25 tremendous people ran on Tuesday from Vivo Health Club to help Bedminster Patchwork Project with some weeding and bulb planting.

We had a lovely stead run there, including a quick dash through Dame Emily Park, site of 2 of our previous runs. In South Street Park, we met up with Laura who gave a very quick run down about the project for those who've not been there before - they are a group based in Bedminster and Southville who take small unloved or unused spaces and turn them in to gardens.

We split in to two groups ; planters and weeders. The planters were given loads of bulbs and sent into the park to pop them in to the soil, ready for next year. The weeders were taken to a familiar site - gravel strewn and weed covered, a small space almost on the corner of a street needed our help.

Now for anyone who's been to this site before, you'll know it's not changed that much in the intervening months since we last visited, so I chatted to Laura and she explained that the owner of the site was debating erecting a portacabin on the area, as there was due to be construction occurring opposite. As a result, nothing really got planted as it would have been squashed. Because the owner of the land is dithering, the Patchwork Project hope to start planting soon. Watch this (or that!) space.

The weeders were soon joined by the planters and together much weediness was removed and hopefully some more plants will go in at some point.

On the way back we had an interesting encounter with Southville Running Club. They were on one side of the road, we were on the other. It was not a race, really it was not, apart from in my head. We had to cross the road and so became partially intermingled with the other running club - a run in, if you will! In an attempt to break the running deadlock, we headed back in to Dame Emily Park where it was PITCH BLACK! Luckily we made it through unscathed and got back to Queens Square for a little body weight exercise and a great big stretch.

Top notch work team!

P/S There are more photos but my iPhone refuses to speak to my PC, so I'll have to try something else!

26 runners met at Vivo Gym last Tuesday for a bit of action down on the farm - Windmill Hill City Farm that is.

We headed off for the short run to Windmill Hill and were greeted by Chris, who is responsible for their project to transform a car park in to a garden. It's come along such a lot since our first run there; the flower beds are almost built and as a result it was our job to start to move about 120 tonnes of topsoil from the various mounds around the site to the beds and make them lovely and flat, ready for plants.

A wealth of tools awaited us - shovels, spades, forks, rakes and wheelbarrows. It was a GoodGym dream! We gloved up and set to work, various teams shifting the soil, others using their forks and spades to get any lurking lumps out, and barrow masters and mistresses racing around the site with their earthy burdens. Lastly the rakers got in touch with their inner zen and like a feng shui garden raked the soil flat.

After the allotted 30 minutes, the main flower bed looked almost complete but there was one thing we had to do - compact the soil a bit. This was an ideal time for a few sprint drills! The team jogged about a little, warming back up and then did several 10 second bursts of on the spot sprinting. They moved around a bit, chose a new spot, sprinted again, and again and again; afterwards the soil was a lot more compact and flatter, thanks to the leg power of GoodGym!

As the run there was short, the run back was a tiny bit longer and we ended up in the leafy embrace of Queens Square for a cool down and stretch.

Big thanks to Ana for coming up with the name for the run!

40* people (yes, 40!) ran from Vivo Health Club to one of our favourite spots, Windmill Hill City Farm to help them turn a car park in to a garden.

To say that this number was staggering is an understatement and by far it was our largest run. The fine weather helped, and perhaps that it was a short run too. Either way, I'm not complaining at all - thanks gang.

We headed off after a warm up and introductions, and quickly made it to the farm where we met up with Chris, garden guru and the project leader for the transformation. More than a few people eyed the digger and the little dumper truck with glee but sadly we didn't get to have a go. Instead we loaded ourselves up with forks and spades, rakes and wheelbarrows and proceeded to shift a very large amount of topsoil and compost from various places around the farm and dump it on to the newly cleared flower bed-to-be. It was classic GoodGym - a lot of people rushing around getting the job done. There was still time to have a little dance on the soil to help compact it, with a radio somewhere kicking out tuuunes!

One team were tasked to clear soil from one small flower bed to go in to the new big one. Their progress had been fast until they literally hit a snag when they struck some sort of rock/stone/concrete barrier. There was only one answer - a mighty pick ax, which was a great help.

Another group tried to extend a deep trench that was going in around the large flower bed. The ground was most resistant but they put their back in to it and got about 2 extra feet on to the trench. Doesn't sound much but there was dedication in those few feet.

Given the scale of the task, despite the veritable horde of runners that we brought along, we went in to overtime to try and get as much done as possible. This meant that we just had time to run back to Vivo and have a good stretch, so it was not a very long run, but we got a massive amount done for the farm and even had time to peer at the pigs and gawp at the goats.

'So where's the Time Team link?' I hear you ask. It turns out that one of our new runners is an archaeologist and she found a wide array of bits of pot, bottle, and other crockery shards, as well as a fantastic pipe stem from a Victorian clay pipe (please correct me if I'm wrong!). Goodgym: Inspirational, motivational, and now archaeological too.

40 people ran but we only had emails for 38, so our stats may show up a little differently! I tried to include Sion who met us at the end of the run to make it 41 but got accused of cheating. *hangs head in shame

For the latest GoodGym Bristol run we had probably our shortest run to the task ever, just around the corner from Welshback to the Quakers’ Burial Ground in Redcliffe.

After meeting at Vivo Healtclub and a quick intro from Chris we ran straight to this week’s task. Once we got there we split into two groups, with Kim taking a group of people on a longer run and leaving everyone else to get stuck into the task with Sara from Incredible Edible.

The park is being transformed into an edible park, with the first step to remove all the overgrown vegetation and rubbish. Armed with forks spades and a mattock(!) the first group got stuck in, ready to swap with the second group when they came back from their runs.

After the second group got back from the run we headed back to Welshback, stopping in Queens’ Square on the way to stretch and warm down.

We got loads done, and this is a long term project and so we’ll be back for more!

For next week’s run we’re heading to Windmill Hill City Farm

Of course it was a beautiful evening to run and do good deeds, it never rains on Good Gym! And so began my introduction to the wonderful work of Good Gym and the great people that make it happen – 20 great people in fact, who all went out of their way to welcome me into the fold.

After introductions and a short warm up, Pru led us off on the relatively short run to Bedminster to help the Patchwork Project maintain green spaces in residential areas. Welcomed by Laura who helps with the project, we were issued gloves, trowels and scary looking shears before being set free to eagerly tackle the weeding of several small, slightly overgrown flower and shrub beds. It’s amazing how much a team of motivated Good Gym-ers can get done in only 30 minutes and there’s no doubt that we left this little patch of Bedminster a little less horticulturally challenged. One newbie observation however, based on several overheard conversations, is that we may need to issue members with a ‘Flower vs Weed’ identification book if the number of gardening-related tasks continues!

Corralled once again by Pru (I think she’s the bossy one) we took a group photo, said our goodbyes and ran the short distance back to Queen’s Square for some extra training. Making up for the limited mileage en-route to our task we conducted sprint–run–walk intervals 3 times around the square (equals one mile apparently) before taking part in some traditional and not so traditional exercises on the grass. I must apologise to any witnesses traumatised by the sight of 20+ grown men and women lunging along the length of the square before running around the grass trying to slap each others’ thighs…..no really, we were! (Note from Pru: This was exercise related, honest, guv!)

The final event of the evening was a meeting at Vivo for Chris B to explain how we could become more involved in the running of Good Gym. There were volunteers for all areas needing extra help, from getting the word out on social media to the training of new run leaders, although prize for the keenest volunteer has to go to Gary as Entertainments Rep – I look forward to his parties!

So, a pretty busy night for my first Good Gym experience; thanks everyone for making me feel so welcome and it can’t have been that bad – I’ve signed up as a full member and I will be back for more gardening next week.

Nic Rennet

(Note from Pru: Massive Thanks to Nic for her first run report - it's a corker! Love the pun too!)

25 hardy runners met up at a stand in location (Sustrans' head office) on a slightly damp Tuesday evening to run over to Windmill Hill City Farm.

It wasn't raining as it's not actually permitted to rain for GoodGym in Bristol (I'm not kidding - it's been about a year since we got properly wet out on a run), but it was very humid and a fine mist of drizzle kept us cool as we ran to the Windmill Hill farm.

A small sub-group ran over to St Pauls to help a chap called Boris with some gardening on a side mission too!

Once down at the farm, we quickly set to our tasks - cleaning the volunteers building and also seriously cutting back some trees; the city farm is planning to turn their car park in to a park and change the entrance way to the farm, so this was to help prepare for this.

The cleaners were swift and a few crept off to have a little look at the animals before regrouping and heading over to help the choppers and their mighty pruning - there was also some litter picking going in and some curious items were found (see the photos for more info!).

Time ran away with us as always but a lot of people wanted to go and see the piglets and ducklings, so we quickly headed in to the pig sty for a little look - they were mighty cute and I did wonder if I could fit a duckling in to my rucksack!

A short run back to Sustrans later, we met up with the people who had gone on their side mission, had a good stretch, and we were done!

Thanks everyone!

35 (yes, 35) runners came to the Folk House on Tuesday for a double task run. Task one was the advertised run to a food bank to help sort cans, packets, bottles and jars for people in need of food aid in the local area. Task two was a last minute addition from the BBC (oooh, fancy!) to help them in their garden. By the way, if you just want to look at all the pictures, please do!

After warming up and introducing ourselves, we split in to two groups. Group one had a long flat run ahead of them. Group two had a short but very steep run up Park Street ahead of them.

Group one ran to the Safestore warehouse in Lawrence Hill and got stuck into what looked like preparations for a zombie apocalypse but was in fact a food bank. The team worked hard to sort, shift, weigh and stack loads of donated food, working really hard right up to the buzzer. One of the best tasks ever!

Group two headed off and shortly but out of breath-ly got to the top of Park Street, then ran past evening shoppers on the Triangle. In no time at all they were in front of the mighty BBC Broadcasting House.

We met up with Jules - a Keith Floyd type bursting with energy and only lacking a glass of fruity red- and were told about the plans between the BBC and the Avon Wildlife Trust to increase places for wildlife to live - a little green oasis in the concrete desert. They hope to make a garden suitable not only for wildlife but also for groups of school children to come and learn more about the natural world - fitting as the BBC Natural History Unit is based in Bristol!

Jules was very organised and quickly split the group in to several teams - waterers, hole diggers, woodchip spreaders, soil turners, topsoil movers, and the gang set to it, but first after trying to find adult sized gloves in a box of teeny tiny child sized mittens. We had to do the following:

Plant a row of beech trees Shift a ton of topsoil Empty as many large bags of chippings as possible out of some large bags and scatter them across new plantings Turn soil over to prepare a bed for planting Water EVERTYTHING!

Did we do it? Of course we did! Whilst there were still a few big white bags of chippings left, the amazing GoodGym runners got stuck right in (literally for the hole diggers who got a bit muddy!) and the garden gradually developed. There's still more to do but in such a short space of time a massive amount was achieved.

24 hard boiled heroes braved the summer sun for our hottest Goodgym this year. We met in the vaguely cool courtyard of the Folk House where Pru made sure that everyone had tried to 'pre-hydrate' - sip water throughout the day before heading off on their run! Better to pre-hyrate than re-hydrate 'cos then it could be too late (mate!).

We had not one but three tasks - head up the cycle path to Easton Community Allotments, head over to St Pauls to help the St Paul Allotment group, and then a tiny group were sent on a mission to help an older gentleman move some kitchen equipment.

The group that headed off to St Pauls were following up on a run that had occurred a few months ago - the group had cleared loads and loads of vegetation and stacked it in to a corner to await a skip. The skip had arrived and so now it was time to load it up. Jose, the local king of volunteering was there to greet us!

A system quickly developed of filling wheel barrows and lugging leaf litter then chucking it in to the skip. Once there, a few brave souls used the 'jumping up and down on a big wooden board' technique to squash it all down so that more detritus could be packed in. It took just over 30 minutes but with usual Goodgym panache, it got sorted! There's now two plots of land waiting to be planted on.

Others in the group were tasked with pulling our old friend bindweed, and a couple handed a small scythe (ok, ok, it's a sickle, like from Asterix comic books but the pun doesn't work otherwise!) and asked to trim weeds.

Our numbers were bolstered when the small group who'd been moving kitchen equipment for an older chap joined us - the time flew by, the wheelbarrows sped up and down the path, spades dug, forks pitched, and all was GoodGym amazing.

In the meantime, Chris and his group headed off up the cycle track to Easton Community Gardens - a beautiful garden full of lush greenery and always a lot for us to do!

Even though we spent a few more minutes at the allotment site in St Pauls than planned, we still made it back to the Folk House with a few minutes to spare. As it was so hot, intervals were out so a few tricep dips and walking lunges were the way forward. An especial well done to new guy Neil who is a champion lunger.

Once the St Pauls group had finished stretching, the Easton group rocked up and had a great stretch as well!

On a lovely warm night 33 runners met at the Folk House for another spot of running and doing good!

Our tasks were threefold (or so we thought!) - 1) put up a chair swing for an older person. 2) Weed a bit of Bristol. 3) Weed another part of Bristol. Our numbers were many and our feet were fleet, so we sped off south to do our bit for our fair city.

At a suitable spot we split up in to groups and went our separate ways. Group 1 revisited an older person who had previously needed some help moving some pots. Now she needed help putting up a chair swing. Gary, Nick and Kate did a fantastic job, even though there was a screw missing - just look at the photos to see how great that swing is. Nice work.

Group 2 headed off to return to help the Patchwork Project with a bit of land we've been to several times now. Sadly weeds have reclaimed it so a lot of us set to and started to pull them up with abandon, however there were another 2 tasks for us here - this run suddenly became a 5 task feast! So task 2a was to go and do some flyering, and 2b was to go to yet another patch of Bristol (not far away!) and do some digging.

Group 2a headed off to pass out flyers about a forthcoming garden event, and Group 2b trotted off with trowels and gloves but in not time returned - a drunkard was apparently occupying the space they intended to dig and didn't want to give it up! It was a good job in a way as the weeds were at times taller than our tallest tall person, and we needed all hands on deck to make an impact.

Group 3 was let by Kim who guided them expertly over to close to Victoria Park. She was going to write some stuff and pop it in here but it's not turned up!

With such a large group, it was a good job that we had 4 1/2 different tasks to do - it really shows that many hands do make light work, and when spread over different tasks we can help not just one part of the community but several. A big thank you as always to everyone who came to the run. Keep coming, bring your friends, bring your enemies and become friends whilst digging over an unloved allotment, or just bring yourself and all awesomeness that makes you a member of GoodGym!

Good Gym’s task as part of Big Green Week was to help spread the word about Big Green Week! We met at the Folk House as usual and then divided into different groups to head to different parts of the city to distribute flyers and programmes, including some extra information about the Two Wheeled Drive In. One group of DBS checked runners also headed to St Pauls to take part in a mission – helping move plant pots for an isolated women in St Pauls. The groups scattered to Southville, Montpellier, Kingsdown, Gloucester Road with their packs of information. Once they made had completed the deliveries the groups extended their runs to enjoy the sun, then headed back to the Folk House for a warm down and stretch. Great job everyone!