Right, no messin’ about. Sunday 11th February. Arriving promptly at Paddington or East Acton, 20 heroic GoodGym runners went on a west London longrun finishing in the delightful Ealing Broadway Franca Manco for pizza.

With a few longrunners nursing memories of maybe one too many drinks the night before (your author included), we set off at a steady pace. Km after km down, we saw the delightful sites of the Grand Union Canal, Horsenden Hill, Pitshanger park, and Cleveland Park, stopping to take the odd photo on the way including…a half-submerged canal boat. Yeah, we didn’t see that we coming either. Every day’s a learning day!

Arriving at Franca Manco on time(…ish), we settled in for a well-deserved meal. Running. Canals. Hills. Pizza. What else are Sundays be for?

See you for the next run on 17th March – full details coming on the training sessions page soon!

All photo credits to Damian Mitchell and Paul Gray

16 glorious goodgymers came out in style to run roads and speed sidewalks, all in the name of wonderful willesden.

It's always going to be an ace evening when so many warriors show up to do good in terrible weather. Let me tell you, it was absolutely throwing it down this Monday in Jan. However, the Goodgym gods seemed to smile upon us, as the rain reduced and finally stopped ready for our evening of fun.

Welcoming all faces of the familiar and one new - James, who had joined me at the taster session a couple of weeks ago. This lovely lad making up a brilliant new battalion of SIX boys now!! woo hoo! Not to be outshone it was girl power all the way, with a gallant gaggle of ten girls as well.

Painting the (willesden) town (Goodgym) red After housekeeping it was a very swift jaunt down to our task for the evening - First one of the year for the community hub of the old police station, where the regeneration is now a full year in swing. Meeting our host Colin on arrival, we were quickly shown our two jobs for the night - Painting the entrance room ceilings and of course some extra hauling of debrit and waste outside into the van ready for removal.

So the teams split into two and began the 40min shape up of the old cop shop, quicker than you could shake an old paint brush.

In between the sweat and sawdust work, the teams broke off into mini teams of players for me. Of course I couldn't let them get away without some fitness fun in the yard: Relay races, squat combos and conditioning work for good measure.

Before long the final hour was upon us and after the final countdown chimed, we reviewed our amazing efforts!! What a team, who could tackle such a big task and get 90% done in just 40mins flat!! Even though it may have looked like we spent more time painting ourselves (liz getting a colour job on her very own crown) we did in fact paint the walls as well!

The hills are alive After the final farewell there was just enough time to hit the hills of St Peters Road for a short blast of tempos and a final chance to get heart rates racing and muscles aching.

This crew of fitties didn't let me down as they huffed and puffed their way to glory and all the way back home for a final cool down and stretch to say goodbye.

What a great night to paint, thank god we didn't faint, while running up hills, covered in painting spills.

See you next time!!!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

13 Winter warriors, faced some fierce icy winds, to run 8km and task for GG Brent's first one back for the year!! pow pow!

FIRST ONE BACK!!! & Boy oh Boy was it a frosty one! But no weather was going to keep this gang of gutsy go-getters from the glory of the first task back in Jan! hurrah.

Joining the ranks of old familiar faces were two newbies in the midst - Kathy and Harold, who were wrapped up and raring to go along with the OG's on deck - Mouse, Dimple, Simon, Uzman, Karen, Liz, Joe, Debs, Pete and our very own Dinesh who's birthday it was today!!!!

In celebration of our fav warrior Dinesh's years on this planet, we sang a spritely rendition of HAPPY BIRTHDAY before heading out onto the pavements to pound the first half of the 5mile route.

The weather may have been cold and bitter, but the troops were quite the opposite. Gassing, chatting and smiling all the way, up hills and big climbs and windy, dark roads to the destination at hand - The Brent waterways stretch in Wembley, our adopted pride of land that we will be tending to for the whole of 2018!

After an excellent demo of fitness finese arrival came swiftly as we landed and approached Jack our host for the eve and his trusty white van.

As always the van was filled to the brim with pickers, high viz vests, bins bags, torches, sticks and stones and everything else you could possibly imagine that could get the job of clearing our patch achieved!! So wasting no time (as we only had 30mins on the clock), the team set to work on the rocking and rolling and lets watch this show unfolding!

For 25mins the team picked and pulled, dragged and grabbed all number of articles of disguarded waste from the canal and its banks. From peculiar pants, to mossy plants. Beer cans and follys and supermarket trollys. The spoils were as varied as a stocking stuffed full on xmas morning thats for sure!!

After a cold 20mins, the weather took a turn for the even colder and this sped up our efforts indeed! A quick final flourish took us to the end of our mission and we packed up quick smart, thanked our host and waved goodbye before our fingers froze too much to wave!!

The last leg of the journey was a mad dash for home, with every runner lifting legs and making dashes through every gust of chill, to get back to base before turning into ice sculptures!! But do you know what, it was a blessing in disguise this cold, because it proved to us all that no matter how many mince pies we'd all enjoyed over the festive season, we still had the skills and thrills to throw caution to the damn wind and bang out some fast miles home, smiling all the way no less!!

Back at base and we all couldn't believe our speed through the last legs! Perhaps there is something to say about being based out of a pub - The promise of beer jackets and toasty fires for relaxing! HA HA!!

But in all seriousness, this troop of terrific taskers, could not have proved their honours in a more gallant way, on this first session back! Demonstrating the promise of our teams capabilities of wonderful, worthwhile magic, for the new year ahead!!

I cannot wait to see you all next time!!!!

** DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE**

FAST FOOD PART 1

14 Brave Brent bandits, ran miles, to sort through piles of food that was sent, for the community of Brent!!

Food donation sorting for the amazing Brent Food Bank.

Having spent the last few days sending out a shed load of 'don't leave me hanging' emails to my crew, I was delighted to be met at base camp by a team of 13!! This of course was an absolute miracle considering the icy weather, freezing cold snow and wintery conditions!! So thank you, thank you team of brave warriors!!! What an awesome turn out for GG Brent's last sesh of 2017!!

The tasks (plural) at hand this evening, for our last and final session of the year, were helping out the Brent Food Bank, with their enormous hoard of food donations for Christmas at not one but two locations!!

As there were a couple of sites to get to; the storage center and the base, we split into 2 and set off! I led the team heading for base camp - The vestry hall, for an evening of lifting, loading and sorting all kinds of food groups into orderly piles and racked onto the shelves. Supported by my amazing team - Pete, Mouse, Marie, Ellen, Isabelle and Beth!

Our journey of 1.4 Miles was a cold one, so to beat the icy bite of the winds, we made it rapid!! That's fast food, if ever you did see!

Looked after by Maxine and Nana on arrival we were set to work instantly! There was so much to get through, we were like a team of busy elves, beavering away in our nutritious workshop!

Halfway through, we were rewarded with mugs of hot tea, which gave us the added energy to keep up the good work, for an extended session of 60 Mins, as we didn't want to go until we'd made a hefty impact on the massive piles!!

After a full hour of Good-deeding and about 100 tins and packets of food galore stocked up onto shelves, we said our farewells and head back out into the night.

Facing the cold once more, the run was again, a swift affair, but we didn't care. Pleased with our effors, we couldn't have done better. For Brent's amazing bank of food, not a worthier cause could we choose!!

FAST FOOD PART 2 - By Tabitha Skinner

So our group had the task of running to Brent Food Bank's storage unit, where they keep the tons of donations they receive. It was a 2.4Mile route there and we were thrilled to get there in less than 30mins woop woop.

We met Michele on site, who took us to the storage unit and told us a bit about what the Brent Food Bank do for the community! But to read a bit more yourselves check out their website - https://brent.foodbank.org.uk

Amazing cause What we found out was that they have boxes of food donations ready for when people in need.... need them. They also do packs of toiletries and nappies and things for new mums when they go to hospital to have a baby, as well as feminine products for girls who can't afford them. If that wasn't enough, this amazing cause also put on and host cooking classes at their base, for the community to teach people how to eat healthily and well for less money.
Loads of good stuff!!

Weigh-hey So back to our task, which was to empty out their big yellow, storage unit and weigh EVERYTHING before putting it back! This is because they have to do a yearly audit of donations, so we were helping with that. It was a mammoth task which took longer than a usual GG amount of set time, however, as it was our last one for the tear, we were all happy to stay and do more for these amazing people.

Fast food.... literally We got to work quickly using human chains to take it all out, weigh the boxes, then put them back. Each box was easily 20kg so we definitely worked hard, and we had hundreds of them to sort, so that's easily a tonne of donations we lifted. David our very own Isabelle's hubby (she finally dragged him along!!), was at the end of the chain most the night so probably did the most work! What an intro!! Even though there was so much food, Michele said, if they didn't get any more it would only last until April so they are always looking for more donations all the time!!!

Nearly there The last few boxes were Christmas presents and decorations so they were the last ones in, ready to be taken out again this week, for creations of Christmas Cheer all over Brent homes. After our epic efforts, we all ran back to base in the cold, other than karen who ubered it - Don't blame you Kazzer!!!

Until next year!!!!! That's GG Brent over and out!

A dozen do-gooders, dashed miles, shared some smiles. Then trees they did sprinkle, in baubles and tinsel & wrapped up some gifts for some deserving local kids.

Run report to be read, to the tune of "All I Want For Christmas Is You"

We don't want a lot for Christmas There is just one thing we need. To run and wrap up all your presents, for Goodgym we must do a Good Deed

We just want to run from base, all the way to Kilburn, Kingsgate. To make their wish come true.... Goodgym elves with Christmas tasks to do!

We don't want a lot for Christmas. There is just one thing we need. To run and wrap up all the presents. For Goodgym we must do a good deed.

Half the group will get to working, there upon the trees outside. Hanging baubles makes us happy. We will finish in time, come what may!

The other half will get to know, how to make those windows glow. Hang baubles from the roofffffff. Santas going to want to stop by too!!! Oooohhh and Rudolph!

Oh, we won't ask for much this Christmas, we won't even wish for snow. We're just gonna keep on waiting For more chances to help this community grow.

We'll be back in new year, AJ, don't you worry about a thing. To volunteer some more of our time. Running fast & get our pulses racing!

'Cause we don't just want to help tonight. We'll be back, even though, now we take flight. But what more can we do? That's one more Goodgym task done by this crewwwww.

Oh, all the lights are shining so brightly everywhere. As we run back home down Kilburn High Street's glare.

And all the crew are happy, even though its nippy. Lets get moving, as the time is nearly at an end, I don't want to miss 'First Dates' on TV.

Oh, we don't want a lot for Christmas, this is all we ever want. To help the people of dear Willesden, while our legs take us on a little jaunt.

Now it's time to say Goodnight. See you next week? I hope we might. Make our wish come true.... All we want is more good tasks to do!!!! 2018 with this fantastic crew!!! Without them I just don't know what I'd do!!!! ohhhhhhh baby!!!!

TA DAAAAAAAAAAAA.

See you next time familia for the last Goodgym of the year!!!!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

Can you spot all of the Chase and Status tracks littered throughout this report?? Answers in the comments below!!

On genuinely the coldest night of the year, 11 brave Brent warriors hit the streets, to leaflet drop their way to the top of the pops, then lay down some tracks, Goodgym style.

With a chill in the air, we had nothing to do but run fast and hard down to the Track for our once a month fitness focused sesh. Fighting the shivers, we paper chased all the way down Willesden High Road and as usual the team were the ultimate charmers handing out our local messages along the way, always with a Goodgym smile :) Once the leaflets were all successfully handed out to our fellow Willesdenites, before we could say *Gangsta Boogie * we had arrived safely at our destination for the night, the track!

With my crew (like always) committing their Blind Faith to me, their watchful coach I was ready to begin. No worries here though, as they can Always count on me to get their pulses and legs racing.

So with my squad at the ready, I began to explain the fitness session of their lives, hoping that all goes right, instead of All goes wrong. We started with warm up drills of high knees and bum kicks, up and down the stairs of the spectators gallery. This was swiftly followed by our very own Uzman (Army Soldier in training) leading us through some drills of his own, squats, press-ups and sit ups, with military precision.

After warm ups were complete, it was about Time to get down to some real track attack! You'd think they couldn't Love me more until I asked of them......"400m sprints, times four please!!!"

Can I just say, this crew are just off the scale fit, I have to tell you! With an average speed ranging from sub 6 to sub 10 min miles and always with lap consistency, even into the forth!! If you don't know what that means, here it is in simple terms..... THEY SMASHED IT No problem!! Even when our lovely Joe, felt a tightening in their calf, he didn't stop! While the rest of the team burned rubber, Joe and I hit up some Ab-soultely awesome Core work, side by side on the track!

After the main body of the session was complete, the team came back together for one last pace back to base. Feeling more alive than ever, the endorphines were definitely flowing strong, which led us home on a high!
But before the end credits could roll, we huddles together for a cool down of stretch and breathing exercises, which ushered in the calm and welcomed the final close.

Now it's time for me to Let you go, what an evening, don't you know! To give back to the borough, our beloved Brent. With all the effort and fitness, an evening well spent!

See you next time familia. Next week it;s all about the Xmas themed tasking for Brent! WOO HOO