Eleven runners ran 6km to help Harlesden Town Gardens

On a dark November night, 8 runners met up at the Queensbury to set off on a 2 mile run over to Harlesden Town Gardens. We found runner Meg, and task leader Gabriel waiting for us with a welcoming bonfire already blazing steadily in the pit that GoodGym Brent runners had helped create in a previous task – great to see it being put to good use!

Dinesh and Dimple arrived shortly after the main group after having just missed us at the Queensbury, but luckily their navigation skills and nous led them to the heart of the action around the glowing fire.

We quickly formed a branch-busting bunch to saw up logs to keep the fire fuelled, and a marshmallow-skewering and toasting, sparkler-twizzling support group to keep them motivated. Claire had sadly underestimated the enthusiasm and marshmallow chomping capacity of GG Brent runners, and one pack of those fluffy sugar and gelatine clouds just wasn’t enough to go around, so Joe and Uthman saved the day by running to the corner shop to re-stock so we had enough to make smores (marshmallow and chocolate, sandwiched between two digestive biscuits, wrapped in foil and toasted in the fire, for the uninitiated!).

It’s great to see how the Town Gardens are evolving, and Gabriel told us about Friends of Harlesden Town Garden’s future plans to build a clubhouse there, here is the link if you’d like to cast a vote to support their funding bid:

https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/voting/project/view/17-4315

It was so cosy round the fire that it was hard to leave, especially after all the sugary indulgence – but somehow we managed to tear ourselves away and get back to the Queensbury again, I don’t know about everyone else, but the hills felt a bit steeper on the way back…!?

You Guys were ace, thanks for coming, great to see your faces!

On the eve the hallows, there were some scary sights to behold in Brent! But thankfully amongst the horrors, were 14 local heroes, who, although wearing masks, carried out tasks, in the name of what's Good(gym) in Willesden. YAY!

SCREAM QUEEN The usual meet up was a freaky affair, in our old haunt, The Queensbury! But making a play for old Queenies crown, was I, the Goodgym prom queen of death, in all my crowning glory!! But to my absolute delight, I wasn't alone in my Halloween costume efforts, with the majority of the crew bringing a whole lotta fierce, with faces painted, masks, head dresses and props! Hurahhhh haaaa haaaaa haaaaaaaaaa (that was an evil laugh by the way!)

Amongst the familiar faces was another I'd seen before, although a member of my Peckham flock who appeared to have flown West for winter! Michael, a regular Southwark speedster, but due to a change in address was ready to bust out with Brent!! Hurrah!

So after housekeeping and the big reveal of what would be the prize for best costume - A pumpkin disguised as a chocolate orange and my crown, we hit the road for a fast mile down to the police station.

ELLO ELLO ELLO The Old Police Station is a site we've been visiting for months and months and are proud to say have contributed to its complete regeneration. Once a den for squatters, thanks to Colin and his community crew, it has been shaped into a glorious hub for artists. What was once an unsightly eyesore, is now a tremendous center for arts and crafts, which values community spirit and supports local business.

Devil may care, artistic flare So after our pavement pace down the high road, we arrived excited and raring to go. Waiting at the door for us was Colin, our host, ready to explain our missions for the eve. First up on the agenda was was the most important task; The creation and painting of our very own Goodgym mural, representing all the hard work that we've achieved since beginning our volunteering, way back in spring. So with paper at the ready, the crew began sketching the designs, that would later be translated onto real life, painted wall art!

Rubble in paradise As the sketching began a few of the scary soldiers peeled off to tackle some lifting and shifting of rubble and rubbish outside, into Colin's trusty old van. This task was EPIC to say the least!! Led by Uzman, the gang of Goodgym ghosts and ghouls, hoiked and slung mountains of debris and made way for some much needed outdoor space! As the crew formed a chain of shifters and lifters, Joe was put to work inside the van, where he felt far more comfortable than standing on the roof, like last time!!

Paint by numbers With all the action outside going on, I nearly missed the excitement inside, when the actual wall painting finally started! Crammed into the mini room where our mural would take shape, the team worked tirelessly, chalking up outlines, then painting on the infamous GG logo and all manner of related images, from running shoes, to wheelbarrows and spades. Michael worked particularly hard on the creation of MEEEE, now to be remembered forever doing pull-ups on the tube!!

Drop it like a squat Even though the night was brimming with all manner of tasks to be completed, I still found time to put my Halloween hotties through their paces. Splitting off in teams of 4, a HIIT session was on the menu, consisting of squats, stair runs and sprints!!

We've only just begun Even though we would have loved to have stayed all night long, we feared the inevitable of turning into pumpkins ourselves, so I had to wrap the timer on the cop shop task drop. However, we still have loads and loads of our mural to complete and will therefore be back to do more in 2 weeks!!

But before we could say a final farewell, sister sledge - Tabs and Debs were crowned the winners of the Halloween Prize for their fantastic face painted efforts!!! However the twosome turned out to be not so gruesome, when they shared their choccy orange prize out with the troops.

Homeward bound So that's a wrap the winner revealed as Debs the cat. Oh and Tabitha too, as a scary ghoul. We ran home feeling pleased, with all we'd achieved, on this Goodgym for Brent, on all Hallows Eve.

See you next time fit fam xxxx

7 Goodgym runners met at our hub - The Queensbury pub - before we set off on a run that would test our lungs. But the group knew we could do it and oh howwww we did!

After a swift leg out the first 2.5 miles of the route, we arrived at the scene, by the Wembley waterways where there was a kind man named Jack, with all his equipment for us to clean and my gosh was he keen!. So we high vised our bods, wrapped up our hands and got ready for the start of our clearing the area of trash.

Whilst the gorgeous girls Eliza, Tabitha, Debs, Liz and Ellie worked hard on the grass and the paths gathering litter, the butch boys Uthman and er hemmm MEEEEE were busy picking prams and scooters out of the canal - Whilst of course wearing life-jackets as instructed by Jack.

After some time passed, we had almost cleared the entire place of litter! So we took off our gloves and handed over the masses of dustbin-bags we'd filled with all number of goodies, including a dubious pair of kegs that Debs had found in a bush!!!

After reviewing our spoils for the night, we said thanks to Jack for the opportunity to help, before setting off on our final push of the evening; The last long haul 2.5miles back making up our miles for the evening a whopping 5!! woo!! OH and a little bit of parquor on route when we got stuck on the canal bank too!

Fun times had by all, despite the dirty work, I think it's time these 'clean bandits' went home for a shower, don't you?

Tadaaaa - Hope you like it x

12 speed demons came and conquered a pucker paper-chase and terrific track attack!! That's GG Brent all over October! Pow Pow!

It was smiles all round at base camp Queensbury with 10 glorious Gyals and 2 gorge Guys making up the numbers this eve!

Bringing the fire was Girl Power Hour and flexing for the females was: Clairey-Bell, Mouse, Dimple, Liz, Coralie, Eliza, Beth and sister sledge tabs and debs!

Repping for the fellas and back for his second week running was Crossfit Kid Lucas in his newly adorned GG red tee. Which by the way was suitably spray on to flex off his Olympic lift traps! And Looking just as macho in his signature yellow threads was resident king pin, all the guys love him (okay well maybe just Colin) devilishly daring Dinesh!! Woo!

So with all our wonder women at the ready and gumption gushing from the guys, we sped out for the night, for leaflet paper chasing all the way to Willesden Track!

After successfully slamming the high road with all the goodgym vibes, we arrived at destination pain on the lanes, oh no wait I mean fun delightfully good times lanes..... To be fair, it was probably a bit of both depending on who you ask! But actually proof that so much fun was had was that only 3 photos were taken!!!

So once we'd mobilised and warmed up joints with a few drills and spills, it was down to big business and that was some laps!! 200m sprints to begin followed by 400m timed splits!! Now me being nice only asked the team for 2 sets of each, however Clairey-bell reminded me that in goodgym Brent days of old, there was a 12 lap session once upon a time!! I think I'll be bring that back some time soon!!

**Oh yes..... watch this space, get the stop watch ready for some time and punishment at the next sesh!

So after my team wiped the floor with my timer each one achieving feats of absolute glory, we bashed out 5mins of core blimey can you feel your abs yet, before setting off for a cool down jog back to base.

What an awesome night, where we all took flight, to task and good deed and thrash some speed!!

See you next time!!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE!