25 or so GoodGym runners descended on the New Forest for a scenic weekend of running, cycling and cheering.

After arriving in Brockenhurst on Saturday afternoon, the first job was to find the perfect spot to set up camp. Luckily the helpful staff at Hollands Wood campsite helped us find somewhere well located for the race start in the morning, not to mention some friendly neighbourhood ponies!.

With our spot claimed, some of us set out for a gentle cycle ride in the forest around Brockenhust, getting a preview of some of race courses for the next day. Rain was forecast, but other than few showers we avoided the worst of it!

After a few post-cycle drinks (during which it really did start to rain – thank goodness we decided against a BBQ! – we headed off for dinner and then for a good (or not so good) night’s sleep in the campsite.

Race day!

We had runners in the 10k, half marathon and marathon, plus Aidan, Anna and Bunty on cheering duty. Everyone did really well, but special congratulations go to Alex, who smashed his first marathon in 3.43! Also Matt, who was doing the marathon on the back of his recent alpine ultra-marathon adventures, and probably deserves a rest.

Exhausted, everyone made their way home for a nice sit down and a cup of team. Hopefully see some of you in Oxford!

(More photos to come - also if I left you off the register then let me know!)

After a previous trip to Wales in 2015 we were back to race the train again and this time we brought reinforcements

Over 60 runners from all around the Goodgym world, representing at least 16 different areas, travelled West to Tywyn to take on the mighty Talyllyn Railway.

After some perhaps over-complicated swapping around of cars and passengers and fueled on by a delicious Friday night pasta dinner cooked by Sophie we were raring to go on Saturday morning and looking forward to a day of racing and cheering.

This time we had a presence in every race. First across the line was Dave who came 2nd behind a teenage boy in the 3.5 mile long Tynllwywyn Hen Challenge. Continuing on a theme, Axel was also unfortunately beaten to the line by children, three of them this time, in the 5.5 mile Dolgoch Challenge. They showed a distinct lack of respect for his beard and sunglasses and only allowed him to come in fourth.

Next up was the 10K Quarry Challenge where we had quite a few runners and three train beaters - Simon, Andy and Jack Bradley.

Then came the main event, the 14 mile Rotary Challenge. Not content with already having beaten one train, Simon followed the lead of Pritesh and took the start line again. In this one we had both runners and riders, while the runners were battling with the mud and hills out on the course Andy, Frances, Sarah and Lina were cheering them on from the comfort of the train. That cheering must have worked because this time PB Jr, Sam, Graham and Jacob all beat the train.

With the racing over some went for a dip in the sea before heading back to the bunkhouse where Kevin and his kitchen crew were knocking up a couple of very tasty tagines. After dinner we were treated to a party courtesy of DJ Coyle (aka DJ Ironing board) and danced the night away until 1am.

Another amazing weekend away, can't wait for the next one.

GoodGym had the third of their Big six race weekends, on a sweltering hot weekend in Bath,

Saturday - Good Deeds day

The Saturday started with a parkrun takeover at Bath Skyline parkrun, where GoodGym showed their love of volunteering and took over running the parkrun for the day. We also had some GoodGym runners out on the course discovering how lovely a route it is, and avoiding the loose cow that nearly stopped the race! Fortunately we were equipped with a cow bell Matt earned from a recent White Star Running race. We counted the runners out, and counted them back in and the results were all published without a hitch, we even gained a barcode as one was returned from last week. Good Job team!

It was great to see the @goodgymbath team out in force volunteering at @bathskyparkrun today. Many thanks to everybody who volunteered!! pic.twitter.com/vnpF3GretO

— Bath Runner (@BathRunner) 8 July 2017

Then we hot footed across Bath to Old Down sports club where we had a Group run - [idiosyncratic run report here.] (https://www.goodgym.org/reports/we-re-here-for-some-sheep-thrills).

Thanks for a great weekend Bath!

A post shared by Danica Priest (@danicapriest) on Jul 9, 2017 at 8:34am PDT

Within the Race team we always try to remember we are GoodGym race team and as such we seek opportunities to do Good as well as to race, so it is brilliant that we had the opportunity to Do Good in two ways today.

In the afternoon we headed down the hill into Bath for a picnic, after eventually reaching the Royal Crescent we relaxed and chatted, however, the sun got to some of us and we may have fallen asleep on the royal lawns!

@steph_goodgymbath works 'em hard! A hilly run in the sun and some hard farm labour followed by a mission to our lovely picnic spot. Everyone is having a siesta before the #twotunnels races tomorrow. . . #goodgym #goodgymtourism #grouprun #socialrun #gooddeeds #halfmarathon #10k #picnicspot #siesta #recovery #runrecovery

A post shared by Egg Coaching (@coachegg) on Jul 8, 2017 at 8:03am PDT

Then to the evening we went to the pub for a lovely meal and pre-race chat,

The Saturday was lovely as we had a great mix of GoodGym members from as far as York and London as well as Bath and Bristol, which enabled us to make new friends and share stories and for some explore a new city. Thanks to Steph for organising the day.

Sunday - race day

We came via trains, bikes and automobiles to the start line with more GoodGym members arriving just for the race and we all donned our #redthunder race day outfits and got ready to race. It was also great that family members (human and canine) came along to support and cheer on team GoodGym members.

The race itself was HOT, although it was cool in the tunnels themselves which were the disused railway trackbed of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway repurposed a few years ago by Sustrans to turn into a cycle way, complete with lights and music for the mile long trip through the longest of the two tunnels.

Mary finishes!!! #bathtwotunnels #ggraceteam #redthunder

A post shared by Danica Priest (@danicapriest) on Jul 9, 2017 at 5:13am PDT

There were some amazing achievements: Sharon ran her first half marathon, Julia ran her first race ever! Matt, Chloe and Disco Jack all got PB’s and Emily completed the challenge series having done a 5K, 10K and now Half marathon at the Two Tunnels. Full results can be found here.

Photos

GoodGym race team weekend in Bath #ggraceteam

A post shared by Matt Garnett (@mattjgarnett) on Jul 10, 2017 at 2:05pm PDT

Highlights from the Two Tunnels races this morning. Goodgym Bath welcomed Bristol, London, and York for the weekend. It was hot - outside of the tunnels - and sweaty, but everyone was smiling. #ukrunchat #goodgym #goodgymbath #twotunnels #relishrunning #bath #goodgymyork #goodgymlondon #bathtwotunnels

A post shared by Alison Davidson (@alisdavidson) on Jul 9, 2017 at 8:26am PDT

Post race some of us went to the pub to celebrate, other headed on their way home

Such a great weekend hosted by the awesome @goodgymbath and the @GGRaceTeam. It's brilliant to meet the extended GoodGym family and do good!

— Egg Cameron (@EggGoesHealthy) 9 July 2017

Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who came and raced or attended the group run, especially those who travelled a long way to the event. Thank you to all of our supporters who came and joined us. Thank you to everyone who helped organise the weekend. Thanks to the GoodGym Race Team committee for running the race team.