GoodGym Leeds is back! After a short break that felt like absolutely ages (I missed you guys!) we're back to doing good and having a great time while we're at it.

It was a great crowd tonight for our first run of 2020, with 32 runners! We also welcomed a HUGE 7 newbies which was amazing. Sam, David, Rob, Romina, Shannen, Victoria and Karl all got stuck in and did a great job, so they definitely deserve a massive cheer!

There was loads of news to share tonight, with Jenny and Liz reaching their tenth good deeds! Well done guys! We also welcomed Helen to taskforce after she joined over the Christmas break. Taskforce is now a super strong group of six and they can help out with all sorts to make GoodGym in Leeds even better. As always, if you have any ideas for how we could be doing things better, feel free to drop me an email.

Tonight's task was to head back to the fabulous Unit 11 for Kirkstall Valley Development Trust. We had a quick warm up before heading down the hill. Heather and Katie were marshalling the back to make sure nobody was left behind.

On the run down it was lovely to be back amongst happy smiling faces, and it was even better to see all the new runners getting involved and chatting. One new runner was a little concerned about our route:

"I live in Kirkstall so the run down is fine, but I know that it means we're going to have to come back up again on the way back!" New runner Romina

After a bit of looping around to keep the group together, and some terrible traffic light decisions, we eventually reached Unit 11, where Adele was waiting for us with our task. We had to fill some small holes in the walls where they weren't too big, then one wall was being painted white (leaving the fabulous painted map well alone), while another wall was to be painted a lovely green. There were also some baubles left up from the Christmas decorations which needed to be brought down.

We quickly realised there weren't quite enough rollers and paintbrushes to keep everyone busy, so we split the group into two, and decided that one group would do a fitness session while the others painted, before swapping over halfway through. While the painters got on with their tasks I took the group through a tough but simple routine to work on their strength, balance and flexibility.

• Calf raises
• Single leg hops
• Knee raises
• Single leg touch, hop, reverse lunge, hop
• Jumping Squats
• Meet and retreat run

While the meet and retreat might need a little work (or a better explanation from me!) everyone got stuck in and there were a few complaints of tired legs on the way back so you were definitely working hard!

By the time both groups had done their fitness session, the work inside was done! The walls had been painted, , the edges tidied up, and the baubles all gone. The watching crowd were suitably impressed:

"We've just been sat here watching how amazing you all are!" Adele, task owner.

Our painting and fitness session also attracted the attention of a new recruit who signed up on the spot, so hopefully we'll see her next week!

We set out on the run back with a slight burn in our legs for some of us, but that didn't stop the speedy group, led by Tom, from powering up the hill. Everyone else went at their own pace, with Carol sweeping up the rear, before we all reconvened for a stretch back at base.

Thanks for making our return in 2020 so fabulous, you've all been great! I'd also like to say a special thanks to our Taskforce who are really stepping up to help with the running of the group, it makes my job so much easier!

See you all next week!