Having a day off, Sam arrived early to check the tech setup at Bo Kiri for the social later and then mingled with Andres in Old Spike to catch-up on the past few weeks and months. Joao arrived super early as he was super keen, but soon enough everyone started to pour in from 18:30 - 19:00 as the Old Spike filled up its narrow space like the old days (pre-pandemic). It was by far the largest group run of the year and luckily we had two tasks to split the group. Sam went through the motions of his GG speech before deciding on tonight's ice-breaker question, which was to do with the fact it's our last group run of the year, so let's reflect and tell everyone: What was your highlight of the year?

There's too many on here to remember their answers, but moving or changing flats, new homeowners, running the Big Half, sister getting married, seeing family, changing or quitting jobs, seeing new places (US/Canada/Slovenia) to name a few.

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Granted Access

We split the group in two inside Old Spike Roastery, Anna took the hardcore Goodgymers who were willing to brave the cold and walk/light jog over to the Rye Hill Estate to blitz it with leaflets for Nunhead Knocks. Sam took the rest for an indoor task at the Salvation Army in Nunhead.

Anna's lot were given the first batch of leaflets and teams of two set off on a treasure hunt to find the right blocks around the estate. Anna spent the rest of the task on a treasure hunt for Goodgym runners! With speed and efficiency we managed to cover almost all of the addresses listed. Daryl and Gemma finished first and led the charge back to the pub for the social. Katy and Louise went next, having conquered a ten storey tower block the Goodgym way (stairs, not the lift!). Paulin, John, Lindsay and Emma finished off Torridge Gardens.

8pm came around, but Benjamin and Claire were nowhere to be found! After a jog around the estate to try and find them, we assumed/hoped they had headed back already so we all went back to the bar. Mild panic ensued when we arrived with no sign of them! Visions of them locked away at the top of a tower block arose. Thankfully, they strode through the door at 8.20, having managed to do the majority of the extra tower blocks that the rest of us had given up on!

Well done all for covering an area that would have taken normal volunteers hours and hours, Nunhead Knocks will be very grateful.

On the other side of Nunhead, Sam led the run with Nathan backmarking and Lindy, Nelly, James, Joao, Jess and Clare running inbetween 1k to open the doors of Salvation Army. Like sneaky elves, they made their way to the library/book store as their task for tonight was to re-create two "reading" areas. One for the adults and one for the children. They had to move a fridge, a microwave and other furniture to get the space prepped before bringing in a sofa, carpet, lights, bookshelves and books to make it feel homely.

With different versions of "Rockin around the Christmas tree" being played, the 40 minutes flashed by as the team paused for the last five minutes to search for a book to take home as well as get that all essential group photo before locking up and heading back to Old Spike and to start the evening's proceedings - Christmas social!

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Thank You to all the GG-ers

A personal thanks from me to all those who came out tonight! I know everyone was looking forward to the social more, but it's also great you could help out with two meaningful tasks on the night.

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Thank You Polis & Nunhead Knocks

GoodGym is all about getting fit and doing good! We praise the runners/cyclists/walkers who come to get fit and help out, but we often forget about our task owner. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Polis for allowing me to borrow the keys to Salvation Army Nunhead to get on with the task and to Nunhead Knocks for giving us flyers to flyer around Rye Hill estate! See you in 2023!