On a frosty night, in the heart of Willesden, a Dozen Do-Gooders, greeted the first GG Brent of the month with a trio of challenges: A run, a task and a track session!!! Oh my.

Enjoying the Alfresco or should I say "Al-freezing-oh" delights of our homely abode, the GG Brent brigade gathered round the outside heaters to enjoy a fresh outdoor housekeeping. With catch-ups, race updates and a warm welcome to our new recruits: Clare and Julie, the rest of the team trickled in one by one, until we hit double figures hurrah! Last to join was the lovely Gina, which capped us off for the night and just for a change there was an abundance of GIRRLLLSSSSSSS!!! & No Dan Fisher in sight! Very strange.

With not a moment to spare Coach Ellie relayed the plan for the night; A Paper Chase down the High Road, Leaflet dropping for..... none other than...... GOODGYM BRENT!!! Hurrah, the first time in a year that we have provided some self service and it couldn't have come sooner. With the nights getting lighter and the weather warming up, we are ready and raring to welcome as many new faces as we can!!! So lets get them in.

The run started with a scatter and see situation. All paths leading towards our old stomping ground - Willesden Sports Centre and the track that awaited our blood, sweat and tears! Hurtling down the High Road, firing leaflets left, right and centre! Passers by, cafes, the library and letter boxes as far as the eye could see. The community engagement was extremely fun, smiles and red tees whizzing round like a tornado of positivity, people left in our wake, standing bemused, leaflet in hand, but smiling back none-the-less!

After the one mile dash, we arrived at check point one and with a quick regroup and stretch it was onto part 2...... The Track.

Mobilisation was first in store, but with some quick fire rounds of balance and agility drills, it was obvious we had a lot of core work to catch up on! No problem there, Coach Ellie will throw in some planks next week........... Tumble Weed......... and absolutely NO cheering to that piece of news!

The session continued and next up on the list - Strength and Conditioning!!! An essential, yet, often over-looked area for endurance runners. Coach Ellie explained: "If your goal is to run better and faster, you should strength train! Strength work is the perfect complement to a runner’s training plan, one of the primary benefits is that it’s a superb tool for injury prevention". Given that runners tend to experience alarmingly high injury rates, it is perhaps the most useful cross training method for us all. The stronger you get, the more resilient your body will become to the demands of running, it makes sense really. Plus, when you’ve got a strong body, any preexisting conditions will be less likely to worsen, this is because strength training helps to improve structural weaknesses in your body, whether in the muscles, joints, or connective tissues.

Dazzled by the Science bit, the team made their 50 squats a day promises, with a YEH RIGHT Glint in their eyes.

Back to business. After a lots of squats and a lotta lotta lunges, the team finished off with a couple of laps at climbing pace structure, maxing out at 80%. A perfect way to end a varied and High Intensity session! After a stretch and farewell to some of the crew, the final few ran the cool-down back to base camp and home to The Queensbury for one last stretch.

It was a session of fun, but a challenge for the athletes in all of us! giving us a Good taste of Gym

Until next time!!!