Four goodgymers met in Hamworthy Park on a gusty evening anxiously watching the storm clouds gather. Patricia led us inland on a 5k run to Rockley Park and back via Ham Common with a couple of scenic detours along the way. Yes, so we did get just a little bit lost – a mini magical mystery tour. Becky was keen to run up some hills (huh?) and proceeded to show us how it’s done. Meanwhile Robert did a sensible recovery run following his challenging Beast Race on the weekend with Patricia and Elizabeth keeping him company

Back at Hamworthy Park the original planned bench painting session was replaced with a litter pick because of the  thundery weather forecast. We had a few spits and spots of rain but it basically stayed dry although definitely blustery. We spent a good half hour collecting discarded bottles, crisp packets and the usual bits and pieces before heading home as the skies darkened. The wind has blown the cobwebs away and although the benches remain unpainted for now the park is looking that little  bit cleaner than before.

Thanks to Liz for leading whilst Esther is on hols!

What a delight to arrive at one of your local parks in the early evening to see families and children still playing in the large paddling pool. There was children splashing in the water, playing on swings in the play park, people chatting nearby, dog walkers, people enjoying their beach huts, even swimmimg in the water. Goodgym is all about health and wellbeing and this space allows all that to happen. Fresh air, evening sun, movement and nature's beauty.

Ellie, (who had travelled from another county to join us! - Kudos!) Robert and Esther met first, with time for a lap of the park and a couple of intervals on the bridge. The bridge is deceptive as it looks like a gentle incline - but you find yourself all hot and bothered, puffing like a train as you head up, across and down the bridge! Just in time for local Patricia to turn up with her camera- smile everyone! Pat also passed on hugs from our friend Ali, who attended many Goodgym Poole sessions before moving away.

We headed for the cafe to meet our task owners, Stan and Pat. Spotted as Stan pulled up in his iconic vintage car. We had paint brushes, pots, gloves and were ready to go! We had two per bench and gladly were joined by our lovely Nicola. The best bit of the task was as you painted, they looked great. The worst bit is, as they dry it doesn't look so grand! But we dapped, stroked and dipped paint over 6 benches in the area. Many of the benches still were in use by park owners so ours were hastily covered with tape to prevent any wet bottoms!

Pat requested a picture for a Friends of Hamworthy Park Calendar, after a little deliberation about if we could manage a calendar girls look with strategically placed paint pots and brushes, we went for a more corporate look with Goodgym T-shirts and brushes in hand! Let's see what month we are given!

All pots away, plenty of paint on legs to take with us, we headed back for a run! First to drop Patricia, followed by a run onto the Quay, swarming with biker night- swerving and dodging the folk around. We headed to Baitor, leaving Nicola to head back her final way home whilst we turned for a special tour of Old Town Poole. We passed a haunted pub, traditional church, old buildings and the old town street with so many enjoying a meal outside. Even wine glasses glistened in the evening sun, inviting us to stay a while as we smelt pizzas, fish and chips, Turkish and more. We headed back to Hamworthy, leaving Ellie, who never misses an opportunity, to take a dip in the sea before heading home.

We left as the sun formed shapes in the clouds as it got lower in the sky.

Great work everyone!

We missed Stan last week so we were keen to get back and show willing tonight!

We met at 6pm in Hamworthy Park for a requested steady 5k run! We headed out along the roads of Hamworthy, spotting fabulous crochet postbox toppers along the way!

On the way back we headed along the common and through Ham Common for a scenic view over Lake Pier. Elizabeth, Jane, Christine and Robert had run a 5 mile paced last night so requested a lighter one tonight!

Nicola had run in from Oakdale, always keeping up the mileage, whilst Laura walked from her nearby home and they were well under way with Pat and Stan when we arrived, watering the wild flower beds planted last year which had sprung up so beautifully.

We soon finished up the water containers and were ready for next task! Stan wanted some holes filling using the mud and bits of soil from around the car park. Its amazing how therapeutic it is to use a shovel and take giant bits of earth into a wheel barrow! Nicola became chief wheel barrow pusher and Stan found the holes!

Jane and Patricia were delighted to find a brush and Jane already had a bag of tools ready, keen to smarten up the car park!

Laura found a litter picker and was last seen in the midst of the wild flowers area, picking out long lost litter. We hope she made it home OK 😁. Robert always keen and willing to help, was there with a bag to collect it! Elizabeth our forever happy snapper took her turn with the shovel for an arm workout whilst under the watchful eye of Christine!

The chatter was continuous, as we worked with Stan and Pat who put so much love into Hamworthy Park. Tonight shows again how it really is just a bunch of pals running and lending a hand in the community. Knowing it also gives us so much too for our own well being.

Oh and yes Stan really did have a hole on his bucket! 😁

Tonight we met at Upton Country Park for a run down to Hamworthy.

Robert was fresh off his first race half marathon, so slightly wobbly legs to get going with!

Elizabeth had also been at the Ooser Half but spent day Marshalling. Having an alarm set for 5.40am on a weekend off to volunteer all day for a local race is a absolutely amazing commitment to running community. So we thank you and any others that joined you!

We got to Hamworthy where Stan was ready for us, with his tiny van full of every tool you could possibly need! Stan is a man of many skills and hard work, Esther joined him for his latest project. He had made a new fence panel to replace a rotten one. So Esther joined him to hammer bits out, dig dirt, hold panels and help carry things so Stan could use his angle grinder, generator, saw, drills, electric saw and all sorts of other tools and skills! It was quite a skill session!

Meanwhile Elizabeth and Robert had to carry out the labour of those that couldn't make it and crack on with the weeds! It took a good hour for them both to literally 'hoe' there way around the paddling pool. It was a tedious, slog of a task and they both absolutely smashed it! There was still children playing in the paddling pool at 7pm, following a hot summers day- This park is such a draw for tourists and locals! Where else do you get a free to use large outdoor paddling pool, cheap parking, next to a beach and park, with a on site cafe?! It's such a great place, with lovely views!

It was a bit of a slog back the uphill climb to Upton, but cooler air allowed the run home with a chatter and catch up!

Well done everyone!

It had been another beautiful hot summers day.

We met Stan and Pat at the Hamworthy Cafe, the car park was still full to the brim and people were enjoying a summers evening with a light breeze to take off the heat of the day.

Hamworthy Park still sadly does not have its paddling pool open, but it boasts such amazing views, mini beach areas and a fantastic playpark for all members of the family. Friends of Hamworthy Park have done wonders to raise over £30k to help fund the paddling pool refurbishment but still awaiting final repairs before it can hopefully open again to eagerly awaiting families!

It was clear as we approached each other, some of us had been in the sun a lot more than others, with 50 shades of pink amongst us!

Pat was all ready for us with big tins of varnish, paint brushes and tubs to do the benches around the paddling pool.

We set off in pairs, Ali and Esther on one bench, Robert and Elizabeth on the other!

It was amazingly therapeutic painting on the benches - with sea views to the side, a gentle breeze around us and a lovely little chatter between us. Although not a big group tonight, it does provide the chance to really get to know our fellow Goodgym members a bit more!

However due to cravings of chocolate, the more we painted, the more the benches looked like Kit Kats! (Peanut Butter Chunky for me please!)

We were pleased to complete all benches around the pool, with Pat taping them behind us to prevent sticky bottoms later!

Ali and Elizabeth had already run down from Asda carpark so headed back. Robert and Esther decided that with Upton Summer Series tomorrow, the hot weather and feeling shattered, it was time to finish up early and head back - with a little stop off for a token Kit Kat on the return home to satisfy cravings! Well, with all this do good and keep fit - sometimes we need to look out for ourselves as well!

Cuppa and a cookie for me tonight!

Great work everyone!

A group of pondering runners could be found by their home windows across Poole at 4pm as the heavens were open and rain was pouring!

But the plan remained to attend and hope we can do some digging.

Just like when our problems feel too much, the clouds cleared and the sun returns like a new breathe of air.

We arrived at Hamworthy Park at 6pm to meet Stan, the trustee turned gardener of 'Friends of Hamworthy Park'.

Tonight we were armed with spades and the chosen plot was to be dug up, ready for wild flower seeds. Sounded simple enough, turns out it was a pretty tough job breaking into the ground in the first place! Office workers, retired ladies, care workers all turned into gardeners, with a fight for the soft turf!

The second job was carting the piles of turf a few 100m to be reused for future projects. Wheelbarrow wheelies were on!

Richard proved his strength 💪 with his tough action on his spade whilst Patricia showed us, whilst small in stature she is mighty in power! Becky is one of those quietly working in the background, then you realise she has cleared a big patch of grass whilst you lent on your spade! Maria proved she could talk and dig just like a Goodgym Pro (Go order that T-Shirt!), Nicola proved that mathematicians can wheel in a straight line, sort of!

1 hour later, there was a clearly dig area, ready for stage two of the project!

It was time for a run, Nicola had walked 2 miles in so we headed off in the direction of her area, across the old bridge onto The Quay. A 5k route affecting every one of our senses! We smelt fish from the sea, chemicals from the factory and fumes from smokers we ran past. We had the feel and look of mud and dirt in our finger nails from the digging. We had the views of dark clouds, boats, the sea and beyond. We had the taste of the sea in our mouths We had the sound of seagulls, the wind across the boat sails and blowing through the streets around the old town. It was a sensory overload but bringing a calming of the soul.

Nicki peeled off at one end, Pat was dropped another and a 5k completed by final musketeers, all ready for a cuppa back home.

Great work everyone!