Despite being mid-week in mid-January, with drizzle in the air, the Goodgym Colchester runners brought a wave of positivity to the streets and to Level Best Art Cafe. 17 of us!

We began with news about our epic take over at Junior Parkrun, as well as someone coming 1st at Parkrun!! We are all also super proud of Ella competing for Colchester Harriers Athletic club in a cross-country race for the 1st time. What an athlete!

We welcomed Hattie and Alex for their first runs. Great to see you do so well in the task and on the hill! Also great to have Andy back who smashed the hills too.

We warmed up with some weird compliment lunges and high knees before jogging up the hill with Ian at the rear, Emily and Helen leading the way and a spring in our steps.

Alison Ling welcomed us into their cafe, fresh from her yoga session. She showed us around and told us what needed doing and as always there was no hesitation. The skirting boards, bathrooms, tables and floor sparkled after 30 minutes of effort. WOW!

Alison told us about Level Best and their amazingly worthwhile work with adults who have learning disabilities. Inspiring! Alison then surprised us with chocolate cake but you have to earn that, so off to North Hill we went.

We took the longer route to the hill and then I timed 5 minutes of 3/4 paced hill efforts on the way up and recovery on the way down. Loved the enthusiasm and the heavy breathing! Go team GG Colchester.

We returned to Leisure World happy and with freshish air in our lungs to stretch and eat cake.

Next week we are helping Colchester in Bloom again which is always fun with a physical element.