Tonight's run is all about community spirit, something runners have in abundance.

Ukraine has dominated our news for past few weeks and so many of us have watched helplessly from our living rooms as families have become displaced and having to flee to safety.

Just like us, Ukraines love to run. So many local running groups can be found. Here are just two examples I found online: Club Name: I LIKE RUNNING (VINNYTSIA) About the Club:

'We love running in the morning, in the evening, in rain, snow and heat, because we believe that running is the only sport that anyone can do'

Club Name: RIVNE RUNNING (RIVNEA) About the club: 'Our mission is to make people healthy and happy by getting them involved in running. We organize training sessions for amateur runners, open trainings and a few big health races on a yearly basis, which always have a charitable cause'

This sounds so familiar to so many of our local groups out tonight!

Lytchett Striders were the organisers behind it tonight with Carol from the club being the starting point.

Aside from Goodgym, also in attendance was Oakdale Runners who brought there weekly run to here, Poole AC who brought a club run down especially offering a speedier longer run for those who wanted it, RunFAR with special blue buffs and apparently even Hash Harriers were in the crowds. I even chatted to a elderly lady who was having a gentle jog who told me she had seen it in The Echo and wanted to join everyone to do something.

There was walkers and runners from 5k - 10k distances and a vast array of abilities, experience and life stories. But this was Run For Ukraine. A chance to reflect on how grateful we are to have our freedom and safe homes. A chance to think of our European neighbours who are suffering so much hardship right now.

As we arrived in the park, there was a buzz in the air as people were all gathering by The Ark. Warm friendly greetings between runners, walkers and across different groups and clubs. A cake table was being carried out and donations of cake passed onto a large table.

It was a sea of blue and yellow (in many cases high vis!) to represent the national flag colours of Ukraine.

Lytchett Striders set the plan out and groups headed off into fading light with torches being turned on.

From the back of the pack, I had the privilege of seeing a beautiful sight across the water of Baiter. 100s of runners were a silhouette moving but the headtorches and chest lights reflecting into the still water creating a movement of coloured lights. The pictures sadly do not show how amazing this really was to see with a naked eye but it was a scene enjoyed by many at the back of the pack.

5k routes stuck atound Baitor and the park whilst 5mile groups headed off towards sandbanks. No one was left alone or without company.

Back at The Ark the cake table was full to brim of fresh made cakes and biscuits, topped up with shop donations from many that came. In the middle was the big cash jar already brimming with donations of £5!

Delighted to see the total raised last night was already at £3000 before the run happened and still rising!

If you would like to donate, the link is here; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/carol-baker7?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=carol-baker7&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=70f8c59916f84f3e85f7b592382fc234

Well done to everyone who joined tonight, showing our support for Ukraine.

Today is a paint-tastic day!

1. It's Pancake Day!
2. It's 1st March
3. Spring is upon us!
4. It's Goodgym night!
5. It's a painting task!

It was indeed painting by numbers tonight as we asked for a few extras to get through it in one go!

Jade was all prepared with ladders, rollers, brushes, paint, rags and blankets so we could rock and roll pretty fast!

The weather was shocking, but the smiles on everyone's faces on arrival made the rain a distant sound Patricia was the first to scale a ladder whilst Laura showed us that being tall meant ladders are in fact an unnecessary hazard! Tracy decided against robbing the local bank and instead joined us for our community task, hat and all! Shelley demonstrated that painting still means snazzy leggings whilst Christine I'm sure remained the cleanest painter amongst us lot! Robert got busy with a paintbrush whilst Maria was happy to roll!

It wasn't long before the wall was covered from top to bottom in fresh paint, edging done and even around the lights and corners. It never seizes to amaze how quick a task can be completed with team work! Rollers and paint brushes cleaned In the sinks and it was time to clear off.

Jade had even brought us chocolates which are never refused!

The running season is getting busier and Shelley and Maria are fully immersed in training for London Landmarks!

Last night Esther, Becky, Elizabeth and Nicola completed Plod Takeover (5 mile Monday night run) in the rain. Nicola however stole the show with extra kudos by running home as well tonight!

All home for a cuppa on a pretty miserable night, but a really fun chatter and natter and good deed completed!

A surprisingly mild evening that decided it would not listen to a weather forecast and throw some rain into the mix as we all met in the dark shadows of Langside School.

A lovely group of 10, it was fabulous to see again Tracy join us again after many months and Jason! Ellie and Tracy know each other from Canicross Training and soon formed a team responsible for leaf dumping!

Jason face lit up as he saw a leaf blower and soon was revving it up to play with. Meanwhile Jane was just as happy to see some bamboo needed chopping back and a large pair of shears to do it with.

Sian and Patricia soon tackled the first flower bed pulling off the mounds of leaves that had settled onto them covering some cute ornaments. The smells from the herbs gave a lovely aroma off as we tried to free them from so many leaves burying them.

Christine was busy cutting back a bush that was over spilling onto the path and hopefully will flower again next year. Whilst Robert was deep in the beds clearing away leaves! Nicola meanwhile was around the side surrounded by leaves!

Tracy and Ellie on wheelbarrow duty filled and spilled over many trips piles of wet leaves building speed as they were pilling up!

We left the school with a much clearer bed and pathways leaf free!

Onto the run and Christine took the lead to take us on a 2mile route to Runton Road lights! It was lovely along the way to see the houses lit up and even a couple worth a stop and picture! Runton Road itself was full of many houses and it attracts many people to see the displays whilst raising money for local charities. After no lights in 2020 it was lovely to have a selection of lights from blow up dinosaurs to candy cane driveways!

We returned back to Langside for a quick offer of cake, mince pies and alcohol free Mulled Wine out of the car boot to mark the last big task and run of 2021.

It has been a mixed bag! But friendships have grown and tasks have been done so we keep at it to Get Fit and Do Good!

Well done everyone!

If you had told any of us runners 18 months ago, how one Saturday we will be super excited to go to parkrun to see each other and run 5k, you may have been a little unsure why this week was so special!

But it really is!

We are on track for return of parkrun on July 24th and this brings a new route for Poole! The new route allows for a much wider, larger start area. It also reduces the mass gathering around and in the pavilion area. The new route does however include a steep right turn at one point, which many speedy runners may have to adjust to. But it's still flat, free and lovely park to run around.

We all met rather nervously where others were grouped for this trial run. Great to see the red T-shirts of Goodgym standing out from the crowd! The core parkrun team, led by Mike and his crew had arranged this meet up to test the new route with a larger group of runner's including timers, marshal's, posts and even a lead bike!

What we had all forgotten was how fast you can run at a flat parkrun! Nothing can compare to the opportunity to run with others, whether listening to the chatter, joining in, running off a hangover or wanting to feel the lungs burn!

The start was so wide, we were all off and feeling the wind in our faces felt so fresh and good!

Calum I am so sorry we did not give you a proper hello! The excitement of parkrun meant we missed seeing you down to join us!

The results are listed in the pics, but in all honesty, this was about being part of the parkrun return so whether you loved to see your mate, (Ali), enjoyed a PB (Robert), showed us how fast you easily can run (Tracy), completed a cool sub 22 min run pre a long run that afternoon (Aaron) or brought the sweets for after (Elizabeth), we all loved it!

Bring on the official return in 2 weeks!

Its not just any Goodgym night - But Goodgym's 2nd Birthday!

A great chance to celebrate and reflect on what is so great about Goodgym Poole - Is it just a running group?

Many of you maybe aware of the 5 steps to mental wellbeing, supported by the NHS Self Help and Mind Charity. But did you know that each time we meet, we are actually achieving most of these on each task alone?

Here is a reminder of the 5 steps: (A great tool to think about where you maybe lacking as well!)

1. Connect with other people - Have a sense of belonging, provide emotional support and allow you to support others
2. Be physically active - Set goals and challenges
3. Learn new skills - Helping you connect with others, build a sense of purpose
4. Give to others - The act of giving and kindness
5. Pay attention to the present moment - Mindfulness.

So, when we meet as a group, we are being active, we complete a community task and we are giving to others, comnecting with people and belonging to the group we are in, We are sometimes learning a new skill or new information from the task or the people around us. If you come along to Goodgym, you will see most of the members are chatting away to each other, talking of races, runs, work, life, good and bad times. Some people will just like a grab a gardening tool and feel the satisfaction of a weeded garden, swept carpark or clean window, finding a bit of mindfulness in the task in front of them.

Tonight most of us met at the local park, an open space allowing a run and chatter into the task in smaller groups.

As you approach the park, there could be seen in the distance, a bunch of red T-shirts, the great sign of who we are! As you get closer, there were big smiles and friendly chatter.

The first task was a warm up loop around the lake, the aim being a consistent pace by pairing off, meeting in the middle and turning.In all honesty, the group all arrived back still talking and laughing and we have no idea if the pace was kept, pictures were taken, or how much running was actually included! Tracy and David ran in a few minutes after the others set off, straight into the 1 mile run. Great to have you both back with us as we have not seen your faces since pre covid! Aaron joined us tonight, having been running endless miles in lockdown and only spotted at start lines of trail races around the county, so great you could join us for our celebrations and task tonight Aaron.

Within the group tonight we had Ultra runners, long covid fighters, those in categories of 70+, those that saw the sunrise on Solstice, exhausted teachers and hash runners to name a few. But we all had a reason to run together - a sense of community, a sense of friendship and eagerness (sometimes!) to run!

An unlikely group perhaps, we all headed off to Salvation Army, around the back of the bus station. The steps up and across the railway providing a great opportunity for a few loop sprints up the steps and back again to regroup!

At the Salvation Army, we met Nigel. This is a new task location for us, the volunteers at Salvation Army are getting ready to open its doors to visitors again. They offer so many vital services to the local community, from popular baby groups, to work with the homeless, to Christmas boxes and donations. It was a simple task, well suited to Goodgym. Clear away leaves and moss from car park, clean the inside window and hunt down any weeds to pull out. As usual the Goodgym team grabbed the tools and took to the task, before you could even say Sally Army! Nigel was really impressed by the teams efforts and we hope we can support them again in the future with tasks.

Tonight being our second birthday, it was a great opportunity to have a social. We headed from Salvation Army down to local chip shops and onto the Quay front. There was even a bottle of fizz and a bottle of fake fizz. There was fish, chips, ketchup, a lovely thoughtful card signed by everyone to pass to me (Thank you so much - Loved reading the messages!), and some words to remind us all why Goodgym and its members are so important to us all.

We have a great group of members that we are all so proud join us at Goodgym. Robert, our superstar sprinter has nearly 50 good deeds under his belt! We have the fabulous smile of Ali, the wisdom and wit of Elizabeth, the forever colourful with a big heart Shelley, our goal setter and all round lovely person Nicola. We have our super fit nanas, who never say no to a challenge, Patricia and Jane, our most recent members Becky and Hannah who have only ever known lockdown Goodgym but somehow feel like they have been coming for ever with their calm manner and thoughtfulness to others.

To end the fun and chatter,it was cake time! You cannot have a birthday without a cake of course! But it was not just any cake - but a Colin Catepillar Cake!

So, what is next for Goodgym Poole? Group runs will be back in the coming weeks - But with more variety of locations to cover a broader area. We will be looking to have more 'missions' for individuals to take on to support local - These are one off practical tasks. You can find out more here But more importantly, we hope to continue to have a great bunch of people who are part of Goodgym, spending time together and welcoming more members!

Happy Second Birthday Goodgym Poole!