It was good to be back for a warm, summer evening of GoodGym and with a brilliant reason to celebrate too as Katie had done 200 good deeds and got to wear the spectacular new cape.

Tonight's task was so so close to our meeting point that I couldn't bring myself to lead everyone straight there, instead opting for a more scenic route along the river.

Only you could take a task 400m away and include two sets of steps and a hill (Amy)

Are you lost!? (John)

After our little loop we came to the wonderful Bishophill Community Garden, where Abi and Ellie had already gathered the tools together for us.

Task Manager Jamie told us that the main job was to collect up all the dead wood and twigs and feed them into the twig chipper, with secondary tasks being to sort the compost, mow the grass, and clear and edge the flagstones.

The twig chipper was jammed in a matter of minutes and so - being GoodGym - a small team became the machine with some extreme lopping antics.

Meanwhile, caped Katie had commandeered the mower and Tim discover that Katie herself was fuelled by petrol.

When the fuel ran out, she just stopped and couldn't work anymore'.

Craig saved the day by fixing the chipper and soon the bags were filling up, the compost area was tidy, the paths were clear and the grass was beautifully mown and ready for a game of Cones of Joy.

We had a ten minute round and apparently there was one rogue branch which took a few people out, otherwise it was an amazing display of athleticism and culminated in a dance party as everyone descended upon the dancing cone.

Another excellent night of good!

“It rarely rains on a Monday, I can only think of two GoodGym evenings where it has rained…” cue a lovely cold and wet evening tonight. I apologise to all for saying this last week and apparently cursing the weather! Despite the damp and dark conditions, 8 GoodGym runners turned up for another fun-filled evening of puns, fitness and doing good! It was great to have “Yes” woman Lucy join us again, the benefits of saying “Yes” to everything right Lucy?!

Keith was of-fish-ally let off the hook

The team set off on a gentle 1.5km warm-up around the sights of East Worthing (aka the garish Brighton Road hotels) to tonight’s follow-up task at the Fisherman’s Gardens. We were welcomed by Park Ranger, Anthony who explained what needed weeding and tidying this evening…rumour has it that Keith chose not to supervise this task as he was still recovering from the full scale of our fishy puns here two weeks ago.

The evening was all a-boat making the gardens look ship shape

Gardening in the dark with tools doesn’t sound like the most efficient or safest of ideas but to-date no limbs or fingers have been lost and a marked difference is always made in a short space of time; after half an hour of digging up weeds, pruning and ‘monkeying around’ climbing bamboo trees, two big bags were filled with garden waste. We’d also managed to attract the attention of a hotel guest who came across to ask what on earth we were doing, he thought it was a “brilliant concept” following an enthusiastic explanation. Sadly, we had no luck in recruiting him for future group runs but he did promise to donate the change he offered us to charity.

Off on a fast-paced scallop

We posed for a post-task group photo, said cheerio to Anthony, and headed off inland on our 5km run. Duncan and Paul set the pace at the front while Julia back-marked with her handy on-body lights to ensure no-one was lost along the way (imagine if we lost a couple of the team and endured up running in circles trying to locate them!!…).

On the home stretch with no mussel fatigue

Following many sprints and loops around Worthing the team regrouped back at base for a quick cool down and stretch. Michelle put everyone else’s flexibility to shame while Julia and Belinda demonstrated to everyone how to do it up against the wall so that long muscles are given a good stretch out, important for ensuring you stay injury free! The GoodGym Worthing Christmas dinner was also briefly discussed – Monday 18th December, details TBC – before people’s attention quickly switched to the post-run food and drinks.

This restaurant couldn’t be batter

To continue on the fish themed evening the team went to the highly recommended local chippy as it was Beth’s ‘last GoodGym Worthing run’. The fun and puns continued with everyone fishing for compliments, Nick even pointed out an aptly placed framed fish pun. Fed and watered the team paid up their six squid and then said their goodbyes. The perfect way to end an evening…sofishticated with no-one ending up too battered!

The plaice to be next week

Next week is “A right royal Windsor Gardens visit”! Sign-up here. I’m having to resist clicking the “Sign up now” button! I will really miss my Monday evening GoodGym Worthing runs with you guys, it’ll be very strange to not be there next week. Such a lovely group, thank you all so much for the laughs, pun fun and support!

Blue moon I saw you sanding alone

On a crisp, moonlit and chilly evening in Sunny Worthing it was great to welcome my regular runners Belinda , Gill, Paul, Beth, Tamsin and Nick to this evenings task. The group were quite excited at the prospect of an indoor task at Kamelia kids day nursery. The painting had actually changed on the day to a pre painting task of sanding down 4 doors just inside the entrance to the centre.

After some banter and discussion loosely based on the exciting announcement about there being a Christmas day park run ( Yippee! ) the group set of for a 2.75 mile run westwards to Goring.

Nick and Paul forged ahead with some great pace whilst the girls were multi tasking with some great running and catching up on news just behind .

After some interesting revelations along the way were warmly welcomed by Andy , the caretaker who was delighted we were there to help with the sanding down of 4 smurf coloured doors.

Stripping (the paint) has never been so much fun

Paul , Beth, Belinda , Gill and Tamsin immediately set to the task with sandpaper whilst Nick and Andy decided to fire up the power tools. Some ( Nick ) took their time getting the power tools up and running whilst others got stuck in straightaway with the task in hand. There was more than the usual amount of giggling going on this evening and this run report is the clean rather than the blue version !

There was no sanding around this evening

Tamsin took over Nicks power tool with a deft hand to work on the final door whilst the others relentlessly continued manually. Everyone worked so hard that they became blue in the face not to mention the clothes ,hair and shoes.

With some fun photos, brushing down and grateful thanks, the group set off back into the cold clear night. We headed down to the seafront for some lamp post sprints together with a detour to West Buildings to visit to the tardis for some photos inspired by ( and nowhere as good as) Belinda and John's Saturday night Doctor Who experience.

And Gill came tumbling down

With a run through the pedestrian empty shopping precinct we were all horrified to hear Gill go smack on the pavement . Willing hands pulled her up and she bravely continued in true trooper style back to base nursing some grazes and bruises but luckily no broken bones.

A Blue Peter badge well deserved all round

We spent a few minutes going through some stretches together with planning next weeks Chipwick visit after the Fishermans friend task ( All welcome to any part of the evening) This will (allegedly) be Beth's last regular task in Worthing so she will be writing the weekly epic run report. She has already signed up to ready steady cook on 11/12 so I suspect she will still be making a welcome appearance in Worthing regularly :)

Finishing off this week Nick has written a rhyme for you to chant

Blue is the colour , GoodGym is the game, We're all together and sanding is our aim, So cheer us on, In the rain or shine, For GoodGym, GoodGym is our name.

Looking forward to seeing you all next week for some more fun, fitness, good deeds and general Punuendos

All the best

Julia:)

T'was the night before Halloween on a cold and clear night in witchy Worthing

I was so pleased to welcome our newbies and regulars to our first 'dark' task since the clocks changed.

Welcome Hayley, Roxy and Katie. We hope that you felt the warmth of GoodGym Worthing on your first ( but hopefully not your last! ) task.

Also a special mention to Paula and Tamsin on week 2 of their GG experience.

I cant continue without a mention to my amazing regulars the 2 B's ( Beth and Belinda) Gill , Michelle, Anne and Nick.

Torch n' go - Another amazing challenge

After a relaxed warm up we arrived at our second visit to Worthing Churches Homeless project in Byron Road where we were warmly welcomed by Katie and Luke.

Maybe I say this every week but we just seem to get better and better at our tasks. This week was like another ground force makeover.

The team excelled themselves with Paul chief sweeper with the large broom. Gill took control of the secateurs ( naturally !) for her usual fine pruning and Nick got down and dirty under the trees with some grim reaping! Katie, Beth, Belinda, Anne, Roxy, Hayley and Tamsin were certainly ' weeding up appearances' on their hands and knees in the beds.

Many hands make lights work

After a swift and effective 30 minutes , a quick photo shoot together with some basking in reflected glory the team set off west towards the seafront where we stopped for a fitness session jointly hosted by Beth and Belinda.

Though this be madness, yet there is method in sprints

With Julia's relay sprints combined with strength and cardio exercises followed by the number game with Beth there were certainly some raised pulses and glowing faces!

The group were then given the option of a steady or tempo run back to base.

No ! The dog ate my fitbit

This was my favourite quote of the night when I asked Paul if he had measured the distance.

We counted every one back in and had a chuckle about Beth being number 12 :):):)

Great vibes and banter this evening with our biggest group to date.

Thanks everyone

Lots of GG love

Julia :)

The Kamelia Chronicles

On a particularly grey and damp evening in not so sunny Worthing we extended a very warm welcome to our newbies Tamsin and Paul and also to Jo our GoodGym tourist and guest of Belinda's. It was so good to meet you all tonight and thank you for your time and energy. I hope you all enjoyed yourself whilst doing some good deeds and possibly challenging your fitness levels too! Massive GoodGym cheers coming your way.

Tonight we headed off for another visit to Kamelia Kids special needs day nursery which is a challenging 5 k run each way but ideal for working on endurance with a bit of speed training thrown in too.

Once again and in what is becoming a true Worthing GG trend I set out with 5 runners and ended up with 8 at the task. A piece of GG wizardry in advance of Halloween next week.

Good news not fake news for the kids

We were met by the caretaker Andy who lined us up for some sweeping and general tidying and pruning tasks in their drive and front garden. All kitted out with head torches, tools and gloves the team set to work for 30 mins of ''rooting about in the undergrowth''

Sweeping up appearances

Paul and Tamsin didn't waste any time getting stuck into the task with some great weeding and raking in the far point of the drive followed by some sweeping and pruning in the main flowerbed. Duncan and Nick were also on sweeping duty collecting up bagfuls of debris whilst also manging to immerse themselves in fine pruning ( Couldn't resist my favourite most used pun!)

Smelling like lavender

There was a wonderful aroma surrounding Gill tonight that wafted around us all as she delicately re shaped the lavander and it came as no surprise that she also found a bit of bindweed to destroy!

Beth was Bethside herself in the bushes

So in true Beth style she almost disappeared into the jungle of the palm tree fully immersing herself into the task as ever and thoroughly enjoying pulling the dead wood out of the roots of the palm tree. Every week I think we will have to pull her out by her legs !

I think I had better leaf right now before i fall for any sweepers

After a tidy up and photo the group started to convene ready for the 5 k run back to Splashpoint.

But wait ! Another fiasco with my car key began to unfold and yet again it kicked of another series of amusing GoodGym Worthing moments. Surely this kind of thing doesn't happen in any other GG group runs ?!

What a waist of time - Bummer!

So whilst 6 of the runners were limbering up on the corner Nick convinced me that he had handed me the first aid kit which also contained my car key . After a lot of frantic searching around the area ,no kit and no key ! So just when Andy had thought he had waved goodbye to us he also got involved with the search . After what felt like an eternity and feeling rather desperate I bent down and tipped the whole bagful of gloves out and as I did so my eye caught the familiar sight of that green bum bag with a white cross safely attached round Nicks waist !! So all was resolved ( after a few expletives from me! )

However in the course of this craziness we had now lost 6 runners who understandably wanted to get moving and had disappeared into the dark!

Mist of chaos

With drizzle and mist well and truly set in the group had turned right instead of left and headed off out of sight . After a few phone calls and a hijack of a car I eventually tracked them down and all was well . Duncan ,Paul and Beth headed off for a slightly longer loop whilst Tamsin ,Belinda ,Jo ,Gill and myself headed for the seafront where, thankfully we all reconvened ready for some lamp post sprints . With the group working to individual pace goals there were some great efforts all round for the final 3 k back to base.

I was mightily relieved when we all ended up stretching and having some GG chatter together before some of us decamped to the Egremont pub to meet up with our rather broken regular runner , Sue who is nursing a broken knee and collar bone. What a great excuse for a visit to the pub ! Great work on the pun finding Beth - Thank you

Thanks as ever to you all for your time and energy especially my new trio tonight ,Jo, Tamsin and Paul but not forgetting my amazing regulars Birthday girl Belinda, Gill , Beth ,Duncan and Nick

The last two weeks have proved that there is never a dull moment at GG Worthing :)

See you next week .

Lots of GoodGym love

Julia xx

A Bone Shaking Warm Up

So we started with 7 runners at the start and ended up with 9 at the task . It was lovely to welcome Leanne , our new member for her 2nd visit to us but the first time I have had the pleasure of her energy and vitality. It was also really good to see Anne again and always fantastic to see my regular recruits Belinda , Gill, Beth, Sue,Duncan and Nick.

Whilst the the sensible 7 took a gentle leg stretcher along the seafront , Duncan put in a swift sprint rushing from work yet managing to arrive first whilst Beth was playing 'beat the train!'

Raking Bad

We were warmly met by Stephanie and Peter who form part of the friends of Heene Cemetery . The cememetry itself had undergone quite a transformation since our last visit with a huge amount of strimming and clearing done on and surrounding the graves. Our task for the evening was to rake and bag up the debris together with some " fine pruning" ( sorry but I do love this pun ! ) The GG team set about this with their usual enthusiasm for doing good in the community.

A Brush with Death

The 2 'die hards' Nick and Gill set about chopping up the large shrubs that had been pruned and Gill even managed to make a broom looking pile ( She does love her improvised tools! ) Newby Leane paired up with Belinda for some 'grim raking' careful manouevering of the wheelbarrow ! Duncan was on a mission tonight . In true scouting style he found a better way of getting from A to B and loaded the bags before transporting them in the wheelbarroow

Did anyone have a coffin fit whilst working

With all the energy exerted I'm surprised no one did ! Anne , Sue and Beth made such 'rake progress' with clearing the pathways and pruning that it looked like a groundforce makeover project .

Chilled to the bone

There was no chance of this tonight. After 30 minutes of hard work , plenty of photos and lots of thanks from our hosts we waved a cheery goodbye and headed out west to put a few more miles in the legs before combined with a double whammy fitness session and stretches before HEADING TO THE PUB !

We should have been drinking spirits

Our treat for all the weeks and months of GoodGym good deeds and running was our first ( of many) trips to the The Egremont pub where we had a friendly welcome from Dominic , the barman who may even join us on a future task. Chatter galore and puns a plenty we were knocking dead the pints.

With graveful thanks

Many many thanks for all the puns, company and good vibes tonight. What a wonderful start to the week.

Have a great week and see you all next week for our first trip to Bugcycle in Beach House Grounds.

Julia :)