Goodgym Colchester launched into our run with the perfect number of runners. Twenty of us running for the twentieth Goodgym in the UK on the week that we reach the fifty sites. EPIC!

The news including our very own Rachael, who is an unsung hero and coach runner, approaching 50 coach runs and significantly reducing loneliness for her coach. We welcomed our latest runners Charlie and Adam who are legends in the making. Ella and Helen got great results in their weekend of running, Helen coming 3rd at Highwoods Parkrun and Ella coming 1st in a 7.5 mile race in Langham. Also it is always fabulous seeing Belinda on her GG tourism visits. Her second group run of the week with is Worthing of a mention.

Tonight was a bit of a mystery as to what we were doing for Colchester in Bloom, with Pam undertaking a talk about her art at a local gallery, The Minories. We needed the key to the allotment and her instructions before she started the talk!!!

We did a quick warm up on the nice mild evening under the full moon and headed to the gallery. We found Pam, found her husband who had the key, got the instructions, saw some lovely artwork and ran into the night. At the allotment we had two tasks. Firstly to spread fertile soil on certain flower beds and secondly to spread wood chippings on the paths. In two teams everyone set about the task with gusto and flair. Great job you lot.

With Colchester Half Marathon on Sunday I was conscious not to work the runners too hard but gave everyone else some steady 3/4 pace 400 metre laps focusing on technique and forward momentum with good arm action. We had a good few minutes of stretching (probably for my benefit after lots of hills on Sunday) and headed back to Leisure World.

Another job well done that will benefit Colchester. BOOM! The artful dodgers were blooming marvelous spreading the GG love.

*Tonight we stepped out to help one of Colchester's most well known and essential charities - St Helena Hospice. *

The evening started, after a few document checks, with a look on the Heroes Leader-board with Katherine Rose, Hannah Grinham and Ella on top of the Kilometers...but for how long?! There was a quick mention to Jules who had become a member too. Unfortunately some of these heroes could not make it tonight which means the leader board will be getting exciting! Also Emily White is top on good deeds having visited her new 'coach' twice this month.

A big welcome to Michelle on having a great introductory session. She got stuck with the task and smashed the Balkerne Hill reps.

I explained our task and the location and off we went to warm up. We lunged, sumo-lunged, penguin walked and squat jumped towards our partners with big high fives. Thinking of what walking and warming up ankles could be called proved hilarious but unrepeatable...

Ian dutifully back-marked and we ran into the night under the moon which was shining at 97.5% and in the Waning Gibbous phase. Photo opportunities knocked as we ran past the roaring weir, pushed ourselves up Balkerne Hill and then split into two teams. The new build area and the old build area soon had cheerful Goodgymers spreading the news of St Helena's calender of fundraising events on their doormats and in their letter boxes.

We were done and reconvened after a few photos with the car park artwork in the background. Across the bridge Balkerne Hill was about to be reduced to a mere mole-hill. Having offered the less steep option the group enthusiastically opted to training on the steeper slope. Everyone completed a full, three quarter, half and quarter uphill sprint with a decent recovery downhill and some stretching. Check out the Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for photos and giggles...get tagging yourselves.

With our breath back we went to deliver the final few leaflets in the Dutch Quarter, posed for photos at the weir and headed back to Leisure World. Our energy was well spent and as usual it is such a pleasure to run with you all. The good was done and the fitness effort was 100% (unlike the moon)!

We stretched in the foyer and chatted about the upcoming events. Alex told the group about his amazing challenge of swimming the Channel and the fundraiser he has in April for Team Angus. WoW!

See you next time.