I'm not sure we've ever arrived at a task to find the beneficiary ready with mini ice creams and lollies but I'm sure it could catch on! We had to explain to first timer Lucy that this was a bit special!

Having confirmed the bridge was still open even though Sarah K wasn't there to update us, gallivanting on holiday somewhere, we took the short route to the Southville Centre as it was hot and sticky enough for running.

Hugh reappeared with sweeping and painting brushes plus the weird weeding trowel and we were set to work tidying and painting blue paint that he assured us was really black but we were pretty convinced dried clear. Meticulous cutting in was demonstrated by Andrea on her second group run to leave the Wendy/Wendo/Tarquin house with white window frames.

Loads of brushing progress made, a second round of mini ice lollies was offered before the downhill walk (with lolly still on sticks) then run (when lollies finished) back to Queen Square and on to workout for a drink after stretching in the daylight.

It was Plan B for the GoodGymmers old and new in Queen Square on a balmy (barmy?) Tuesday night as the runners set off for a run up a big hill with the promise of farm animals and drinking water at the top.

Chris was ready to welcome the team with the sprinkler already on the go for anyone needing a cool down - de-bindweeding the fruit cage (eating as many ripe berries as possible), de-grassing the maize field and turning the compost heap until there was actual compost accessible - all warm work on a hot evening so breaks to see the goats, chickens and pigs were encouraged.

It was great to welcome some new faces and recognise returners from pre-pandemic days. We (over) filled three wheelbarrows with naughty weeds which were moved to the bonfire before tidying away the tools and enjoying the run back down the big grassy hill.

We finished off with stretching and congratulating Richard on his 50th parkrun before heading for well-earned drinks on the back terrace at Workout - perfect!

It was a big old night at GoodGym Bristol with...

Fifty-nine runners Twelve new GoodGymers and Three tasks

Phwoar. Welcome to everyone who was running with us for the first time tonight - it was great to meet you all. And a big well done to Roz who completed her 50th Good Deed tonight and will be sporting her black t-shirt soon!

Our massive group got to work on three different tasks tonight...

Task 1: The planters

Maria led a select group of 6 runners to The Station where Alice D set them to work painting the planters a beautiful green to continue the spruce up of the area. We gave the benches at The Station their first lick of paint a month ago and so it was great to be able to help Alice and the team with continuing the paint job to prep for the summer.

Task 2: Setting the tone

Meanwhile, Alice W took a group to Emmaus, the homeless charity. Due to an Open Warehouse event they are having at the start of June and some very efficient volunteers over the past few days, our planned warehouse sorting was changed to leafleting for the warehouse open day. Matt was in his element with changing toners and guillotines, the rest of the group got through distributing hundreds of leaflets, and Alice managed to innocently ask two members of the group...

So are you two screwing then?

(Nails, we think).

Task 3: De-railing the night

The rest of us went to St Paul's Church to meet Ed from the Churches Conservation Trust. Our task here had been cancelled last month due to rain so we were delighted to have a positively balmy day to get to work this time. After Ed explained a bit about the trust and the importance of Circomedia, we started sanding and repainting the railings at the front of the church. The massive team sanded almost the whole front of the church and gave one of the gates and its surrounding panelling a fresh lick of (you guessed it) green paint. Before long, time was up and we ran on our way promising Ed we would come back to finish off soon.

Eating Peters

After reconvening back at base, we had a quick game of Squat Tig to finish off the night and then debated (if 1 v. everyone else counts as a debate) the pronunciation of Pitta until it was time to say goodnight.

CREDIT TO ALICE D FOR THE PUN!