September is such a cracking month! Still light enough in the evenings, warm enough and not too much rainfall!

Another new task location for us at Goodgym Poole last night and a new contact with Poole Housing Partnership requesting this one!

First of well done to Ali and Rob for New Forest 10k at the weekend - I hear it is a stunning route through the forest.

Everyone was delighted to hear the task tonight was only a mile away - just North Road to go 'up' first (groans!). A quick lap around the cricket pitch to realise in the warm up that the brains had already switched off from the ability to remember more than one instruction :)! But we managed it just about with some jumps and knees and lunges!

North Road has the benefit of long slow drag and the sharp incline near the top, as well as a few steps if you off road so great chance to practice use of arms up the hill and some quick feet on the steps! Great to see Graham back for his second run blasting up the hill with Richard making it look pretty easy! Loved the fact that Vicky, the ever so reluctant runner, was the only one to volunteer with the men to blast up the steps again!

We arrived at Belmont Court with the light and a resident, Virginia and her little dog ready for us. Virginia was organised and had for us empty green bins, tools and plenty of bins so once again we could just crack on!

The aim of the task was to clear ivy from the pathway as it was an emergency vehicle access driveway. Fortunately it just pulled up as the driveway was pretty long and it was a wide section. As a team of 8, they literally worked there way along the driveway much to the amazement of Virginia as she watched the area get clearer and clearer! I counted at least 3 green bins filled and emptied into the compost pile - it may have been more! Pat was quick to grab some shears (too quick I think!) whilst we had Julie x 2 filling the containers faster than we could squish in down in the green bins! 35 minutes later and the difference is clear from the photos, as well as looking a lot better it will make it safer for use by vehicles.

Virginia thanked us at the end and gave us 5 stars!

A nice steady run down North Road to finish up and time to go home for a cuppa!

Next week we are celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Goodgym so watch out for what is happening! (There may even be cake...!)

It was a change of plan from the off as sadly the Dementia Cafe we had planned a task for, had received the news that they it will not be going ahead so the planned leaflet drop was no longer! Given it was still light currently, the plan was to do a litter pick amongst one of the many areas us runners like to go on - Holes Bay!

Warm up was in the attractive location of the garage forecourt while watching lunges by seasoned runners is always interesting! Something we need to work on I feel!

Onto Holes Bay where it was back into 2 teams splitting into each direction to tackle the main path. On first inspection it looked pretty clean, but go just inside the bushes and there is clearly many BBQ's / parties that have happened along the path. As ever a bit of competition to see what can be found and both teams came up with... a trolley! One was wizzed round to ASDA by Richard and Pat who some could say were lucky to miss the fitness session! I lost count of bags but at the end, we managed to fill a council bin that was previously empty, so it was completely full! (I will inform council tomorrow it is full!). So it was without doubt a result for people that use pathways but also all the nature that thrive in the area!

Fitness session demostrated that Ali and Julie are the most consistent runners but judging distance was won overall by a new Goodgym runnners - Graham and Sharon who guessed the distance travelled pretty much bang on. (Graham I still cannot believe you have not done a parkrun yet!) Rob as ever surprised his fellow runners with having bursts of speed when needed leaving a trail of dust! Thanks to Jayne and Julia for back running - I hear Jayne did a tough run yesterday so well done for joining us tonight on her first Goodgym!

The sunset was lovely and a great time to run through dusk in the town centre guided by Maria who added in the benefit of running over the railway bridge (with some groans from others!)

Great atmosphere as ever - what a lovely bunch of people you all are!