Four GoodGymers made their way up to Castle Hill Community Centre last night to tend to some bollards that needed painting and a bit of weeding.

Brilliant to see @(/v3/profile/paul-horne) and Karl back too, getting to know them during the task was a real joy. Lucy led the way (literally as we embarked on THAT hill to the centre) as well as guiding us through setting timers on the camera to capture to the gang. All useful life skills!

After a series of indoor tasks, it was great to finally be outside for this task on what felt like a Summer-esque evening, complete with the smell of BBQs -providing a slight distraction - and which led to many a chat about food podcasts and all time favourite meals.... are you a popadom or bread person? The Jury is out but likely answer according to the group was: BOTH! Good to know what motivates everyone .. :)

We were momentarily joined by two teenage boys as we ran through town who seemed a little perplexed by what we were up to. Future Good Gym members ?! We did suggest it...

Task completed, 10km run breezed, and optimism that brighter days are ahead....

Group Runs are back with a bang at Good Gym Ipswich with this painting task at Castle Hill Community Centre.

After a hiatus it was great to see former GGers return along with new faces too. Imogen and Bruce came along for their first session sharing their adventures of the A-Z of Park Run. Handy hint: anyone looking to complete the challenge may get stuck when looking for a 'z' initialed location and a trip abroad may be in order...

Returning GGers Lucy brought tonnes of energy and led from the front, Nicole and Natalie shared wild swimming tips (Nicole had also snuck in a cheeky PB in the last few days !) whilst Kerry hit a milestone : 100 tasks completed for Good Gym! Phenomenal!!!! A gold t-shirt surely must be in order for that achievement and commitment...

A freshly painted room and reinvigorated Ipswich Good Gym. Well done and thanks everyone!

We thought the run of rainy Mondays had been broken.....turns out that was short lived as tonight was a very soggy evening.

Small numbers tonight perhaps due to a few races over the weekend including the Cambridge Half Marathon. The weather didn't look too bad as we arrived on the Waterfront but the rain started as we set out for the 2.5 mile run across town to Castle Hill Community Centre and was in full flow by the time we left the Centre.

Our task was to continue painting the toilets we had started on our last visit. Unfortunately due to the low number and limited painting equipment, progress was a little slower than usual and we weren't able to complete as much as we would have liked. The base coat of blue in the ladies was particularly challenging to cover up !

With heavy rain coming down, there was a slight reluctance to exit the main doors of the centre to start the return leg of the run. But after the first few splashy steps we enjoyed that hard core feeling you get when running in adverse conditions and even managed to avoid any soakings from passing cars...... though we were pretty much soaked through on arrival back at base.

Good work from everyone - hope you've dried out!

For a change we lucked out with the weather tonight. We seemed to find a short window in Storm Ciara - given the rain and high winds during the afternoon and the hail/snow that hit areas not too far from us.

As we set out it was dry and the wind seemed to have died down - which was fortunate as the run to Castle Hill Community Centre is one of our longest.

The weather had deterred a few but our small & hardy band with Sally and Nicola back marking covered the 2.5 mile outbound run across town.

Our task tonight was painting the male & female toilets on the ground floor of the centre. The small numbers were actually an advantage as the size of the toilets wouldn't have accommodated large numbers! Splitting into two groups the gang got stuck in. The ladies base coat was a light blue so the progress was more noticeable than in the gents which was magnolia going over old magnolia.

Although we weren't able to complete the painting as extra coats will be required the progress was amazing! The boys in the gents toilet deserve extra kudos for working cramped conditions with a red hot radiator giving sauna like conditions and exacerbating the pungent aroma of male toilets! They were more than happy to get back out into the cool night air for the return run leg - including several extra interval efforts for the more enthusiastic!

Don't forget this Saturday there is an opportunity to join a Community Mission helping out at Ranelagh Primary School - some will be taking in Ipswich parkrun before heading over to the school.

A big welcome back to our first Group Run of the new year and new decade!

It was fab to see everyone again ready and raring to go, even if there was a little bit of back to work blues around. But nothing could dampen the smile on Robin's face...sporting his brand new 100 task T-shirt (back in red!)

Prior to setting off we had a pep talk on how we will be competing against other Goodgym areas in the JANUARY CHALLENGE on distance run and good deeds done. We have aCommunity Mission at FIND Foodbank set up for this Saturday to start the challenge off with a bang - and hopefully add to our good deed tally.

As well as this, don't miss out on a bonus "starter" Group Run on Saturday 18th January which is ideal to bring someone along who hasn't tried out a Godgym task /run before as well as rack up the good deed total!

Our run out tonight is one of our longer ones at about 2.5 miles each way to the Castle Hill Community Centre and there was lots of catch up chatting along the way. The regular task of painting at the centre was quite an easy one tonight with just the scuffs and marks needing "touching up" round the walls where furniture had marked the paint work and one area affected by damp from a leak. This was all done in super quick time, which meant we could take advantage of a reasonable size hall for a few rounds of core strength/balance circuits.

Much enjoyment was had from observing a "range of techniques" and facial expressions during the single leg balance exercises - no photos to be shared!

The run back was only notable for Hayley and Brittany going AWOL ! It turned out they were faster than they thought and had got a big lead on the rest of the group......all was well when were reunited back at base!

A fantastic start to the new year - hope to see some of you on Saturday at the foodbank Community Mission.

If rainy days and Mondays always get you down....... you should have been out with the Goodgym Ipswich gang tonight. There's the endorphin rush from a 5 mile (round trip) run combined with the fantastic, fuzzy, feel good factor of painting to help out at a community centre.

Goodgym is so much fun that Richard, who came for the first time last week, not only came back for a second time - he brought a friend! Phil had heard good things and joined us for the first time tonight.

So, yes it was raining as we set out this evening but in words of Andi McDowell in 4 Weddings and a Funeral - "Is it still raining I hadn't noticed?" The drizzle couldn't dampen our spirits as we headed across town with Tom and Daniela back marking superbly and managing not to lose anyone!

Our task was to paint one very small room and an even smaller porch area, so we split into 2 groups and just about were able to fit everyone into one or other of the rooms.

It didn't take long and given the close proximity of everyone it was surprising that Kerry was the only person to end up with paint on his head!

With the task complete we headed back to base with some intervals for the enthusiastic front runners ending up back on the Waterfront with a depleted group as runners had peeled off to head home on the way back - the final one being Daniela who insisted in being dropped off at the pub!*

**to finalise the Christmas meal arrangements :)