little bookshelf to go (which nearly got jumbled up with the others) and the room looked very different. The plan was to create space for a whole class to come into the library instead of just 10 or so in a small area. Pushing the book cases back against the wall create a huge bit of floor space! It was task complete and ready for the librarians and TA's to make it their own again tomorrow. With 2 ex-teachers in the group, those that sent there kids to this school and those that hope to - it was a great to help a school again, especially one like this!

Quick piccie before a heading towards our infamous Birds Hill. Quick check it wasn't slippy and there was time for a few hill sprints. Richard showing his strength up the hills leaving the rest of us behind him...although Robert as ever giving it his best shot whilst Elizabeth showed us what good form was all about.

Nicola was happy to have achieved her desired mileage as part of her 2020 challenge - and a bit more, it was time for home!

The school have asked us tonight if we can help with stickering! Well, we are quite looking forward to it. We will be back in two weeks to sticker some books!

Great task tonight and made enjoyable as ever with great company!

It was around 2pm when the messages starting to roll in - 'is it still on tonight? I've nearly been blown into the road... its wet and cold...is it safe?'

Absolutely we were happening tonight - not even storm Brendon could stop us in our paths! We are Goodgym runners!

Ok so just a little tweek to get to task directly for 6.45 was decided on. Then a confirmation email to our lovely head teacher Helen Armstrong who was coming back to the school after an all day meeting off site to be there to show us the brushes!

Pulling up on the forecourt at Daveena's it was a relief to see Richard in the car next to mine - there was at least going to be 2 of us! 10 minutes later and the total was 8 hardcore runners all looking a bit apprehensive in the back courtyard of Daveena's.

Only this week I was listening to a podcast by Dr Chatterjee (Feel Better, Live More - highly recommend it!) and his guest was James Wallman. The topic being 'Time and how to spend it'. In the podcast, when you consider your time and how it can make you happy - one of the recommendations is to spend some of it doing something for others, whether it is a favour for a friend or a neighbour or even for your community (Goodgym - tick!). Another recommendation was to do something with a story - a little risk! That risk taking can be jumping out a plane, it could just be doing that run in biblical type weather! (Goodgym tonight - Tick!). If you don't listen to podcasts by the way and are often short of time - it is a great way to hear interesting interviews, gain knowledge, hear comedies, stories or anything you are interested in. I download them for free for a run once a week or so via an app so go check it out!

Onto the run tonight - agreed that a 1 mile route would be great to take us up the lovely little opportunity that is Birds Hill and the surrounding roads for just 10 mins or so before heading into the school. Just a short breather whilst crossing the road - otherwise it was onwards! Great to see Patricia tonight join us as part of RED Janruary - a great cause to support people to manage mental health with exercise.

On arrival at the school, we were met by Helen who was once again all ready for us with a classroom with paint, cupboards pulled out, sheets down etc! (great caretaker!). Wwe all love a painting task and with plenty of brushes and rollers we were off - expert cutting in by Sian and reaching great heights (with the help of a chair!) was Richard. Tim and Gayle took turns at being quality controllers, looking for those white spots! Topic for tonight was appropriate to St Mary's School - books of Bible - Yep Esther is one of the only 2 female books in bible! However Elizabeth had a mention and Tim was a pretty important Apostle too - the rest of you...well if your names not down...

Given the weather, we had time at the task to do anther room and delighted to find the French room was a lovely dirty wall for painting making it that bit more noticable we had been! Thanks again to the caretaker for having it all ready for us! 

Tasks complete - time for a 1 mile run home but with a little down hill to boost the amount of rain and wind in your faces, making us feel that but more invincible (but happy to go home for a cuppa and a shower!)

Definately good use of our time tonight I would say! 

So this is Christmas and what have you done?...

Well quite a lot actually!

We have hacked away tress and bushes, pulled weeds, cleaned windows, painted fences, mopped floors, sorted out growth in pathways and pulled away ivy. We have planted 3000 bluebell bulbs and picked litter from public areas. We have amazed so many task owners with what 10 or so people can do in half an hour and always with a smile and a laugh amongst us.

What a fantastic goodgym we have built up here in Poole!

But whilst all that has been happening something else has happened on this side that no of us knew was happening till it did - a group of people were becoming friends, good friends! We started to get the same faces week by week, the same smiles, chatting people, laughs and jokes being told. The result? A bunch of friends who now attend Goodgym Poole. June 25th was our first task so we have completed 26th Good Deeds as of tonight here in Poole - half the year of tasks!

It was just over a year ago that the role of Goodgym Poole Trainer was offered to me whilst 26 pregnant, really unsure if it was a wise decision taking on a project during my Maternity Leave especially one that involved me having to run at least one a week! Never one to to turn down an opportunity, I thought I would give it a go. Well it was absolutely one of my best decision to say Yes!

Tonights task summed up Goodgym so well. We ran to St Mary's School where we had once again the lovely head, Helen Armstrong. She lives in Dorchester and is on the final week before Christmas, but stayed on to give us guidance about what was needed. In her words - this is what she does! No wonder this school is doing so well with a dedicated head like this!

We arrived at school and the caretaker had planned for us two walls to paint, dust sheets down and paint rollers ready! As there was so many of us tonight, it was half on the paint, and the other half of the runners were great at just finding things to do! Helen found us some extra cleaning materials so the windows were cleaned down and chairs and tables wiped down as well - no guidance needed, the team just get on with it!

Expert painter tonight goes to our newbie, Jason, who was great on the old paint brush! (Great to have you along Jason

Back straight to base tonight as we had mince pies ready!

Nikki surprised us by bringing out cups and huge flask of warm mulled wine - amazing! Whilst we huddled under the canopy at the back of Daveena's, a huge sleet shower battered down, it felt quite biblical whilst sipping a mulled wine! We had a great variety of mince pies and even a little homemade flapjack from Sian to add into the mix. Thanks to Robert for the idea of mince pies on the final night!

It was kick out time at 8pm and it was like being in a pub having to move everyone out onto the road so lock up can happen. But that is amazing as everyone was chattering and wishing a Merry Christmas.

I have to say a massive thank you to everyone that has joined in with Goodgym Poole this year.

Biggest surprise was, after the run I was handed a massive bottle of Good Gin! I am really touched by the lovely words and present so thank you to everyone involved. I will say however this is only possible due to you fantastic people, giving up your time to do a good deed or two, making everyone feel welcome and creating such a great atmosphere!

So Goodgymers - go grab Christmas by the Baubles, jingle till you tingle and have an amazing time with family & friends!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The task owner tonight joined us for her first group run - Great to have you Leah, I hope you will come back again to join us! Leah, a school teacher at St Mary's had seen our other achievements at St Josephs and got us booked to help with the memorial garden. We were also joined by a parent helper, Alison, who despite not being a regular runner herself, wanted to be part of the task so well done for joining us all!

Our third new runner tonight was Claudia who certainly gave Richard a run for his warm up! Finally we had the lovely Katy who is completing a couch to 5k programme so she can get back into her running. Hopefully she will use Goodgym to help improve her fitness whilst doing these great tasks!

After the drills and warm up lap (and running into Lytchett Striders!) were done, there was time for a quick game of Rats and Rabbits - a good way to get some speed in around the park for a few minutes! Birds hill was split into a walking group on one side and the runners on the other as we got to enjoy the lovely steep part of Birds Hill a couple of times!

Onto the school and we were met by the Headteacher, Mrs Armstrong, who was delighted to have us to help.

The memorial garden was started a number of years ago following the sad death of a pupil at the school. It has some beautiful herbs and smells but has grown over the years. The school wanted it all cut back so they can work on it and relook at what to do with it (with the help of the pupils). So 15 pairs of hands made light work of clearing back the plants, clearly around the borders and making it 'tidy'. 20 minutes later and the bags were full, there was a huge pile of branches and cut backs and a much clearer garden area. It was time for Mrs Armstrong to head home for a cuppa!

Both Fiona and Jane came back tonight form a sense of duty as they had kept the gloves (!), I hope you find anther excuse to come again soon!

On the run home, there was the chance to take the high road (literal sense!) so well done to the 4 that tackled the full constitution hill, 2 took the low road and a bunch of us sat on the fence by going in the middle area with half a hill. All arriving back similar times to Daveena's and catching sight of a gorgeous round low moon. And yes we were back on time today!

What a fabulous bunch of runners this group is!