14 good folk ran 7km to the Avon Gorge on behalf of Surfers Against Sewage to clear one side of the river bank of litter.

A beautiful morning saw pretty much all of Bristol come out to enjoy the warm sunshine, making the early part of this morning’s run fairly congested, particularly as motorists tried to tackle the new road system around the city centre.

This meant a fair amount of snaking around the streets in single file but things got back to normal as we headed out along the harbourside for a fairly leisurely run along the river, looking on a little enviously at the many people adorning the harbourside cafes enjoying a cool morning drink.

No matter, we had important goodness to do and arriving at the gorge, just under the Clifton Suspension Bridge we made a wooden step on the river bank (top work Paul R) allowing everyone to climb down to begin today’s task.

Armed with gloves and rubbish bags we set about clearing the area of all manner of weird and wonderful, and not-so-wonderful items.

There was the standard fare of beer cans and bottles, tennis balls, polystyrene and bubble wrap, but amongst the more unusual items were bits of carpet, a toy Snoopy and his plastic purple friend, condoms and a wild eyed hare that seemed to have taken a trip to the taxidermist – a most worrying sight, particularly as it kept trying to make a break for freedom by slicing open the bin bag!

The main bone of contention was a traffic cone (maybe that should be a cone of contention?) which was well and truly buried in the mud and despite the best efforts of Paul B and Chris, it stubbornly refused to budge – likewise a tyre that was just as pesky!

In amongst all this Kieran found a conker and with that our pun was born – well done Kieran – the future of GG puns is in safe hands!

Top marks to Charlene, who found a plastic crate and put this to good use in collecting bottles and cans.

Also to Dom, who turned an early morning parkrun and GoodGym deed into a half marathon!

Our work finished, we hotfooted (literally) it back to Roll For The Soul where Chris gave us an excellent series of warm down stretches to perform (thanks Chris), before wishing Deb good luck at the Sheffield Half Marathon tomorrow, and Mel and Jack at the Brighton Marathon, and congratulated Will on his Manchester Marathon run. We then headed in for a well earned lunch.

Thanks to everyone for coming today and cleaning up the river – it makes you feel proud of our city and it’s waterways. Great work everyone.

Thanks also to Paul B for backmarking today and to Kieran for the pun.

As usual we have more GoodGym goodness to look forward to on Tuesday evening and next Saturday so we’ll see you all again very soon!

Cheers

Dave

19 wonderful GoodGymmers ran 5 km to help out at the St Werburghs Community Centre Volunteer Day

It was another great Saturday turnout for GoodGym Bristol, with a brand new task awaiting us with the Werbuzz Community Garden Project team at the St Werburghs Community Centre, who have just started a monthly volunteer day to help give the Centre a makeover by developing the car park into a community garden, play and event space. This will include building raised beds, planting trees, creating colourful designs on the tarmac and building a bug hotel - also a "Slug Slide" which is apparently a slide in the shape of a slug, rather than a slide for slugs!

It was a 5 km round trip, a nice run through central Bristol and out onto part of the Frome Valley Walkway, alongside the river, before crossing over the M32 and into St Werburghs.

It was great to welcome our new runners today - Yuting, Doris, Maureen and Jiale - we hope you enjoyed your first GoodGym run and task with us.

On arrival, we joined the other volunteers who had come in for the day and got stuck into doing what GoodGym does best - shifting a load of stuff in a short space of time. Goska, our fabulous host, seemed to have reserved the heaviest task for us which involved transporting long, chunky strips of timber (think of a railway sleeper and you'll be pretty close!) from one part of the Centre to a more secure location.

First we had to clear some of the ground of dirt and grass to allow the timber to be laid evenly, but also to use smaller strips of wood to not only leave a gap between the layers of timber, but also to level the pile further. Great work here by Jenny, Emma and Deb to achieve what we were after.

Then, teaming up in pairs the heavy lumber was carried along the central part of the Centre, passed to another team waiting at a lower level, who then moved it to it's resting place.

Working hard for just over an hour, and with so many willing hands (and arms) we were able to move a lot of the wood, including taking some round to where they would set to it with a buzz-saw to cut it to the size they needed. This was a really good work out for all!

It was time to go and say thanks to our hosts for their kind hospitality and also for looking after Alex so well after she had injured herself on the task - providing ice, tea and flapjack, plus a lift home for her and her bike was really kind!

Our number on the return journey had diminished a little, as some decided they would prefer to enjoy a walk back, some local to the area wanted to stay for longer (nice one Julia!) or head home directly.

Back at base we congratulated Maddy on completing the Bath Half Marathon the previous weekend, and our Larmer Tree-ers in attendance today, Emma, Jenny, Deb and Dave. Anthony had completed his first ever parkrun this morning and Richard was keeping quiet about lowering his Chipping Sodbury parkrun PB too!

Thanks once again to Chris for backmarking today - I think he might have given his pre-GG fitness session a miss today if he knew what awaited him at the task!

Thanks folks - you are great!

Dave

A flipping marvelous 24 runners came along on pancake day to help Incredible Edible clear beds in a Jackie's Garden in Stokes Croft.

There was a chilly wind in the air but that did not deter our brave runners in red from taking to the streets to get fit and do good. After our usual intros and headcount we ran the short mile trip to the Bearpit to meet Hannah from Incredible Edible. She welcomed us with her now customary surprise at our group size and glee at the potential of work we could do. Hannah gave us an intro to what Incredible Edible do, telling us how they use unwanted patches of land all around the city and turn then into productive and educational veg and fruit patches where people can learn to grow and also harvest the plants when they are ready, which everybody is free to do.

We were then given tools from the container of gardening wonders. There were forks, spades, wheelbarrows, and loads more. Everyone chose their weapon of choice, with Alex happily being our resident bag lady, and then walked the short distance to the garden. This garden is special because it was mainly the work of one lady who poured her heart and soul into creating it and making sure it was kept in good condition. Her name was Jackie and she sadly passed away in December. It was our pleasure to help maintain the garden and her legacy.

On our previous visit to Jackie's Garden we cleared loads of leaves and carefully dug out weeds. This time it was a full on tear it up assault on the flowerbeds to clear them for planting in the spring. Everyone picked a spot and dug, chopped and cleared. One team, including Dave, Richard and new recruit Florence, took on the task of bagging up leaves and carrying them back to a compost heap at the Bearpit, while Ian and Vito decided they were going to take out a seemingly small harmless stump (more on that later).

As time passed the pile of leaves disappeared, bushes were torn from the ground in what resembled a miniture version of the orks tearing down the Forest of Fangorn (one for you LOTR fans out there), and the stump was turning out to be more than a match for our shovels and small pruning knife. In fact it left us more stumped than a cricketer who has just stumbled out of his crease while bamboozled by a physics conundrum as the wicket keeper swipes his bails off.

Time eventually got the better of us but we certainly had the better of the garden. Loads of ground was cleared and even though the stump remains we achieved loads. The team loaded up the final barrows of bush and we headed back to the Bearpit to down tools and run through a few drills to keep fit and warm.

It was a short trip back to base where we stretched out, talked about pancakes and of future greatness at Bristol Children's Playhouse on Saturday and The Scrapstore next Tuesday.

Thanks for all your effort tonight guys,it all panned out beautifully. We totally battered that garden and shroved those bushes who's boss. Catch you on the flip side.

Gary

21 fabulous runners braved the cold to run 3 km to help The Friends Of Brandon Hill tidy up an area following a fallen tree

Firstly, for the run pun, work with Ritchie Valens's "La Bamba"!

Boy it was cold out there today! One of those days when you might be excused for staying in bed or opting for a bit of sofa time! So how come we recorded one of our best turnouts for a GoodGym Bristol Saturday run?

Maybe it was a sense of adventure at the sight of a sprinkling of snow outside? Perhaps it was the knowledge that today's run was a short one to one of the most beautiful areas in central Bristol? Or was it just another great opportunity to get out and do some good with like-minded people in the local community? For sure, the postponement of the planned cycle ride to Oxford saw some opt for a Plan B on the hill, but whatever the reason it was simply brilliant see so many of you getting fit by doing good this morning.

Today's task was arranged and superbly organised by fellow GoodGymmer, Fraser, who, on our arrival at Brandon Hill led us up the climb to the equipment shed area to outline today's task. Next to the shed was a large area covered by leaves, twigs, branches and sections of tree trunk and our job was to move this to a storage area around 30 yards away.

Given our large number and the potential hazard of crashing into each other with arms laden with bits of tree, thorns and another GoodGym favourite, brambles, Fraser had cunningly planned a course that involved carrying bits of the tree to the storage area, carefully filling from back to front and then running around the other side of the equipment shed back to the start.

Not only did this provide a good exercise session, it had the added benefit of keeping everyone warm during the task.

The pile that we had to move was huge, just as well we had a shorter run to allow sufficient time to get the job done! As the larger branches were transported, the lower, heavier layer of mulch beneath revealed itself, so out came the forks, rakes and garden sacks to continue the clearance. With Gary organising the pile in the storage area and getting absolutely filthy in the process, and some classy chain forking going on back at the tidy up area, we were moving like a finely tuned machine.

However, it was one of those tasks that just kept giving and there were doubts that we would get the job done in time, but with time running out, Fraser's announcement of "5 minutes of humphing left!" was met not only with a few raised eyebrows, smirks and titters (and in Deb's case, thoughts of Brad Pitt for the second time this week and in Paul's case "what are the other 4 minutes for?"), but with renewed vigour for the final, er....push!

By the time we had finished, the two areas were transformed - a tidy, clear area where the previously buried bushes could once again thrive and a tidy full storage area. Yes, we were a little cold, yes, we were very dirty, but man, we were happy!

A short descent back to base for stretches, warmth and food - great to see so many of you staying behind to eat and chat.

A big welcome to Mark who was joining us for the first time today - I think you were second filthiest today Mark, well done for getting stuck in and hope you enjoyed your first GoodGym experience.

Also, welcome back to Sally, Charlene and Cathy coming along for their second runs and also Richard G, back from a rather nasty shoulder injury.

And a big shout out to Charlene, who not only came up with her first pun for today's run (and for giving me the opportunity to work "Falafel" into it!) was also brave enough to sing it to us - well done Charlene and to everyone who came along today. I don't mind admitting that I was struggling this morning and you guys really lifted my mood today - but then you always do! Thank you for being awesome.

Till next time!

Dave

19 stars braved the cold on Saturday to run 4 km to clear leaves at a primary school in Windmill Hill

Well these Saturdays are becoming a bit of a good thing, aren't they? On the morning of the run we had around a dozen people signed up and heading into town in sub-zero conditions, I was hopeful that we might get somewhere close to 10 people turning up - but by the time we were ready to set off we had grown to 16, with another 3 due to meet us at today's task!

With comments ranging from "it's a bit chilly" to "it's sooooo cold out there!", it really should have come as no surprise that Chris (who is quickly taking over Deb's mantle of GoodGym Bristol ambassador) still managed to come along in T-shirt and shorts, whereas the rest of us were all wrapped up in our warmest gear!

It was great to see Charlene and Will joining us for their first GoodGym run (hope you enjoyed it both) and that Maddy, Julia and Anthony had not been put off by last week's very muddy affair and had returned this week for more!

After a quick briefing accompanied by jogging on the spot, we headed to St Mary Redcliffe Primary School, on the edge of Victoria Park in Windmill Hill where we were met, not only by Gary, Nick and Fiona, but also by our wonderful host, Simone, who explained today's task to us. Each spring the school plant flower beds along the bank at the front of the school and with the bank being covered in leaves, our job was to clear these using an array of tools, including rakes, paddles and bags.

Given the cold conditions, everyone was very keen to keep moving and quickly set about clearing up the leaves and in no time at all the bags were full - the only problem being there were still lots more leaves to clear, so we had to find a suitable place to dump our collection so that we could refill more bags.

It was also evident that the bags weren't particularly strong, so any stray twigs tended to split them, or if they were thrown to the ground, rather than placed, they had a tendency to pop and burst open (Chris!!) - almost leading to a "Breaking Bag" pun!

Having cleared the leaves, some of the group set about weeding the bank, but without suitable tools to do so, we agreed that this was perhaps best left for another day and with several members trying to find the small sunny spots on the roadside in an effort to keep warm with the task completed we decided to warm back up with a run back to base, but not before Gary had handed out Red Laces to those bringing along friends to GoodGym - our first recipients of these prestigious awards were Julia, Nick and Alice!

Arriving back at Roll For The Soul, we had stretches and announcements - for Tuesday's run to Portland Square and next Saturday's run to the Northern Slopes - and then into the cafe for some well earned refreshment. The discovery by Alice that you can mix and match your wrap was indeed a revelation - we even renamed my wrap a Falafelloumi in celebration!

Thank you all for braving the cold today - it warms the heart, it really does, to run with such amazing, dedicated and lovely people. Thanks to Mel and Chris too for back marking and helping to get everyone there and back safely.

Until next time! Falafeleaf!

Dave