Barnet’s do-gooding, get-fitting biscuiteers were in fine fettle last night after smashing a brilliant task in record time.

After a slightly delayed start (sorry team!), we said congratulations to those that had done Park Runs that week, and to our Barnet heroes. Well done to Hazel, Damian, and Madeleine for topping the distance, good deeds and cheers league tables. Give ‘em a high five, Barnet!

Before we set off for the run, we did a headcount, and discussed one of the capital’s most pressing issues. Apparently there are some definitive rankings of Londoners’ favourite tube lines. According to the statisticians, the most popular line is the DLR, followed by Jubilee, then Victoria. But Barnet disagrees, and had some good reasons to back up their faves. The winning tube line, by a long way was….drum roll please…the oldest of the deep-level lines, the incomparable Northern line! Of course it was. Reasons included, ‘because I’m Northern’, and ‘because we can see it from here’. Fair enough.

With that decided, we set off for Northway Gardens. It was a lovely run there, covering part of the Bishop’s Avenue and having a good snoop at the giant (empty) houses as we went. Damian knew the route like the back of his hand, and after no time at all, we arrived to see Brian the gardener waving at us from his car. Which, when we got closer, we could see was filled to the brim with bags of compost (and a couple of bits of wood). The GoodGym fates were smiling upon us last night, because would you believe there were exactly as many bags as there were runners? Crazy stuff. Taking one bag each (and a wheelbarrow), we emptied the car and set off for the gardens a few minutes away. Compost unloaded, there were a few other jobs to do, such as de-bulbing daffodils, emptying compost bins, filling pens with leaves and shifting pots. All of which was done quickly, much to Brian’s approval – and we even got a few gardening tips and a bit of history on the garden itself, which is run entirely by volunteers and is beautiful.

We took advantage of the lovely surroundings to do our fitness session next to the garden. After a quick core blast and sprint session, we finished off with a game of British Bulldog. Apparently this was banned in some schools, but in Barnet we laugh in the face of rules, and launched into a very speedy game that saw some super-fast sprinting and tricksy footwork. On the run back, we took advantage of the red lights to have a squat challenge, seeing who could hold it the longest. The team obviously has glutes of steel, and outlasted the traffic lights, before finishing off the run with some stretches. Baking Queen Hazel treated the group with some delicious cookies and brownies wrapped in their very own little sweetshop bags – so cute! Next week trainer Pennie is back to lead you through the streets of Barnet to do even more good for the community. Be there or be square:

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-barnet-helps-archer-academy-create-a-cool-space

This week 21 glorious GoodGym-ers ran 2.8km/5.2km to sort through a local carehome's DVD collection

This week (the 25th week of GG Barnet) marks the largest ever number on a group run since we started (not including launch day)! Massive shout out to all the new faces this week, helping us smash our PB: Catherine – who actually came last week too, but I wasn't here so still counts as new! Ciara, Jo, Madeleine and Nadia. Give them all a cheer!

Also give a cheer to GG tourists Jessica and Emily! Let's see if we can smash 21 next time!

After a quick warm up by the cinema and several attempts at a number circle, we were off to the Hammerson care home to take on their DVD collection. Damian lead the group up the hill, while I back-marked. It was a real short run but a real steep hill, taking us 1.4km to the home. Once inside, activities co-ordinator Chris offered us water, biscuits and chocolate before telling the team the task. With multiple stations to work through, the team split into groups. Jody took the opportunity to mentally extend her To-Watch list as she sorted through the care home's goldmind of classics.

With such huge numbers we were able to speed through the collection in record time! Heather kindly volunteered to take the team photo as we posed behind our mountain of CDs.

It was then time for the fitness session. Chris let us use the rec room again, which was such a pleasure. Doing the fitness session indoors is wonderful – especially on that soft carpet! A few of the team opted to help some of the residents organise some jewellry, while a couple of the others sat down for a chat. Everyone else joined me for what I like to call the Animal Olympics.

We started nice and gently with the Inch Worm, then worked our way through several different animals, incorporating matching bodyweight exercises at the other side. Chris and Heather were the speediest of the bunch. They picked up some incredible pace on some of those animal walks. Paul requested we include the Aligator Walk (which was actually more like the Spider-Man, if you ask me) and the Shrimp – and even suggested the team all do some burpees. I love when you all request burpees of your own accord. I knew you were learning to love them! Paul also had some smashing plyo pushups, which definitely deserve a cheer!

We soon finished the animal races, said our goodbyes and headed back to base. I took a group back the way we came: 2.8km in total. Damian took the others the scenic route: 5.2km in total. Massive props to Nadia for choosing the long run – today was her first ever run! Super impressive!

Two trusty favourites crowned as this week's Barnet Biscuit: Oreos and Chocolate Chip Cookies. (Thanks, Freya!)

See you next week when we run to Archer Acadamy to build a pond

Pennie

P.S. Thanks for the headline this week, Damian!

18 LOVEly GoodGym runners gave up their St Valentine's evenings to run c8km for a date with a paintbrush at the Barnet Furniture Centre but were stood up so decided to fly-er on the wings of love instead.

Pennie was still nursing an injury so it was up to another biscuiteer from Islington to look after the evening. I'm one of many people who admit they #runtoeat !

First dates, long-term relationships and blasts from the past

First to arrive was Del who'd I'd not seen in a while and then newbie Jacqui. Then we had LOTS more first-timers: Shawn, Catherine, Hayley AND Lilian; regular Barnetians and a few more familiar faces (Danica, Chris and Ollie) who I'd previously only seen in Islington and Haringey. Great to spread the love.

News

We welcomed the many newcomers, talked about the many ways of doing good, shared the news of our sibling's award in Wandsworth and talked about races.

We almost had a record turnout: some sources say the record is 19 and alternative news sources said 21. I haven't fact-checked this but I was tempted to still say it was a record turnout for my inaugural Tuesday run with GG Barnet.

Leg wax on, leg wax off

It was much milder than Monday but it was still important to warm up the heart and activate the leg muscles in preparation for a long run.

We marched, we lunged, we warmed up our calves and opened up our hip flexors with leggy versions of Mr Miyagi's wax on, wax off technique (or more conventionally we visualised mounting and dismounting a bicycle).

Squat's love got to do with it? Another great way to warm up the heart and soul is to do squats. Lots of them!

Fast or slow

GG Barnet stalwart, Damian, led a faster group and supported by Hazel at the rear. Heather made sure the philosophers and I made our way safely to the furniture centre with Del acting as backmarker.

It was a long run and Heather took Jacqui at the front and wanted more, more, more (that's how she liked it). They were not waiting around and threw in some push ups, loopbacks and sneaky ninja-like detours then seamlessly rejoining the group.

Tainted love

It was supposed to be painted love but alas our host was also injured so:

• we couldn't do our painting :(
• OR have the rest for our legs (sorry newcomers!!!) :(

Divide and conquer

However, we were left with a lovely note and a mahoosive stack of flyers so that we could tell the local Barnetians that they can find a new home for old furniture rather than throw it away.

We divided and conquered the many residential streets on the way back to the cinema and even left a few flyers on car windscreens. Wonderful work!

After around 15 minutes of high-flyering action we regrouped by the local nature trail and ran back as one pack-ish before meeting back at the base for a stretch of our muscles and a stretch of our stomachs with delicious chocolate wafers courtesy of speedster, Heather.

Thanks for having me, Barnet, it was a real pleasure and a massive thank you to the wonderful TaskForce and Graham, Dorian, Briony, Sarah and Nicola. You can sign up for next week's run here which is sorting DVDs for a care home and very on trend with BAFTA and OSCAR season: enjoy!!

Much LOVE

Patrick

PS: Thanks to Hazel for the run report title; I was going to go for Painted Love but that didn't work out!

PPS: Danica achieved her double wings of love with 200 deeds. Awesome!

11 very soggy GoodGym-ers ran 5km delivering flyers for the Barnet Funiture Centre

This week the bravest of Barnet runners came out to help spread the word about a fabulous local charity doing incredible things in the neighbourhood.

We were joined by special guest trainer Tom, the new Sheffield trainer, who lead the pack to the task with the help of Damian after a fab warm up by the side of the cinema. We were also treated to the return of Stacy, who's finally recovered from injury after her epic running of last year.

Once we reached our starting point, we split into two teams. Team Hazel took one road while Team Freya took another. In the end we covered about six roads then did two rounds of exercise before heading back to base: rocket jumps and 180º squat jumps. GG Barnet has cracked the most efficient of flyer jump-frog systems known to man.

Back at Base, Tom lead us through some very thorough stretching and we all congratulated Hazel on breaking the 100km mark this month – the third Barnet runner to break 100 in Jan. You're all bloody brilliant! (The other two being Damian and Freya.)

We were then treated to TWO sets of Barnet Biscuits. Jody made Jammy Dodgers and Eleanor made Ginger Bread Men. I'm very excited by how the group has really taken on responsibility for the Barnet Biscuit and by how fantastic everyone seems to be at baking. I hereby crown you both The Barnet Bakers of the Week. Because we all know how much I love alliteration. Joanna has promised to bring the Barnet Biscuit next week, which is very exciting! Tom loved the idea so much he'll be taking it up North. The Sheffield Shortbread, perhaps? Sheffield Sweeties. I'll leave the name of that one to you!

Next week we will be helping the RSPCA again with another run nearby to flyer. It'll be a short one: 3km total. Sign up here. And on the 14th we'll be running to the Barnet Furniture Centre in Frien Barnet to paint a wall for them. This will be a long one: 3.5km each way. Sign up here

Well done to Eleanor for bringing her docs along this week to get mission-verified. It's great to see so many of you getting this sorted! If you'd like to help out with missions or become a coach runner, bring your docs along to the next run. You just need some photo ID and proof of address (two of one and one of the other).

See you next week! Pennie

This week 20 GoodGym-ers ran 5km to deliver 600 fliers for the RSPCA

This is THE MOST amount of runners we've had on a run in Barnet ever – not including the launch run when we had lots of tourists.

Everybody welcome GG newbie Sarah to the gang!

After a quick intro and warm up outside the Phoenix, we were off. I lead the way up to Strawberry Vale, while Freya was our trusty back-marker. Once we got there, Damian, Freya and Heather each lead a team around the estate flyering all the houses and flats we could get to. We then ran back up past the Green Man community centre and delivered the remaining flyers along the next road along.

With 600 flyers delivered in record time, using our trusty GG Barnet flyer relay technique, it was time to head back. Joanna suggested we run via the RSPCA clinic to get a photo, which the team all agreed with – meaning this week's run turned out to be just slightly longer than planned. Fab work on the 5km, folks! Well done to Heather for her fab navigational skills. I really enjoy how well everybody knows their way around Finchley – it means I never have to look at a map!

Even with the little detour, we still had plenty of time for a workout. And what better place than a nearby path of grass. Over the wall we went, fully risk-assessed of course, for a few relays in the dark. I used my running light to illuminate my face, so everybody knew what I was saying – which made me feel like I was on a stage dancing in the spotlight. There were some sprints, squat jumps, frog walks, skipping and some bear crawls – which, as far as I could tell, was everybody's fave. More of those then, for sure.

Graham then lead us back to base with Paul our trusty back-marker. Lots of ice along the way tonight, so well done to everyone for staying upright – although it was touch-and-go at a couple of corners.

Props to Del for bringing his docs along for DBS checks this week. All you need to do is bring proof of address and some ID (two of one and one of the other) along to the next run to get the ball rolling. If you already have a DBS with someone else, that won't count. You'll need to get one through GoodGym to be able to do any missions or coach runs.

And finally, the Barnet Biscuits of the week were: homemade chocolate-covered ginger cookies from Freya and bakery-made salted caramel cookies from Graham! Thanks guys! Delicious week! Jody said she was on it for next week, which is very exciting!

Don't forget we have a starter session this Saturday at Sweettree Farms at 11am. Sign up here

And sign up for next week's run here

See you soon, folks! Pennie