It’s my life

We all know a runner can never have enough kit, just not enough space to store it all. A runners wardrobe, bursting at the seams, can act like a personal museum of their running journey. Memories of the ups, and the downs. Showing the shape we were, the shape we want to be. Helping us to hold on to our aims and aspirations, remembering where we started and hinting at where we’d like to be.

Just lace up and run

Running is popular due to its simplicity, accessibility, health benefits, and the ability to fit into various lifestyles and fitness levels. It has often been said that at its simplest running is the cheapest way to get fit. Just lace up and run. But not everyone is in the position to be able to access even the most basic of kit.

Community Support

Who better to approach to support disadvantaged groups being able to participate in physical activity than those who both value exercise, and support their communities. GoodGymers never disappoint. 190 items (literally enabling kitting out from head to toe) have been donated, all of which have sufficient life and wear in them to support someone starting out on their fitness journey.

And come on, own up, who has already got their eye on replacements to fill those wardrobe gaps!

301 good deeds

It was good to be back with the gang tonight and especially to be with our very own John, who was celebrating his outstanding 301 good deeds . John's GG journey started during the January 2018 challenge. Literally from the sofa to the tasks John has completely embraced the groups activities. You may or may not be aware that he also gives me a lot of support behind the scenes for which I truly appreciate 🙏

John was very relieved to see Megan back after her first task with us last week when he was in charge of the team ! Luckily Megan appeared happy to be back and together with Stéphane set off for some fitness running interval drills. El joined them for the warm up rep which was ideal for her for this evening. Megan and Steffe did some escalating interval training. Same distance each time but with increased effort using the perceived exertion scale.

Meanwhile the rest of the team were ready for the big dig ! We have been visiting this community garden for a while and its been an up hill battle to keep on top of the weeds. With a great number of participants this evening and plenty of forks everyone was able to work together and get a real grip on the task. I couldn't help but notice that Paul had a very impressive fork , Roxy , Anne and Ricky andEl all dug in hard clearing around 75% of the garden. We will return!

After their fitness session. Megan and Steffe helped tie up the bags and transfer them to my car. John and I then drove to the seafront bins where the refuse team will ( hopefully ) pick them up.

Finishing up, we headed to The Brew House for a cheeky drink. We presented John with an engraved tankard to mark this special occasion. We also celebrated that Megan was wearing her new red GG teeshirt! Nice one Megan - same time next week?!

Looking forward to seeing you all next week :)

Julia xx

We kicked off GoodGym Mondays in style with 11 of us gathering at Splashpoint for a litter pick. The weather was kind to us, so under a clear sky we paired up and one group set off in the direction of the pier, the other headed off towards Windsor Lawns. Amongst today’s notable finds were a very new looking, single flip flop, a reflective ankle band which had looked remarkably like the inside of a role of sellotape as it went into the litter bag. When asked by someone cycling with their daughter Paul swiftly dropped his phone into the litter bag to give light for a rummage. After a successful search the reflective band was returned. Not sure it would have happened if the full nappy had already made its way into the bag.

It was great to welcome everyone back for the new year. It was especially good to welcome Megan to her first task, and Belinda back able to actively take part after her recent operations.

Please remember, that January Saturdays are parkrun support days. If you are able to help please sign up on both GoodGym and parkrun (email worthing@parkrun.com). It’s a great opportunity for us to share with parkrunners our love of GoodGym.

After next week’s task there may just be the opportunity for our first social of the year. Go on, you know you want to……

Julia's edit John is too modest to tell you all that he will have reached 300 tasks by next Monday 13th January so we will be at The Brew House after the task. All welcome whether you come to the task or just the celebration. We will be there from 7.15pm onwards.

January Saturdays have become parkrun support days for Worthing GoodGym. Today saw six of us turning out in the cold to support with setup, barcode scanning, number checking and Tail Walking.

Wedded bliss

Of the set up three, two knew they had volunteered, but one who wasn't so sure declared “I guess this is what married life will be like”! Our two GoodGym tailwalkers on the other hand squabbled like they’d been married for years.

Getting Going

On setup we had three GoodGymers. With limited damage to equipment and minimal supervision necessary Sarah and Ryan set up the finish funnel and erected the flag.

What a nit!

Paul had prepared properly for his number checking role wearing a hat he had knitted himself. The hidden talents of our GoodGym friends never ceases to amaze.

Not a time keeper

Slightly less well prepared late arrival Anne was fortunately on barcode scanning, so tardiness was of little concern. In fact Anne may have demonstrated a level of wiseness way above the rest of us. She spent less time out in the cold.

A rather feathery tail

Gulliver, the Worthing parkrun mascot, had offered to tailwalk with the capable, nay outstandingly able, support team of John and Belinda - the latter forced out of her wheelchair so that Gulliver could travel in style.

Running the distance

Ryan and Sarah ran the course, joined by Jay meaning we racked up another 25K towards the January challenge. How's that for a maths puzzle?

Making the finish line

Not the parkrun finish, the finish of this run report! If you’ve made it this far, well done. The important news to share here is that one of the six volunteers celebrated their 300th Good Deed today. Well, not exactly celebrated. More just got on with things as normal. Monday is the right time to celebrate.

As we do every year, GoodGym provided support for the first Worthing parkrun of the 2025. Assistance was provided with set up and take down, with Belinda directing proceedings from her chair.

It is that special time we hear

‘tween Christmas and the coming year

When over full of food and drink

A GoodGym walk’s just the thing I think

We gathered at Splashpoint ready to go

Hudson appeared, with Julia in tow

Our traditional pre Christmas soldier trail

Postponed because of rain and hail

Before we left, some news was broken

We listened wide mouthed as it was spoken

When nobody noticed her glittering ring

Sarah announced some engagement thing

(A ring found on the beach said Ryan

while on one knee, his shoelace tyin’)

With our route clearly planned

We set off with our map in hand

Fourteen legs and a set of wheels

We set off showing a clean pair of heels

Ten toy soldiers we had to find

Out of order, but we didn’t mind

We set off quick along the prom

Belinda pushed along by John

We crossed the road at Heene,

To push the chair Ryan was keen

With Ryan pushing the chair along

Belinda nearly went headlong!

Ricky too pushed along the chair

The first time since Lourdes he did declare

The rearranged toy soldier walk

Gave plenty of time for us to talk

We stopped for a coffee, or latte or tea

And those in need popped for a wee

So ten soldiers we had found

Our GoodGym year, off to round

We now look to the challenge in Jan

To reconvene as oft we can