After a week of glorious sunshine, Goodgym decided to take Parkrun on holiday and venture over to Manchester to try a new course, Worsley Woods, as highly recommended by Goodgymer Amina. After travelling by train and car share, we met up in a cafe then headed over to the car park. After a carefully manœuvred parallel park by myself (I was told to add this), we trotted up to the start line where a friendly local explained the 'lollipop' shaped course to us.

The run began, and we set off on an old railway line, thankfully shaded by the trees, before turning off on to a trail through the woods where we ran past brooks and over bridges. Out of the three parkrun I've done, this was the most beautiful by far! As we reassembled at the finish, it turned out Vikky had taken a bit of a tumble in the woods but we were able to get antiseptic wipes and make sure she was ok. Overall, everyone remarked how nice the run had been, despite some tales of woe!

After the run we found a local cafe and we ate brunch while planning the next parkrun trip before heading off to enjoy the rest of the day.

This Saturday was a truly special and uplifting gathering as nine enthusiastic GoodGym members came together, bringing energy, positivity, and a shared spirit of community and wellbeing. The morning began with many of us taking part in the fantastic park run, where everyone showed determination, encouragement, and great team spirit. It was wonderful to see members reaching milestones, improving their running achievements, and supporting one another throughout the event.

The day became even more memorable as we celebrated Jo’s fabulous birthday. In true GoodGym style, Jo spent part of her special day volunteering by helping with token scanning for the parkrun, showing once again the kindness and dedication that make our community so special. And of course, the theme of the day had to be:

“Go, Jo, for Six-Zero!”

Turning 60 was celebrated with smiles, laughter, and appreciation for Jo’s amazing energy and contribution. After the run, the team gathered for a lovely breakfast at Coffee Lodge, where everyone enjoyed great food, meaningful conversations, and time together. The atmosphere was warm, cheerful, and filled with friendship. Good luck to Steph, who wisely skipped the run in preparation of her first half marathon on Sunday, and joined us for breakfast. Good luck Steph, you'll smash it!

A special highlight of the morning was receiving the charming golden star stickers, thoughtfully given by the kind-hearted Steph. These small tokens brought big smiles and perfectly reflected the supportive spirit within the group.

The gathering ended on a high note after breakfast, with plenty of chatting, socialising, and celebrating our shared achievements. The day beautifully represented what GoodGym is all about: physical activity, volunteering, friendship, and promoting both physical and mental wellbeing. It was a memorable Saturday filled with movement, celebration, kindness, and community spirit.

Happy Birthday, Jo, and here’s to “Go, Jo, for Six-Zero (60)!”