Brrr! Yesterday was a cold and rainy evening – a shocking return to the English weather for Stefania but nicely warmed up by the greetings of a grand group of Brighton GoodGym-ers ready for action!

We conquered Victoria Gardens by running several loops and alternating running fitness exercises with speeding up legs to keep us warm before leading to our task. But, this was not there available to our surprise! Never minded, and freewheeling, this GoodGym session turned to be a great social gathering at Lord Nelson Pub, where Michelle organised a quiz night for us, thank you!

GoodGym Teams: ”Good-ER Gym-ERs” and ”Great Guys” quizzed the names of cakes and guessed colours by answering multiple (and more) questions, but there is never a black or white answer for everthing, isn’t here? (Tom’s quote 😉)

We welcomed Matthew to join the fun and return to our future group sessions!

On a humid September evening we ran and cycled down Lewes Road to Moulsecoomb Primary School to help them prepare their school field for the first day of term the following day.

However, this wasn’t just your bog-standard school field. Upon arrival Warren gave us a little tour and showed us the replica Iron Age Roundhouse, a Clay House, some beautiful flowers and a vegetable patch all covered in wild grass plus a new greenhouse. The students get to explore the buildings in their history classes and they help out (and sometimes even enjoy!) maintaining the vegetable patch too. We were joined on the task by first time Goodgymers Andy and Tom - welcome to both!

We were tasked with removing the Bindweed from the Vegetable patch, weeding and moving and bagging the ready-to-go compost from the compost patch. Fittingly, and much like a school disco, we split into a boys group and a girls group, and although we didn’t dance separately we did all roll our sleeves up and get going! Apart from a few vicious (and as yet unidentified) insects in the vegetable patch everything went swimmingly and we were able to leave Warren with a few manageable tasks for the children to finish on their return.

No pub for us afterwards, all the Brighton Goodgymers needed an early night before the first day of school the next day 🤓

A good - if rather warm! - time had by one and all on the August installment of the (in)famous GoodGym Brighton monthly trail run.

We tackled an 11km loop of the River Adur, starting in Shoreham and finishing in the surreal art deco surrounds of the Hummingbird Resaurant at Brighton City Airport.

A uncharacterisitcally flat route for the South Downs meant lots of time to take in the scenery, appreciate the wildlife (egrets and swans - a - plenty) and catch up with other GG-ers as we ran. Our trail followed part of the Downs Link, taking in beautiful views of the Adur Valley, Lancing College Chapel and ye olde Beeding Cement Works. The Hummingbird Restaurant proved a perfect spot for some post run re-fuelling, watching the small planes and helicopters taxi around (bringing back vivid memories of Budgie the Little Helicopter) and an occasionally spectacular landing on the small runway.

GoodGym Brighton made a heroic return to Somerset Point, where we have contributed various tasks over the years to keep their garden looking fresh.

On this sunny August evening, we met at the usual spot and began our efforts by running up an epic hill to reach our destination. The task tonight: weeding. The tool shed: open. The snails: everywhere.

Juliet and Sherman took charge of the shears and dealt with some unruly bushes round the front (ooer), ensuring that access to the building was kept clear for people with limited mobility. The rest of us got stuck into the weeds that seemed to have sprung up in every available space. It always amazes me how rapidly a big group of people can make a big difference to a task like this, and we left Somerset Point looking remarkably neater than when we arrived.

To finish up, we jogged down to the seafront for a sunset run. After assuming single file formation, we executed a straightforward workout in which the person at the back sprinted to the front, while the rest of us jogged continuously. Edel workshopped some bootcamp-style chanting to take this to the next level (although I'm not sure it was possible for us to look any cooler). Finally, we had a collective stretch in the last of the sunlight, before making our way to the pub for a well deserved cold beverage.

Despite the early start - post Saturday Brighton Pride festivities - a crack team of GoodGym-ers assembled to help keep Brighton beach litter-free and stop those pesky pieces of plastic from making their way in to the sea (as lovely a day as it is for a swim!)

We joined a great big bunch of other volunteers organised by our friends at the Brighton & Hove City Council Tidy Up Team as part of the BIG Pride Beach Clean, kitted up and litter-picking our way along the beach and promenade. Litter grabbing tools - also sometimes referred to as 'reaching tools' - fully justifying the tenuous S Club reference in the title :) - just one of the Brighton Pride 'Fabuloso' acts that the litter pick fabulously rewards us all with free tickets to.

Welcome to Edward who joined us for the first time and thanks to all of the returning GG team.

Undoubtedly a great group session in mid-summer, this was! With an eco-bonus, and a surprise.

Last Saturday, Stanmer Organics opened doors to the public in the beautiful outdoor space in Stanmer Park, and yesterday to the passionate volunteers of @GoodGym Brighton.

The Centre of Eco-therapy is one of 20+ small orgs of Stanmer Organics with a mission at the heart: to provide nature-based therapies to whoever needs to overcome physical, mental or long-term health conditions. In this amazing healing environment, the guests do gardening, grow vegetables, drink tea, cook and eat around an open fire. All is composted, and a return to Mother Nature is encouraged. The basic essential facilities are compost toilets, so the users live a trueful permaculture experience, within its values and ethos. There is also a new sauna garden, did you know it?!

GoodGym was asked to help to dig a pit for building a new compost toilet, with a promise of an eco-therapy experience to thank the volunteers. A challenging call for the area activator, Stefania.

Brighton GoodGym-ers keep surprising all our beneficiaries (and me) for our unconditional good heart, always prepared to do everything – and get our hands dirty! Keep moving together in the outdoors fuels our heart and fulfils us with incredible satisfaction. Burning calories (or stress 😉) while moving, just helps – that’s for sure!

This call for GoodGym’s help was a great group mission, which was worthwhile opening to all, despite the long distance that is loved by some GoodGym-ers but not a cup of tea for everybody. We managed to get all moving, who by bike (or Beryl Bike) from our meet up in Brighton, in Victoria Gardens, who by run or walk at easy pace throughout the park to gather all together in good timing, and not getting lost in the woods 😊 – we didn’t. Thanks to Ben, who was already waiting us at the task and to Richard backing up my orienteering skills.

Surprise, surprise! Our inspiring charity founder, Ivo, and Darrel from Green Runners made us a surprising visit in Brighton. Both are runners and leaders by example, but also just simple people and passionate volunteers like everybody of us in Brighton GoodGym. We are all driven by sport passions and trueful values to do good and act green for our planet . In proper GoodGym style, I would say.

There was an good turn up of GoodGym-ers at this group session of middle summer, so well organised by Liz and Bella from the Eco-therapy Centre despite the demanding setting for such big group. Digging the hard soil was a bit challenging and crowded, at times, but the outcome of our work was fab – 2 deep dip holes were created and a new ramp constructed to help disable users to access the compost toilet. 😊 Meanwhile, Ivo and Dan, with a young adult got the fire ready🔥

Our host Liz offered us an eco-therapy experience and a bowl of soup, prepared with her garden vegs and with lots of her love – such a bonus, Grazie, dear Liz! The peaceful community-feeling made me forget all about the past stressful day(s), and the luggage still to pack up before my 6am flight the day after.

We enjoyed so much our evening that we lost track of the time, but we still returned home by cycling and running with a good light in the dusk. At the end of the day I was exausted, but happy and fully satisfied. All truly content, (or so I think).

First time GoodGym-er Liam quoted: “It was a great session for my first Goodgym in over a year. I really enjoyed digging (/pick-axing/tilling) the holes and the soup and hummus hanging out in the garden after was delicious”

What’s next? Follow us to see what’s on next Meanwhile, I begin to develop some ideas for a special GoodGym group session with the Green Runners and Sanctuary Runners-Brighton. Ready to pledge for sport for development and green action? I am, follow me!