if there's any truth at all in this well known saying then 5 Bath Goodgymmers will be feeling very good indeed after helping out at Grow for Life's annual Apple Day. Apples were washed, chopped, mashed and juiced ready for pasteurising, compost was turned, music was enjoyed and crafts admired. At the end of the event we helped to clean up and pack everything away, a great couple of hours with lovely people.

Due to high inflation and expensive oven-cooking bills, roughly half of UK adults report cooking fewer roasts or skipping the tradition. Not St Philip’s Church in Odd Down, Bath, which lays on a roast dinner once a month for people who would otherwise be on their own. One-2-One brings people together with the aim of tackling loneliness in the community.

It also aims to serve those in the community who can’t make it to the church by providing them with a takeaway version. It makes its more vulnerable members feel that they are still part of the group. That’s where GoodGym Bath comes in - we deliver the meals to people’s homes across Odd Down, hoping that they’ll still be hot!

It was a real case of #dogoodgetfit - a three and a half mile trek across Odd Down distributing portions of roast pork and pear and apple crumble to four very grateful customers. I believe it’s turkey next month.

I’ve been helping out with GoodGym at Odd Down Junior Parkrun for more than five years now and you’d have thought I’d have got the hang of it by now. But it seems there is still more to learn. In a good way!

It’s great to encourage the young runners as they make their way round the cycle track with a high five. We celebrate their achievement so far and encourage them on their challenge but, until Sunday, I had no idea that there is so much more to a foam hand. By that I mean the magic of the “power-up”. Just like in a computer game, a touch of the marshal’s hand can give a welcome energy boost and see the athletes onto personal bests. How good is that?

Thanks to Tanya for joining me in the magic of marshalling. Together with the other Parkrun volunteers we saw 127 children meet their 2km target - with the odd power-up helping them on their way.

Goodgymmers were welcomed by blue sky and a spitfire flypast at Brickfields parkrun so it was already a great day before we'd even got going! Having been assigned our marshaling points the run director gave us brief instructions, all while an inflatable birthday cake was getting ready in the background - a bit surreal for a Saturday morning. Out on the course we cheered a record number of participants along their way, including the aforementioned cake which arrived at the finish line to much applause. A happy couple of hours well spent in great company helping a wonderful health initiative. Volunteering at parkrun is very easy and everyone is welcoming and supportive, so why not give it a try next time, it's a piece of cake!

Many hands made light work at Grow for Life's Walled Garden when 6 Bath Goodgymmers arrived to help tackle various jobs in this wonderful walled garden used for therapeutic horticulture sessions. The hedge line was cleared of weeds ready for trimming, compost was turned, a mountain of woodchip was tamed and there were many trips to the dead hedge across the lane in the orchard with all of the debris created! Thanks to all and congratulations to Daniel on your first official Goodgym task too!

Did you know that jelly beans and flat coke are ideal for long distance walkers? Apparently they are highly effective budget-friendly rocket fuel. The cola is flat to provide a quick energy hit without the bloating associated with fizz.

Clearly, the organisers of the Alongside Circuit of Bath fundraiser had done their research. You could tell by the way the event was planned with 4x4 drivers and paramedics at hand and manned checkpoints along the 20 mile route circling Bath.

GoodGym Bath has supported the charity formerly known as Julian House for a number of years but this time was different. Firstly it now has a new name - Alongside- to reflect the way it comes alongside people facing homelessness and domestic abuse. Secondly, it offered a mini-route more suitable for families at ‘just’ 11k long. Thirdly, everyone went one way for 2026 - clockwise. And finally this year runners were also invited to take part. This is one of Alongside’s biggest fundraisers for the work it does and the organisation must be hoping these changes will bring in more money.

GoodGym Bath’s role was to join one of the checkpoint teams - in this case the penultimate one at St Gregory’s School. We clapped the participants in, took down their numbers and made sure they were fed and watered. My job was to stamp their maps to make sure each achievement was registered. Quite a few dogs took on the course, including Bailey in the photos. Maybe next year they’ll get their own medal.

After a few hours volunteering I obviously had to test the power of the beans (a few times) and I can say they definitely fuelled my walk home.