Last Friday evening three Poole Goodgym members met at Bournemouth Pier to support University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity with their eleventh Twilight walk along Bournemouth Promenade . The annual event contributes significant funds to women’s health projects across Dorset at the Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch hospitals. Becky was first to arrive collecting her high-viz jacket, a goody bag courtesy of ASDA and instructions about our task which was to marshal at just about the 5 km half-way mark opposite Boscombe Pier. Elizabeth arrived soon after and together she and Becky were able to catch up with a group of Bournemouth goodgym members responsible for marshalling at the 10k half-way point. Our third marshal, Christine then joined us having rushed back from Swanage where she’d spent a fascinating day watching Antiques Roadshow being filmed. Once we had received our final briefing, we briskly marched the 2.5km to Boscombe Pier ready to cheer the Twilight walkers. Approximately 200 participants ran or strolled along the prom on a beautiful summers evening seeing Bournemouth at its best. As night fell, the breeze picked up and there was a definite chill in the air. Just after 10.00pm the tail-walker with the last of the walkers came past and together we made our way back to base. It was a super evening providing support for such a worthwhile charity event, getting a rare opportunity to say hello to our fellow Bournemouth goodgymers and to have a chance to catch up on each other’s news. Oh and a 5k stretch of the legs as well!

This report is a late one, and comes with some sadness that this is the last time I will be leading a group as Area Activator. It has been such a journey for Goodgym Poole!

Tuesday June 25th 2019, 33 Goodgymers met in the courtyard of Daveena’s café for the first ever Goodgym Poole Run. I had been in the background networking across Poole finding new tasks with head office, an incredibly new ad exciting challenge for me, having a baby just a few months old at home and having took the role whilst pregnant, even going to Goodgym London to train whilst 32 weeks pregnant.

I am delighted to say that on that first run, we were joined by Nicola and Robert. It was such a buzz and shared joy between the runners. A shared community spirit that would go on for many months with various tasks and deeds.

Perhaps one of my favourites was the planting of 2000 bulbs for an elderly gentleman, or perhaps painting in the school, or even clearing the many leaves at the church of St Aldhelms garden!

During the times of Covid, many of the Goodgym runners became friends. Connected by missing the community and runs, they talked on social media, planned virtual tasks and met for socially distanced challenges. People that met on tasks at Goodgym, chatting over paint brushes, brooms, wheel barrows and dusters, had become friends, with similar values and interests. Goodgym is indeed a great way to form friendships, with a shared vision and goal. A way to connect. Goodgym has given us a way of doing good whilst keeping active. A way of giving back to our local community with a sense of purpose. We can take notice of the small things around us and between us. Well tonight was a social run to enjoy the lights and finish with a curry. We ran from the park down onto the high street to see the Martime lights and along the quay. Elizabeth headed home after the run to get back to visiting family and we headed up to Ashley Cross to meet Becky who was currently holding onto an injury, with crutches to prove it! With a lovely evening, we all enjoyed a curry (and for me curry for Breakfast as well!) thanks to Gate of India on a busy Tuesday evening.

Here’s the stats I could find on our website for what we have achieved at Goodgym Poole:
Group Runs: 156
Good Deeds: Esther: 119 (120 will be done on NYD!) Elizabeth: 81 Robert 74 Pat: 62 Nicola: 47 Christine: 44 Jane: 40 Becky: 28

I would like to end with some gratitude towards Goodgym and what it has offered us all over the past 3.5 years. The opportunity to come together and achieve so much locally. I am even more grateful for the friendships this has created, the running challenges that have been achieved and the love that has been shared. I still hold dear the picture many Goodgymers gave me in lockdown, at a time when I was struggling so much, we all gave each other strength. I have no idea what the future holds for each of us, our friendships, our running but we will hold so many lovely memories of what Goodgym meant for each of us. On the cold dark nights, in the summer sun. Goodgym will continue in 2023 with a new leader and we hope bring back some of the love, passion and energy we all felt when Goodgym started in 2019 and before Covid happened to us all.

What a gorgeous sunset we were treated with tonight!

The run, 9.6km to cemmorate 96 years of HRH Queen Elizabeth II. The funeral was only yesterday when we all watched in awe of the display put on by so many of the armed forces from across the commonwealth. As the Queen was remembered and laid to rest during a day of ceremony planned to the exact detail and moments.

Tonight we ran to Evening Hill and turned round earlier to do a longer route back to see more of the sun as it dropped below the horizon.

Many of us haven't seen each other for a number of weeks so it was great to catch up on life's events, the world of running and each other.

Four goodgymers met in Hamworthy Park on a gusty evening anxiously watching the storm clouds gather. Patricia led us inland on a 5k run to Rockley Park and back via Ham Common with a couple of scenic detours along the way. Yes, so we did get just a little bit lost – a mini magical mystery tour. Becky was keen to run up some hills (huh?) and proceeded to show us how it’s done. Meanwhile Robert did a sensible recovery run following his challenging Beast Race on the weekend with Patricia and Elizabeth keeping him company

Back at Hamworthy Park the original planned bench painting session was replaced with a litter pick because of the  thundery weather forecast. We had a few spits and spots of rain but it basically stayed dry although definitely blustery. We spent a good half hour collecting discarded bottles, crisp packets and the usual bits and pieces before heading home as the skies darkened. The wind has blown the cobwebs away and although the benches remain unpainted for now the park is looking that little  bit cleaner than before.

Thanks to Liz for leading whilst Esther is on hols!