It was the first time we had held a starter session for Goodgym Poole!

We all met in the walled garden of Upton House, the lovely country park that hosts parkrun on a Saturday and the junior parkrun on a Sunday. It was more chilly than anticpated despite no morning frost as we huddled together waiting to go.

Firstly great to welcome our newbies to Goodgym! Jonathan had been brought along by our very own biker girl Fiona. He is a maths teacher at a local senior school, so perhaps best not to mention the error on the head count pre run ;). Our other new face was Andrew, brought along by Goodgym advocate Christine! We hope you guys join us again on either our Tuesday runs or community missions!

Usual briefing with Fiona giving us a show and tell - Her heel with a hole in it! :)

Fiona headed up the warm up with a run around the walled garden and a few drills. There was time for a quick go at 'meet your neighbour' with the aim to keep pace on return leg - the groans that arose when we had to repeat the exercise was almost music to a coaches ears! Needless to say, the pacing was more accurate on the second effort!

It was onto the run, out via the parkrun route of down the steep hill (relax!), along the incline up and the benefit of getting to power up the hill on the return of the loop - Bonus! Out the park after the route down and then another incline up as we headed into Turlin Moor and past the train station into Willow View.

We were met by one of the residents, Alan, who has been working in the garden when he is able. We had previously been to the scheme last year but the distance had proved difficult so we had not been back. Good to see that our work last year helped however as it was clearer than before with the bushes and trees.

Fiona and Anne paired up and soon jumped onto the job of the pond. The dead reeds all needed clearing as well as the ivy around the back. It wasn't long before Fiona was deep in the bushes, pair of scissors in hand, hacking away with satisfaction.Anne meanwhile was fishing for ...um....leaves!

Sian took on an area outside a residents flat, where it was overgrown where he was unable to manage it anymore due to his mobility. It was a big job and it was all hands on task to finish it all at the end. But the result was worth it as it was looking significantly better and ready for more planting if wanted.

Fiona was busy clearing plant pots that were just looking like grass, with a result of planters ready for new bulbs! Andrew and Tim, being the pro's they are, found some dead bushes and cut back and swept up and bagged up.

Jonathan was eager for anything that required power so he had a couple of heavy duty tasks - pulling up a tree, moving a rotten bench and pulling on the ivy with Fiona in an almost chuckle brothers sketch!

Lisa joined us today for her 3rd Goodgym Poole run, living in the New Forest she supports us when you can. Lisa also was off to her coach today, having met her a few months ago she now regularly visits Irene as an isolated older person, at her home. If you are interested in becoming paired, then check out the details online www.goodgym.org/coach-runs for more details.
Christine and Lisa both tackled the moss around the pathways that needed clearing, it was unsightly and a trip hazard so great to have clear paths once again.

35 minutes later it was time to move the bags to the side, take a quick piccy and head off back to Upton. Everyone was pushed out the back gate so less muddy shoes inside, Sian even took off her shoes to wash her hands inside, being the considerate person she is.

Back up the incline path to Upton House and time for a quick stretch before we could all head onwards, pleased with ourselves for a successful run and task on a Sunday morning. Only a little damp with a shower but all good spirits!

What a difference a week makes!

Last week 2 of us set off in blazing hot sunshine and this week 20 of us turned up in the pouring rain!

Fantastic to welcome 13 new Goodgym runners to the session (don't forget to order a free T-shirt!). We were represented by runners from the Hot Steppers massive (Vicki, Jo, Vanessa, Fiona to name a few!), Poole Runners and Poole AC Couch programme (well done Helga and Julia!)!

It started with a change of plan as The Spire unfortunately could not accomodate us to give us a brief due to staff sickness. So it was onto the Poole Park to support Poole Park Volunteers by litter picking!

We started at the Pavillion and split into equal teams and a bag each and set off in different directions. One team found a boot on this stage and some packaging giving a lighter but bulkier bag to start with against the other teams heavier offering. Next it was time for the GoodGym Olympics session with a 1km run around the lake! Options was a fast one, a selfie shot along the way or the final more complex option of Strava art (sadly no one took this up!). So if you are on Strava upload this run with the tag #GGOlympic2019 to be with a chance of getting a medal for your photo or speed! More details and instructions head to this page

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-oiympics-the-nationwide-race?fbclid=IwAR2Ud8QjhzBST90eLC9HWZJwbzdzo5YhD71RcuR5S0BqtQwmIJcGieOWquE

Judging by the puffed faces - many of you went for the fast option whilst Shelley, Helga and Julia decided it was all about the selfies!

Next onto the skate park where highlights included finding a pram and a hunt in the bushes revealed a kettle (good work Sian!) and bags will soon filled and left for council to collect!

Final bit tonight was a run around the field maintaining pace before finishing up with Flying 15's with a few to considering our form! (Amanda keep those eyes up and Anne stand taller!)

Jason and Rob as ever were outnumbered by women and not phased by all our chatter!

Lovely to meet new runners and faces I had coached before (Liz!) so hope to see you again Rosie and Sarah Welcome to the Goodgym Poole!

Great fun along the way and you did your Park a great job!

The sun is again out in force tonight for another lovely evening!

Perhaps not such a scenic run tonight as we headed up (yes it was an incline) to Branksome along the roads of Parkstone.

We were met by Barbara, a volunteer at Branksome Centre and she was ready with brooms, black sacks, litter picker and water buckets!

Fiona despite a day of exercise with her horse and a weights session, took on the task of the watering with Anne, carrying buckets across the grounds. Barbara is planning to do some more planting tomorrow now the soil is less dry.

There was a number of young people sat outside the centre, not part of the group that night but those that choose to use the centre as a social point. It was elsewhere a youth group going on for a variety of ages. There was also children in the play area and games happening on the pitches.

Hilary took on the litter pick around the playground but actually tonight, there wasn't piles of rubbish so Anne-Marie could crack on with the weeds and rubbish around the sides of the outside areas.

We hope that the job we did tonight, helps the centre and those that use it keep some pride in the facilities they have and can access. It wasn't a renovation project but the tasks done tonight can help maintain a safe environment for those that socialise here!