Pun credits go to Debs!!!

9 wonderful women and 1 heroic "He" (Enrique) ran through the breeze and the big freeze, took on the trees and left feeling rather pleased. Just your average evening for Goodgym Brent then! Pow Pow

It was all go go goooo this eve as the mighty Brent team hit the road, running 5k to and from Harlesden Community Gardens to help with some log lifting and compost shifting. YAY And what a good cause to give back to, these guys truly are an incredible hub for the community, offering local young people the chance to learn about organic, home grown foods and caring enough to provide an oasis sanctuary for all those that reside in the area. Terrific.

Demonstrating to us her fine leadership skills Debs took the lead at the front of the pack and even had the team working their butts off with double backs and squats to and from on route!!! We'll make a coach runner of her yet!

Speeding our way through the streets of Willesden there was no stopping this nifty crew, bobbing, weaving, leaping and streaking (just to confirm no indecency). In no more than 20mins we had arrived into the welcoming embrace of Gabriel, our Angel from the North (West) who wasted no time in pointing out the load of logs that needed shifting from A to B...... Hummmmmmm we thought and as we surveyed the mountain of trees was this guy barking mad could we finish this epic task in time..... Of course we can it's GG BRENT! POW POW

So it was Hey, Ho, it's off to work we go and go we did with gusto and grit forming an assembly line of helping hands all working in complete coordination with nobody at logger heads. HAAAAAAAA

As I personally took on the dangerous task of lighting the efforts with my massive torch.... Yes Dangerous - because I was being eaten alive by beasties in the bushes, the rest of the crew heaved and huffed their way through and even had time to finish off with a clean, sweep up and haul into the compost heap of leftovers for good measure.

Of course the time flew past in beautiful harmony as the team were cheered on by myself and Debs, singing a beautiful rendition of "Paint with all the colours of the wind" from Disney classic Pocahontis. Time's up.... Thank goodness they can stop singing now..... and it was goodbye from us, but not before we enjoyed a quick turn on the children play equipment with Sadhana knocking out her most impressive plank to date and Luscious NOT lusty Liz working the abs with pikes on the swings. Impressive.

Turning on our heels, we flew back off into the eve with fast pace and lots of grace, just for the thrill, up Huffington Hill and full steam ahead back to base camp.

What a fantastic night, I can honestly say I've never laughed so hard or had so much fun. But hey, that's Goodgym and the best gang of straight-up weirdos in town, my beloved Brent.

See you next time.

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE.

17 GG Brenters, took on 2 storage rooms for Ashford place homeless shelter. Dashed off 5k. Killed 20minutes of plyometrics, sprints, walking lunges and killer squat combos and got home in time for sexy stretch time. All in an evenings work! Pow Pow!

The Queensbury Pub on Walm Lane was bursting at the seams with another full squad on deck at GG Brent. Joining the ranks of the fabulous familiar faces were 2 newbies in the mix this eve- Thais and Bharian YAY. I was also dizzy with excitement when old school original, none other than Sadhana rocked up with her signature sexy socks and beaming grin under cap!! This boost, got me hyper beyond belief and ready to roll out with my crew, fresh with spring in step.

No further than 0.6 miles to go, we cruised down to Ashford Place where the awesome Alan welcomed us in for the task at hand - clearing and sorting 2 donations rooms. Ashford Place is a firm friend of GG Brent and we are always delighted to volunteer our time there, to support their tireless work in the community. All year round they offer 30 long stay hostel rooms to local people who had been living on the street and work towards finding them permanent residence in the future. They also work to make services better for homeless people in Brent, campaign for policy change that will help end homelessness and innovate and develop tools to help their patrons work their way out of homelessness indefinitely. An absolutely incredible organisation and one that deserves all of Goodgym's support.

So stepping our best feet forwards, we jumped into the task quick smart. But because our crew was so large and epic this eve, it didn't take long before the jobs were done and rooms were packed and sorted. So taking advantage of the gifted time, the team wasted none and ran the infamous Ashford Place stairs, 4 flights, top to bottom, not once, not twice but thrice times over!!! AMAZING!!

After the stair-runs and standard photo shoot (Ovs!) It was back on the streets to keep the running mojo cooking. Gradual tempo runs led us down to Gladstone Park where more fitness fun was the order for the night.

The teams split into 4 and worked their way through a medley of sprints, squat jumps, tuck jumps and walking lunges and if that wasn't enough there was just enough time for a combined group hammer of the circuit for one more round.

Cheered on by nominated ambassadors - Enrique, Claire, Samuel and Mouse, the shouting and encouragement echoed through the park like thunder, with fellow runners stopping in their tracks to check the commotion and admire the efforts!

After a swift recovery (that's huffing, puffing, panting and sweating to you) the crew were back on the road for the last cool down mile back to base and it wasn't long before the lights of high road twinkled in our sights and lit the path home.

One last thing before we depart - Delicious stretching and a massive applause

Determination, motivation, good vibes and good deeds, sprinkled with the always raucous laughter and weird and wonderful chats, this is a crew that never fails to turn Monday from manic to marvellous!

See you next time!!!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

It was all hands on deck, when 18 Brent Goodgymers rolled deep for 5k, in 0 degrees to shovel and roll 15 wheelbarrows of soil, rocks and compost for a Harlesden Town Community Gardens' allotment site. BOOM

Was it cold? - Yes. Was *The Queensbury** and it's open fire inviting us to stick around and chill with a beer or two? UMMMMM Maybe..... *But did that stop us from getting out into our fair old borough of Brent to sprinkle some goodgym charm all over the joint? - Hell No!

Thrown into the mix this Monday eve was a merry band of newcomers - Samuel, Fiona and Vojtech (our new resident chef!!) and of course joining them was my regular squad of lovelies - The Familia Ananda. "Spice up your life" Samina. Sister Sledge Tabitha and Debs. Amy (Pole Fit Goddess) Crawford. Take no prisoners man like Neil. Clairey (Veteran) birthday Bell. All the sass and bringing some Class Liz James. The one and only mouse in the House Clare. Never not smiling Karen and always Awesome speedy Queen Andrea.

Also joining the masses on Monday was one in particular, so happy we were to see for the first time this year was Lucky Enrique back and recovered from a poorly Jan. Also one big fat massive delight for night came in the shape of Sparky Sparkes Irwin a vintage GG Brent original bringing some nostalgic vibes.

So with housekeeping done and welcomes wrapped, we set off into the darkness for our last GG Brent of January. Full speed into the night we dashed along to our how for the night Harlesden Town GardensA green space in the heart of Harlesden where people can grow things, play and learn together while meeting and making friends. Helping the community to grow together this is an amazing community project supported by the Brent arm of the charity Crisis. https://m.facebook.com/harlesdentowngardens

Setting an inspiring pace up front, Irwin proved he'd been keeping up the fitness in honour of his big 2017 return. keeping us all well and truly on our toes for a 7.30min mile pace to base. Wowzer!!

After our very swift cavort we arrived on site and even though we may have been out of puff, we certainly weren't out of energy or enthusiasm for that matter, as we set to mission on the tasks ahead. Waiting for us at the gardens, with his usual good cheer and positive vibe was Gabriel from Crisis who manages the site, dishing out the evening tasks. Before long the team were split into groups and got to work, shifting and wheeling the various piles of soil and rocks to their new homes for use elsewhere in the fantastic community arena.

But while the team were busting it out, I of course (never not one to miss a chance to act the kid) had my eyes on some fitness fun in the playground YAY. So over to the apparatus I did go and breaking off in teams of 4 the crew took turns to join me on the bars for a good old monkey around, practicing all manner of body-weight challenges, in particular testing upper body strength.

We hung, swung and knee tucked our way to a fitness session jungle style, with plenty of Pow Pow along the way!!

With all the excitement and glee, What felt like 5mins of fun was in fact 40mins of graft and even though we wanted to stay (and play) much longer we sadly said our goodbyes and off into the night we flew again.

Staying as a pack we jogged a light foot comfy pace towards Roundwood Park to partake in one last fast fit challenge in the moonlight. Partners squat hold and punch arm challenge, 1 min on and 10squats to rest. Great for muscle condition. Rinse, repeat and don't step on the Shame(dog)poo!!

After the exertions we weren't finished there and after we walking lunged our way towards the gate, there was only one more mile that stood in between us and home. This point in, Enrique took to the helm driving the squad for one last challenge up the infamous "Out of Puffington Hill" Wham bam thank you mam. Eat my dust, now onwards home was a must.

Speedy and agile the team dashed off the last mile with glorious Good(gym) cheer and ample crew love. Even with pace group splits and back markers bringing in the final few, it was a team effort and everyone finished off the night with 5k under their belt, biceps bulging and big fat smiles to boot! HURRAAHHH

Epic night, awesome task and stupendous squad. Just your average Monday night for GG Brent.

Do good. Feel good. Inspire.

A sensational six Goodgymers, pounded pavements, hopped over hills and ran ragged to clean up a particularly filthy community hall for the marvellous Harlesden Methodist Church. POW POW.

Chill was in the air but not on our minds, as the always motivated Brent crew gathered for the first GG of December. With the glorious hellos and welcomes of housekeeping complete, the team wrapped up and rolled out into the night for a quick dash 2mile tempo-run down to Harlesden High Street.

With our resident maple leaf lovely Andrea leading the pace from the front, we drank in all of the sounds and smells of the bustling community along the way. Steaming up the hills and pushing pace, the team blasted the first 2 miles in an 18min record time, even with traffic light stops and people dodging to boot! EPIC

Arriving at our destination Harlesden Methodist Church we stretched and caught breath before being welcomed into the INDOOR TASK Woo hoo!!!! Always a win, when winter has set in.

Heading straight up the stairs led by the charismatic caretaker, we gathered our cleaning equipment ready to take charge of the community hall, where windows were in need of a jolly good wash and frames were overdue restoration from grey to white.

Hot to trot, underneath the blasting heat from all of... well ALL the heaters in the hall, the team set to work on the 40min shake down. Of course the soundtrack of the eve was set in play and this Monday night, we wiggled our way through the 'Coach Ellie happy-mix' delights of - Katrina and the Waves and Shola Ama old skoolfun for everyone.

We were walking on sunshine indeed, as Dan's massive efforts to sparkle up the floor added to the clean, sheen and pristine work Tabitha, Debs and Enrique added with the windows.

With the sparkling hall beginning to gleam again, we buffed and shined our way through the last of the panes, to the end of our time, giving our best impressions of regional accents, Enrique completely outshining me in the Scottish department and Andrea giving us a schooling in the intricate art of the Canadian linguistic trait of asking a question at the end of every sentence!!

Good times and good work complete, we tidied and turned on our heels quicker than church mice diving for cheese. Or on our case, cheesy tunes.

Blasting the last 2miles home as quickly as we had shot out, it was a night for pushing PBs and boundaries and the team did it all with smiling faces and encouragements for each other all of the way! Back at base it was stretch and fetch the bags. Another night complete and Goodgym good-tasking sprinkled through the community we love.

See you next time Xmas Party people....

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPRE.

7 Brent Bandits, braved the cold, followed a Goodgym-paper trail, made it to the track and destroyed some laps!

It was by far the coldest run of the year, well and truly into winter now when 7 smiling faces greeted me at the Queensbury this Monday night. With Enrique and his ladies making up the ranks - Sister sledge (Tabitha and Deb), the ever hilarious Samina and brilliantly cheerful Liz, we also welcomed to the mix our 'out of towner' for the night - Delightful Deb from Bristol, who was completing her round of Goodgym bucket list jaunts.

So with our bi-monthly track session in sight we could tick one off the list for Deb as she had never ever stepped foot on an athletics track, or for that matter ran on one!!! EEEKKKKK A treat was in store.

The task to accompany our fitness fun, was the regular GG Brent leaflet drop, but this time with a twist.... Each member was also tasked with bringing an extra slice of Goodgym cheer to the mix by making their leaflet accepter smile while explaining what we were all about and how we supported our local area. Success was in the air and we recruited at least 6 new locals for next week! YAY

Speeding down the high road and over St Peter's Hill, it was not long before the red racer was in sight and this week there was only one goal in mind - SPEED Stop clocks at the ready our awesome athletes set to pace on their first 400m dash, followed by not one, not two but three more!!!

Timing is simple, clock how fast you can run the 400, recover for 2 minutes, then repeat. Little did the team know that 4X round = 1mile and so as they embarked on their smashing times, each one able to keep their laps within a 10second range (AMAZING!!) with huffing and puffing their efforts came to a close..... now time for the maths!

Calculators at the ready we added up the timings and so everyones shock and delight, there were 1mile time trial PBs all over the place. My ultimate favourite moment was when Deb from Bristol said in disbelief when presented with her 7minute mile achievement, "This can't be correct, I've only ever run 9minute miles!!" Well believe it sister you are more capable than what you think!

Track is an amazing way to challenge your speed and short distance recovery rate in the view that regular sessions will translate to faster speeds in your endurance pace. And despite the disbelief in my maths skills by the crew, the calculator doesn't lie YES You really are all that awesome!!

With joyful cheer at the accomplishments made and statue challenge shutterbug achieved, the team bounced out (and I mean literally about 5 minutes of mad jumping around) ready to run the cool down mile back to base.

Speeding the last few metres back into home territory, we ended with stretches, cheers, back slapping and clapping , of course we were clapping ourselves, but it still counts!!!

So proud to witness everyones dedication, ability and improvements. It goes to show, with a supportive crew around you, you can surpasses the limitations and impress yourself, beyond belief.

See you next time!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE