The Gorse Hill Community Centre is a community centre in the heart of Swindon, which hosts a varied range of groups such as yoga, ballet, drama, fitness… and now us!

This Group Run is also partnered with The Great Get Together, which is an initiative founded by the family and friends of Jo Cox, who was killed on 16 June 2016. It was created to reject divisive politics, bring communities together and celebrate all that unites us. This week all of our GoodGym sessions have been partnered with The Great Get Together so that up and down the country we can use our run to celebrate kindness, respect and all we have in common! #moreincommon

We all assembled at the usual Tuesday night time at the Oasis, and The Scientist, Paul, was in an experimental mood – we skipped the icebreaker and just did a round of names to crack straight on with the walking group of Jo, Lynne and Colin heading off.

We were joined by returners Jon, Daniel and Rachel and new joiners Katherine, Lynne and Colin. Thanks for coming out and joining us, all of you!

After a bit of a chat of news and what’s coming up soon (more on this at the bottom of the report), the runners then vamoosed too.

Tonight’s run was a complex one, carefully checked out before the run – out of the Oasis, cross the road, right, and then straight on down the Ferndale Road. We were there in what felt like no time!

When we arrived, Debbie the Centre Manager greeted us. The hallway was exquisitely prepped for us to begin. The rollers were rolled out, the great grey paint prepped, and finally masking tape and protective plastic laid out. What’s grey and smells like red paint? Grey paint of course!

Debbie was chuffed to see us, and really appreciated our support on painting the big rooms like the hallway. The centre is a few months into a big modernisation project with new floors, loos and plenty of painting to be done. In fact, we’re even back at the centre in August to continue helping out!

Tonight was also the Great Grey GoodGym Garraway Takeover, with four members of the same family all attending GoodGym together! Hannah had seen adverts for GoodGym, attended a few of our Group Runs, and had already recruited husband David.

This week she went two further and brought along the in-laws Colin and Lynne, who joined our walking group, and were appropriately handed the 'No Running' sign found in the centre!

What great family spirit! We hear there’s also a sister-in-law… see you soon Charlotte?!

We were soon rolling and painting away. Safety First Simon struck again, standing on the floor to use the ladder. Jason and Rachel both had super long rollers to reach straight up top. Many of us soon had grey hands or speckles of grey on our faces!

After 40 minutes of painting, we took a quick group photo (what goes on in the centre doesn’t stay in the centre) and then jogged over to a nearby green for tonight’s fitness session. Paul’s fitness session this week was… sprints! After a few groans, we separated into two groups, each in a line. The challenge – every 4 seconds, Paul shouted go, and whoever was at the front of the line had to sprint to the top of the green, and try to overtake whoever went before them.

Jason applauded from the climbing frame. Who’s the king of the castle?!

After a few sprints back and forth from opposite sides of the green, we were huffing-and-puffing. After a break, we headed back, and met the walkers back at the Oasis. From there, a bit of chat and stretching, and we all went our separate ways or headed in for coffee!

After more GoodGym goodness?

On Sunday, 23rd June, we’re meeting up with GG’ers from Bath and Bristol at Tyntesfield, North Somerset for the Trust10 race there to run, have fun, chat, drink tea and eat cake!!! It's THIS WEEKEND so don't delay...click here to book on!

Then next Tuesday, 25th June, we have the Group Run Plogging in North Swindon to help clear up the streets and green spaces there. Check it out HERE!

And finally next Thursday, 27th June, for Weeding Outside the Cricketers Arms in the Railway Village, to improve the outdoor environment for visitors to the area. This one comes especially Run Reporter recommended (Don’t let me and Charles go alone!) You know you want to; sign up HERE today!

Our second GG Swindon group run started with everyone giving an interesting fact about themselves. Saving the best until last, Stuart wowed everyone with his very close horizontal encounter with Ricky Gervais, we await more details. We were joined by GG tourist and Swindon first timer Tina and two Wootton Bassett Hounds, Fran and Jon. Welcome along.

It was 2 miles uphill all the way to Penhill, so it was nice to get there and meet Glynis to hear about the history of Penhill Haven, the wildlife and the Bee Roadzz. Paul was about start pulling out all the weeds and nettles when Glynis taught him, and everyone else, a valuable lesson:

What is a weed? At least 5 butterfly species rely on nettles for survival!

So the nettles were left well alone and only the dead plants removed and rubbish cleared. Lewis cracked the purple paint pots out, yes that’s purple Lewis, and all the raised beds and picnic tables were painted along with most runners hands and legs too of course.

Is it OK to paint a snail or do we have to paint round it?! - Daniel

There are lots of nooks and crannies in this small place and although that’s good to keep GGers in check, sometimes people (Helen and Emma (Sanderson) especially) did tend to end up hidden behind tall grass and even pop up from behind a stack of tyres unexpectedly. We didn’t lose sight of ‘Crazy Legs’ Emily of course.

Even in the short time we were there, it is clear there is wildlife thriving with butterflies flapping around and someone exclaiming….

A frog, it’s a frog, didn’t expect to see that!

Whilst others industriously got on with the work at hand. Lily = grafter! There is still a lot of work to do in future repairing the broken bench seats and clearing some of the grass so that the Haven becomes more accessible. So...

We will be back!

It was great to get our first proper group picture at the end of the task in the low sun in front of the nice freshly painted and cleared vegetable bed. Thumbs up to Greg for stopping around to help clear up the brushes and paint pots.

On the way back half the group went off to do some sprints on Seven Fields (with super speedy Jason running to the max) and we all made it back just in time to do some quick stretches and a chat in the café before it closed.

Huge well done to everyone. It feels like we are properly up and running now and made a nice positive difference to the local community. Bring on next week, building sheds at Playsteps Day Nursery, something everyone agreed we have zero experience in! Please bring a shed savvy friend!