“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!