When Councillor Vicki Slade puts a shout out on the local community facebook page for helping hands who you gonna call? GoodG ym Poole of course, who are always happy to step up to the task.

Yesterday Esther represented the team and with paint brush in hand got painting the old youth club chairs . This evening Patricia and Elizabeth met up early and enjoyed a 5k run through the beautiful Delph Woods on what may well be the final day of summer weather.

At 6.15 we arrived at the Broadstone Youth Club where Vicki explained what needed doing. Our mission was to give a final coat of paint to the club chairs . Originally a 1970’s orange-brown blend they are being upcycled a shiny grey with liquorice allsort and jelly bean fabric cushion covers, definitely a transformation.

We were joined at the centre by guest Poole goodgym member Kirsty who had attended the youth club every week as a teenager. She has photographic evidence to prove it and its fantastic to think that with all the volunteer hours given during lockdown the centre will be able to reopen and welcome another generation of youngsters.

Happy Birthday to Goodgym!

It has been 10 years for Goodgym but only 13 weeks for Goodgym Poole - Not quite sure what took us so long but the number 13 is certainly not unlucky for us!

Fittingly we had 10 of us in total tonight to join the task, the number of red shirts on show increasing every week!

We had a few aching muscles as Nicki, Rob and Kirsty had tackled the Littledown 5 on Sunday. Kirsty is currently on day 10 (there we go again!) of her run streak as part of her 50 days before 50 - I am sure Kirsty is delighted we have noted that on the reports! Maria had run a whopping 16km - (yes that is 10 miles!) as part of her training on the weekend as well as Aaron who had planned and run 30+ miles, with not even a medal as reward - he certainly sounds like one of those crazy running types!

The task tonight was back at St Aldhelms church to work once again with David in the gardens around the church. He has been working on the gardens for many years and has done a great job, but with 10 pairs of hands extra, all the work has really come on! Once again there was a few inclines on the way up - Ashley Green was a stopping point for a quick drills (mental note for the coach - we need to work on these :)) and photo including the all important flag.

On arrival at the task, we had a team take on the patch of ground that was cleared in part last time - it is full of brambles and all sorts so back breaking work. Liz was back on the fork over there, with Ruth, Aaron, Nicki and Maria all digging deep to get it cleared. Rob and Julie worked on the copious amounts of leaves all around the building, clearing the main pathways. Kirsty and Sarah were on bush cutting duties! Great to be joined by Sarah proudly wearing her black 50 Goodgym T-shirt tonight, visiting from our local Bournemouth group - please do come again Sarah, it was great to have you.

Thanks for Maria for entertaining us despite her spanish slip up (I hope you are less blocked soon Maria ;). As it was a birthday celebration - there was one essential item - CAKE! Lovely to have a slice or two back at Daveena's before heading home, sadly now dark night.

Best of luck to Nicola who this weekend is completing the Disney Land Half Mara in Paris! Goodgym will be at Upton parkrun this Saturday to promote the work we do and we have a community mission coming up on Saturday!

Last week we were strength in numbers as we launched with dozens of runners attending, completing a range of tasks, with a buzz and hype!

For week 2, we settled down and had a more quiet affair as many local runners headed off on a Castleman trail run, we could really get to chat and relax! Well that is after a few laps of the cricket pitch to work on different paced running as a bit of a warm up!

We headed over to meet Toni from BCP who guided us to the task in hand - weeding a newly planted area around the lake and 'mulching!'

Kirsty H was keen to learn what 'mulching' was and can now officially add to her CV she can 'mulch'!

Darryl joined us on his first run and the only male of the evening he soon found running friends in common with others.

Best thing I heard tonight, without a doubt was that Shelley has doubled her lung capacity over the past year since taking up running - what an advert to keep running! Blooming amazing that is - but then Shelley just is!

Ann and Kirsty W, also returning from last week were quick to sort the weeds from the flowers, Ann saving me from pulling a weed that had been fondly named Netty and apparently was to remain!

We finished with a big pile of weeds at the side and an area mulched - all part of the work to improve the park under the lottery grant. A park that is enjoyed by hundreds of people every day - Even as we were there, there was a cricket match in place and a running group doing speed work as well as frequent walkers and runners past us.

Nice work team!

It all started when buches of runners (33 in total!) starting gathering in the lovely warm courtyard of Daveena's cafe.

We were then joined by some official looking types with a little less lycra from the council including the Council Chairman, David Flagg! One of the councillors Mark Howell was however willing to join us for a run and his first for goodgym along with 22 other first time Goodgym runners! 9 runners who had previously completed a Goodgym task joined us from as far as Bristol and Swanage so showing fantastic committment to Goodgym!

After the pics and speeches, we headed over to the park for a quick warm up where most of us runners demonstrated our lack of balance with the flamingo stand and hopskotch as well as usual warm up drills!

Kirty Weston from Upton parkrun core team led the way through the park and whitecliff to cover 2.1 miles including the gradual incline up Evening Hill. We were met at Lewis-Manning by Sandra and Mark who had even had cold drinks and biscuits ready for us as a welcome treat!

We soon cracked on in 4 groups and everyone was super organised in their groups to get the tasks done. Painting crew included first timers Shelley and Kirsty (whose ankle is fine by the way after a huge branch came at her on the way back!) painted on with Ann, Aaron and Catherine amongst others to complete a rail within 15 minutes! Hedge cutters included Karina, Kristy and Mark who made some clearance for cars to park against the bushes Around the back, the team with a view had rakes and gloves to clear some woodland, leaving James to keep his mileage up by running back and forth with the bin. Gemma, Lisa and Rob amongst others cleared leaves and all sorts! Finally we had a bunch of sweepers who worked to the end getting moss off the car park area.

Amazing what was achieved in 25 mins and we hope to go back for a second coat of paint and a bit more garden clearance.

We took the opportunity to take a photo at the top of Evening Hill, after moving along Oakdale runners who photo bombed!

Finally we ran back down to the park and 3 runners took up the offer to finish up around the park with a short interval circuit as clearly they had not worked hard enough already!

It was hot, sweaty work in the muggy air but the chat was continuous and great to hear the chatter amongst many previous strangers.

We had also been joined by Ed and Nikki from the central Goodgym team who quickly scooted off for their train after, albeit a bit smelly!

Super atmosphere on the runs and all during the task so we can honestly say Goodgym Poole you rocked it tonight!

Next week we are over in Poole park but don't worry - we will still get a good run in before we crack on with the task in hand - It was truly a pleasure to be part of Goodgym Poole launch - I know we are going to be fantastic!

12 Great GoodGymers ran 4.5k to St Andrews Youth Club to clear stuff, clean stuff and play some games!

Great to have a super crew to nip through London Town with tonight, managing to negotiate a few hundred thousand Christmas shoppers while gazing at some of the most magical Christmas Lights you could see.

Running South we made our way through the enchanting St James’s park and along the 2 and bit kilometre route to St Andrew’s youth club at 151 years young it is very much still going strong.

Always puts a smile on my face to walk into the club and feel the energy of Westminsters youth being directed into such positive pursuits!

With a big truck coming along tomorrow we first cleared the last of the heavy stuff that will be making space for more activities in 2018. With the garage full to the brim with stuff to go some of it from so many years ago that the dust was piling way up high.

With the garage filled half the group. Made their way up to the boxing store to lift, shift and tidy the boxing store cupboard. Making it so much easier for the boxing groups to access and use the kit on their next session.

The rest of the group made there way down to the gym and amazing to see it looking so good!! A mini makeover has taken place with the January fitness drive the target to try and raise some vital funding to keep St Andrew’s thriving. A deep clean on mass got the gym that extra sparkle and we even got to hear from ** Tom and Adrian** about the amazing work that the youth club does, the history of the club and two amazing and uplifting accounts of how the Youth Club has helped them both from young children to grown adults. Awesome to feel the passion and love that they both spoke with about the Club.

With a few minutes left we took the chance to play some games with some of the youth club members. Great to be able to have fun playing table football, Table Tennis and pool having fun and building great community relationships. Alex even capped off a stunning performance to hold his nerve in a titanic pool battle that will live long in St Andrew’s folklore!!

Saying our Christmas goodbyes and look forward to many more great projects in 2018 not to mention the Epic Kinball Summer showdown!!

A swift run back up to Oxford Street with some more Christmas light action on Old Bond Street rounded off an uplifting evening!!

Thanks for coming along and hope to see you all next week!

Smooth Running

Joel