The mid April weather being what it is, our latest group run began with a mix of a rain deluge and sunshine at the Suitcases, which rewarded us with some beautiful rainbows before we even started. A nervous Liam stepped up to lead the run for the first time, leading Aatefa, Sallyann, Heetu, Steph, and Laura on a short but sweet run through the Georgian streets toward the Cathedral. It was a great way to warm up before the main event.

By the time we reached the gardens, the sun had come out fully as we were joined by the rest of the group. We were delighted to celebrate two big milestones: Aatefa completing her 10th task and Miriam reaching her 50th! To mark this milestone Bekah brought a box of chocolates for Miriam, which she kindly shared with the group. We’re all looking forward to seeing Miriam in her new black GG T-shirt soon!

After a helpful briefing from the Friends of St. James Gardens, we got straight to work in high spirits. Heetu and Sophie did a great job clearing litter to keep the space tidy, while Aatefa, Sallyann, Jess, Pri, and Ellie planted new flowers near the Parliament Street end. It’s always rewarding to add something lasting to the gardens and the new flowers will be a lovely addition for the gardens.

The rest of the team headed to the old towpaths at the back of the gardens, working together to clear branches and foliage from the walls. Some of the branches put up a fight but the team weren't accepting defeat and managed to clear a large section of the walls. This essential maintenance helps preserve the site's history, and the team made light work of it with plenty of chat and energy.

The time really flew by and before we knew it we were back at the Huskisson memorial in the centre of the gardens to wrap up the task under the shadow of the Cathedral. A special thanks from Liam to the rest of the group for making the task go so smoothly. It was really appreciated!

A huge thank you to everyone for your hard work and for making the session so enjoyable—we look forward to seeing you at the next one!

This Saturday, a team of five volunteers from GoodGym came together at Princes Park to support Princes Parkrun, which was at risk of being cancelled. We quickly got into position, each taking on different roles to help the event run smoothly. I was at the front line, encouraging participants to keep moving forward, guiding them to stay in line, and motivating them with positive energy as they completed their run. Other team members supported by scanning barcodes, marshalling along the route, and helping runners who had issues with their QR codes by assisting them in accessing their Parkrun ID numbers. It was a fantastic experience being part of such a supportive and energetic environment. Despite being tired, runners shared smiles, waves, and thumbs-ups, which made the atmosphere even more rewarding. We all left feeling proud that we had helped make the event possible. Volunteering like this not only supports physical activity but also has a positive impact on mental wellbeing by creating a strong sense of community and encouragement.

It was a fantastic evening for our volunteers as we made the most of the lighter nights. Heetu and Liam kicked things off with a steady run from Lark Lane at 6:00 PM, meeting Sallyann and Aatefa at the Suitcases for a warm up, before heading to the Catholic Cathedral. The group was in high spirits as we tackled some extra inclines on the steps to help Heetu stay on track for her March elevation target on Strava of 2,000 metres.

Once we reached Everton Park, we were joined by Naser and our task leader, John, to get stuck into the evening's work. We split into two teams to cover more ground: Heetu and Aatefa turned into litter-picking machines to tidy litter from the park, while Naser, Liam, and Sallyann focused on clearing saplings from a grassy knoll to ensure park users can enjoy the views once the sun finally comes out!

The saplings put up a bit of a fight, but the team’s hard work paid off. By the end of the session, the bank was significantly cleared and the branches neatly piled up. Heetu even managed to stay focused enough to nearly get lost in her litter-picking mission!

The run back offered a lovely view of the city centre skyline all lit up against the dusk. We looped back around the cathedral to return to our starting point, finishing the evening on a high note. Best of all, thanks to those extra inclines, Heetu successfully reached her 2,000 metre vertical target with a day to spare!

As Sallyann noted, the smaller group didn't mean less chat. On the contrary, we were all able to catch up together and enjoy each other's company. Have a lovely Easter break everyone and see you all at the next task!