It was one of those wobbling starts that grew to become amazing! .

A last minute change of start location was needed as Daveena's cafe had some work being done at the back decking. Thankfully a few calls to Sloop across the way and the landlady had no problem with us using their pub as a base for tonight and thanks to social media the word was out. Thanks to Nicola for heading over to Daveena's to check for anyone who did not have message.

Then at 6pm there was an almighty downpour of rain - Lauren being the first to send that message to check it was all still happening! Absolutely as runners, water really just means putting on a cap or that extra waterproof layer before heading out! Great you can join us again Lauren as its half term for you - lets hope we see more of you in future as you head into a complete lifestyle change over coming months!

6.30p however the Goodgym gods cleared away the rain and we were ready for a warm up in the car park. Balance and coordination drills were included and as always this suddenly shows up a few runners who realise it is harder than you think to balance on one leg or do a hopskotch (the wobble was back!)! So come on ladies and gents - If its you then start practising that flamingo stance when you can. Coordination is one of the 5 components of fitness so if you want that PB, you have to work it!

Well done to Fiona and Jonathan who ran 5km to get to Goodgym tonight - and will also have to run 5km home. Lets hope you beat the downpour of 8.45pm that is heard as this report is written as those halestones would be cold!

It was up our favourite road tonight - North Road! Goodgym Poole takes pride is choosing many tasks that include this road as it is rated as one of the favourites - #truefact.

Richard took up the front with Jonathan on occasions suddenly appearing from the back sprinting up the front to join him.

Onto Livingstone Road and the primary school to meet our task owner and fellow runner Kirsty. Kirsty is the Early Years Leader at the school and has to be given the title of the 'most prepared for a Goodgym task' so far! The caretaker (who sounds like a complete legend for the train he has made for the book reading area - see the photos!) and Kirsty had prepared a number of areas to work on tonight. A quick divide into 4 teams and everyone was ready! Team 1 jumped onto the school bench that was been given 'blackboard' paint to be used for drawing with chalk - great idea. Team 2 tackled varnish on the 2 sheds. Team 3 were on the leaves and sweeping jobs in the play area. Leaving team 4 with a renovation of a shed with grey paint. The task was so well organised already - paint and varnish and paintbrushes set up for each area enough for everyone to use. So we really could just get on with the task in hand.

We should mention our extra visitor tonight as well - Sian - A media student from Bournemouth Uni and daughter of one of our regulars, Sarah. Sian came along to interview a few Goodgym Goer's to hear what it was all about and do a feature. We were all enjoying the task so much I am hoping we made sense of Sian's questions and she has something to work with.

30 minutes of paint, varnish and sweeping and a quick photo opportunity before Kirsty, who had got stuck in the painting too, was happy for all paintbrushes to go into pots as the caretaker will tidy it all away. There was even a water station for runners to grab a quick drink before heading off into the darkness.

Livingstone Road is next to a little hill so in order to warm up after task, there was a few minutes to do a couple of hill sprints up Cranbrook Road. It was greeted with the usual delight (I think it was a grunt from Ali on the way up that said she loves it and Jane let out a little woop, or was it a 'what'?!) Robert on the way home, discovered in his own words - 'why runners often shout bollards' as he launch directly into one on the way back down the hill. Hope your legs are ok now Rob!

Thanks Fiona for being our back marker.

Return leg via Constitution Hill and a great chance to just run with the wind in your face as we headed down back to The Sloop for a stretch.

Big thanks to the team at Livingstone School for making this task great - Check out the before and after pics to see how much we did in just 30 mins!

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!