We welcomed back Sharon who has not been able to join us for a while due to injury. Rather than our usual fact-based intro, we had a little maths test counting up only in prime numbers. Turns out we had 41 runners not 14.

A short 2k run to the task meant that we arrived before it got too dark but not before it started to rain. Thankfully it wasn’t as heavy as our last visit here in July, which warranted a sailing based pun-report. Also Dominique saw us coming and had the doors open quickly to get us inside. She explained how much the residents enjoyed our last visit but unfortunately many of them were ill at the moment and could not join us this time. Perhaps this why the “tea trolley of joy” also did not make an appearance?!

Three areas were tackled, two of which required some rose trimming. You would think that most Swindon GG Runners would be experts in rose trimming by now, but just to be safe we set two rose trimming supervisors Tracy and Jo. Some of the rose bushes required climbing into the flower bed which meant roses got where they weren’t meant to:

“I’ve got a rose thorn up my ass” (anon)

The de-weeding didn’t take too long and we finished with planting daffodils and tulips. Unfortunately the GG flowers planted last time had been instantly attacked by squirrels so has now turned in to a single G.

Given we had time to spare on the way back we took a detour to find “tappy boxes” (Beat the Street). The Run Leader would have fully prepped the route and the box locations if it was not for a bicycle malfunction on the recce. In the end it got a bit too dark and rainy and we gravitated back to the café for indoor based hot drink consumption training.

The next two tasks are for Swindon Night Shelter:

• A Community Mission on Saturday; we will be heading to their new warehouse for some serious sorting! It's one not to be missed and we need YOUR help! For more info and to sign up; check it out here!

• And then a 'Hump and Dump' task at the most welcoming Haven Day Centre next Tuesday - sign up here today!

This week’s getting-to-know-you question turned out to be a real conundrum for us all, the “young ones” and the young at heart – what is our favourite Cliff Richard song?! This was harder than it may seem, as most of us had not heard of Cliff Richard or his antics on a big red bus and the connection to tonight’s task was somewhat lost! But we persevered and were soon splitting into Speedies led by Emma and backmarked by Paul, and the Steadies led by run leader Charles and backmarked by Jo.

For this week’s task we were headed to The Big Yellow Bus project. The project was launched by Gerry Watkins in 2017 and is run by volunteers of the community for the community and is aimed at tacking homelessness by converting double decker buses that can accommodate people overnight. This is the second local bus, the first one already up and running in nearby Cirencester. This was a slightly cooler evening and it’s not hard to see why there is such a drive to get the bus up and running for the winter months when it is particularly hard for those without a home.

We were met there by Jason, and Hannah who probably has the most epic story about how she broke her toe that has ever been told… but not for here!

Run leader Charles had visited the bus the day before and we’ll take his word for it that it had been transformed from its previous white to the lovely canary yellow colour that greeted us when we arrived! So we lined up for our group shot in front of one of the best photo backdrops we’ve had so far. We had to try really hard not to lean against it as the paint was still a bit damp! Stuart was particularly worried about getting yellow paint on his shiny new black GoodGym shirt. But not to fear, GoodGym Swindon number one fan Jo’s mum is always on hand for paint removing tips!

Our mission was to clean the inside of the bus which is in the process of being converted into a living and sleeping space. Downstairs there is a seating area, wood burner and cooking facilities and upstairs there are 9 sleeping areas. So we set to work with cloths and brooms and sprays and Henry the Hoover. This was one of the more challenging cleaning tasks we’ve had, not because the bus was particularly dirty, but the stairs and beds and doors all had to be navigated. It was nice to see that we’d left the bus looking a bit more shiny than when we’d arrived.

Oh, we do love a good photo at GoodGym Swindon and a few of us couldn’t resist sitting in the driver’s seat for a pose. Gina looked particularly happy to be at the big wheel of fun!

Gerry had us all captivated with his passion and energy for all things Big Yellow Bus Project. He can certainly draw a crowd and this will surely help him with his dream to get enough support to launch the bus this winter. As the time went on there were less and less people on the bus and more and more people listening to his master plan!! We wish him and his supporters lots of luck with this venture.

Next up in our calendar is Gardening at Ferndale Primary School. We will be walking and running approximately 3km in total to Ferndale Primary School and back, to help with a gardening task. The outdoor area is entirely managed by volunteers and they need some help with an ongoing garden project. We have been here before and a lot has been done so far but there is more to do, so don't delay, sign up here!.

A change of plan this week meant we were able to return to the STEAM Museum to finish a weeding task we’d started back in July. We were joined by newbies Cath, Jo, Karen and Yvonne. We think they fit splendidly into the GoodGym family – read on to find out why!

After much super sleuthing the day before, a crack team deduced this was the last group run that our lovely run leader Sandy Sam would be attending before her wedding!

So we formed a rather unconventional bunch of hens and presented her with a bouquet and veil and announced that there would be post-run cake to celebrate her upcoming nuptials to Adam. We are clearly lacking in the sleuthing as she will be back next week – more cake anyone?

The getting-to-know-you question was what our chosen superpower would be! Emma the Trainer would have COMPLETE silence when she is doing parkrun directing (of course!), Sharon would be able to repair any broken joints (horse or human – handy!) and Jo would choose mind control (eek!).

The runners led by Sandy Sam and backmarked by Stuart, and the walkers led by Jo all arrived at STEAM in no time. It’s on the site of the old Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway and in its heyday could produce three locomotives a week!

What a great task - outside in the fresh air, right in the heart of Swindon’s heritage, chatting with friends while weeding. Last time we took a scattergun approach to the weedy landscape so this time we were more strategic to achieve maximum aesthetic pleasure for the visitors and residents who all use this area. We filled lots of bags as the hard working staff really needed some help in this weed multiplying weather. The ‘after’ picture was very satisfying! We weren’t doing so well on our weekly quest to find peculiar objects. But wait - enter Bodyless Bob! A tiny dismembered head (of the toy variety). He’s not pretty, we don’t know his story, and one doesn’t like to ask but we adopted him and took him back with us anyway.

Before we left we had a quick look around the very impressive museum. Swindon really did make the most beautiful trains! On the way out we spotted a wooden train planter at the main entrance that was made by Swindon Men’s Shed who we visited last week. Oh, we do love a coincidental community connection!

On the run back we encountered a rather merry chap who joined our run for a bit. Move over Bodyless Bob, we give you ummmmm, Legless Larry? He seemed to enjoy jogging and shouting motivational things like “Go GoGo-Gym” which is an entirely different type of exercise altogether, but still, a future new member perhaps?!

Before the Task Force could consult the GoodGym training manual for recommendations on what to do in such situations, he waved goodbye and was off!

On to “Murder Alley” and there was some tomfoolery by the Walkie Talkies (check out the photo!). We apologise unreservedly to any security services who spotted us on CCTV and may have been inadvertently placed on red alert due to our theatrics. And it has not escaped our attention that all four of our newbies were perpetrators! Like we said, fitting in nicely.

All safely back at base, with Sam still looking resplendent in her wedding veil, we had a large, lovely and chatty catch up over coffee and cake.

Next up is a Group Run on Tuesday 27th August. We will be running approximately 9km in total to the Saltway Centre and back to help clear out some planters so that Aiming High families using the centre can plant their own bulbs and seeds. The Aiming High Short Breaks programme provides access for children and young people with disabilities to social and leisure activities, and to enable their parents and carers to have a break from their caring responsibilities. Pop it in your diary now and sign up here! If you’d like to join us for a post-run drink back at the Oasis, order at Coffee Corner before 6pm.

11 of us ran 8km to Renew Swindon in Penhill, while 6 of us ran 3km to Ferndale Primary School, 3 of who also ran another 5km to meet the Renewer’s!

This week we were double-trouble, with a two-some of tasks for gregarious GoodGym’ers. The planned task? Lifting, Shifting, Sorting and Painting at Renew Swindon's New Home, Chippenham Close Community Centre. We last visited Renew Swindon back in March in their previous location at Cheney Manor for some sanding.

The emergency call-in? Midday, GoodGym time - 6 hours, we got a call from Ferndale Primary School with a last minute hump and dump task. We last visited Ferndale school back in June to help with a gardening task.

Before we set off to our different tasks, our icebreaker was what was our favourite things about Swindon. Our responses include a great running community (GoodGym and parkrun); nice restaurants; great job opportunities; a location close to some perfect places; and brilliant heritage.

And so we split up to our two tasks! The Renew crew set off up the (Pen)hill – the speedies led by Emma The Trainer, and the steadies led by Sandy Sam.

We met Kevin and Dawn who shared the story of Renew Swindon with us. Part of the UK Men’s Sheds Association, they focus on men’s mental health and wellbeing, by providing welcoming, safe and supportive environments to connect with others, be active, learn new skills and share knowledge & give to others through renewing, repairing and re-using materials which would otherwise go to landfill.

Our tasks? Empty a room of gubbins for collection, and sand down the woodwork in the hallway for painting the next day.

The former community centre hall was most recently used as a boxing ring, and so we had:

• IN THE LIFTING AND SHIFTING CORNER - Tracey, Emma, Mike and Tracy.
• IN THE SANDING CORNER – Rachel, David, Hannah, Andrew, Becky, Sam and Helen.

LET’S GET READY TO RRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUMBBLE!

Meanwhile, not far away in the borough, we were answering an urgent emergency. If there’s humping and dumping to be done in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call? GoodGym! Six GoodGym runners answered an SOS call from Jane at Ferndale Primary School to help with some more lifting and shifting of rubbish from the playground to a skip. Led by Charles, they made our way down to the school yard where there was a huge pile of rubbish to be moved – and quite a collection of slugs and snails and very smelly rubbish to contend with.

Undeterred, we quickly got stuck in with Trolley Dolly Graham shifting the larger items, while Jo couldn’t be separated from the wheelbarrow. Sarah, Sharon and Gina flexed their muscles carrying rubbish to the skip with sprint shuttles on the way back – Gina quickly covered more than kilometre just at the task! This really was running with purpose! With some good old fashioned GoodGym grunt, the task was completed in around 20 minutes. Any representatives from Guinness World Records available to check that?!

Jane was so pleased with our speedy shifting that after hugs all round, she sent us on our way with a packet of biscuits, aka GoodGym fuel! These were entrusted to Sarah, Sharon and Graham who made their way back to the Oasis while Charles, Gina and Jo ran up the hill to meet the other intrepid sand and shifters.

After the Renew Crew were complete and the obligatory landscape, portrait, square, nature, beauty, wildlife and advertising photography was taken, we were off back to the Oasis.

And that’s where the mystery begins… there were no biscuits when we all returned later to the Oasis. CRUMBS!

• Is it a custard crime or some rich tea rapscallion?
• Did Sarah, Sharon and Graham eat them all?
• Do we call the world record people or the police first?
• Will those responsible for biscuitgate ever be found?
• Will the Jammie Dodgers get away with the crime they committed against those who shift grime?!

Interested in investigating the mystery further? GREAT because there’s loads of GoodGym goodness upcoming:

• This Thursday, a good old chinwag with Sanctuary Seekers with We're Open @ Coffee 1!
• Next Tuesday, 6pm, we’re back at the Gorse Hill Community Centre for more indoor painting. Sign up here!
• We’re also kicking off missions in the town to help older people with one-off tasks. Interested in more info? Check out here or speak to the TaskForce.

We like to celebrate in style in Swindon and there was much chatter and excitement amongst the 36 runners and walkers who gathered at the Oasis for our first birthday group run. It’s been a fantastic first year – 119 of us have run and walked 65 times to support community projects in Swindon, doing 901 good deeds, making 21 visits to older people and together we’ve covered 20285km, that’s more than half way round the world! And while there are a good number of data nerds in GoodGym Swindon, these figures only tell part of the story.

I think we’d all agree that the real success is the difference that GoodGym Swindon has made – to the community projects we have supported and to our own runners – and the new friendships that have been made while running, eating biscuits or over a well-earned cuppa.💓 It’s no wonder we were in party mood!

The chatting stopped momentarily as Emma the Trainer, put to use her famous Swindon parkrun Silence skills and gathered us together for the task briefing and getting to know you session. There were lots of new faces and some very familiar faces ones too. Welcome to Swindon first timers Addie, Ashleigh, Ciaran, Paul, Sharon – we hope you’ll join us again and become part of our GoodGym Family! We also welcomed Alexander Kenmure, who had spent the day with us talking all things GoodGym and piling on the pressure for this run report writer! Fingers crossed that this lives up to expectation!

We broke the ice with tales of memorable birthdays – many of which turned out not to have been remembered well at all, apart from Sharon’s, when aged 7 her new skateboard had an unfortunate encounter with a newly glazed door; not quite the smashing day she was hoping for! And then it was time to celebrate our achievements and soon the skies of Swindon were ringing with applause as we congratulated Stuart on becoming our first runner to complete 50 good deeds – we look forward to seeing the new black top soon!, thanked our Task Force for all that they do to support GoodGym by run and walk leading, back marking, organising community missions, taking photos and run report writing – here’s to you Andrew, Charles, Helen, Mike, Jo, Paul, Richard the Vicar, Sam, Simon, Simon and Tracey, and last but not least thanked the people who had got GoodGym Swindon up and running Emma the Trainer and Paul, and everyone who has run and walked with us over the last year!

And then we were off…our red tops snaking our way through the streets of Swindon, running, walking and of course chatting, on our way to the Haven Day Centre. The Haven offers food, support, mentoring, work experience, training and help into rehab for those who are homeless or vulnerable in Swindon. This was our largest ever group run but Carol at the Haven is always well prepared and quickly organised us into teams to power through the to do list.

Team Window Cleaning were soon polishing and shining away, making this task look pane-less. And You’ve Been (window) Framed was the photo theme for the night with many sill-y shots being taken! Meanwhile, Team Hedgerow got stuck in to cutting back brambles – a thorny problem but no match for us as we chopped and hacked our way through. And then there was the Demolition Gang, tasked with taking down a shed. This team showed no mercy and with under starters orders of “ready, sheddy, go” were roofless, quickly reducing the shed to just 4 walls and they soon disappeared too – before we knew it, the shed was demoliSHED!

With that, it was time to knock it on the shed and head back to the Oasis for birthday cake! Huge thanks to Stuart and Tracy who baked and decorated a cake that Mary Berry would be proud of!

What a fabulous way to end a fantastic GoodGym evening – so good that we almost got locked in to the Oasis! Time really does fly when you are having fun!

The fun will continue, come rain or shine, on Saturday when we are taking over Swindon parkrun. Don’t delay – sign up for this community mission HERE today! And then the celebrations continue with our GoodGym birthday party – we’d love to see you there!

Next week, we have a group run to Renew Swindon for a classic GoodGym Swindon hump and dump task – sign up here. We also have a community mission to We’re Open – now we’ve flexed our chatting, eating and drinking muscles with all these celebrations, it’s time to put them to good use supporting Sanctuary Seekers from across the world! We hope to see you soon!