Our first Group Run of 2025 saw a bumper turnout of 32 dedicated but chilly GoodGym Yorkies head off to West Bank Park for a night of leaf clearing in the play area. Buy before we set off we welcomed 4 newcomers Amy, Clare, James and Sam. Give them all a big cheer 🎉

We also had a few things to celebrate tonight, starting with awarding the December GGer of the month award to David who also happened to be completing his 200th Good Deed tonight. Way to go David 💪. There were also cheers for those that had taken part in some of the festive races including Chevin Chase and the Jolly Holly Jog. Well done guys!

It was then time for a quick but much needed warm up, whilst our walking group set off to the task. Vicky led a run/walk group (although by the sounds of it, it was a lot more run than. walk) and Ed led the main group able back marked by Babs and Laura.

At the task we were greeted by Kristina from the City of York Environment team who was expecting a fair fewer GGers than had arrived, so quickly grabbed as many extra tools as possible to keep us busy. We then set off armed with rakes, shovels, brooms, wheelbarrows and a leafblower, with the aim to clear as many leaves from the play area as possible.

We soon got to work with Clare and James sweeping leaves away from the play equipment whilst Babs and Nick got to work shoveling snow. The rest of the gang were busy with turning over the mulch in the leaf bays and getting them ready for the mass of leaves that were soon heading their way. Well, apart from Ellie who was spotted playing on the springy rocking horse type thing!

After a solid 40 mins or so of leaf clearing the park was looking a lot better so we gathered up the tools and got ready for tonight's fitness session, courtesy of Nikki; A game of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Cones. This involved two people battling it out to be the first person to pick up the cone after following Ed's instructions, with the losers completing 10 squats after each defeat (there's a chance Rich might have sore legs in the morning!)

Then it was back to CVS for some stretches followed by left-over festive treats courtesy of Vicky

16 GoodGym Yorkie legends braved the chilly conditions, threat of rain and longer than usual run to join us for tonight's group run. Vicky and Babs headed off as the steady group whilst the rest of the crew warmed up and celebrated Charlotte getting round the Rosebery Topping Half Marathon in conditions that would be enough to make other people stay home and complete a Lord of the Rings Marathon (no names mentioned). Give her a big cheer 💪

We numbered off by celebrating the anniversary of the first traffic signal and naming what new colour and rule we would add to traffic lights if we could. Stef's suggestion of a rave face smiley got the most kudus! It was then off to Ashton Park to catch up with the rest of the gang and get to work on a massive pile of bark chip.

James, Cara and Debs joined Babs and Vicky at the task and got stuck straight into the mound, before being joined by the rest of the runners. This wasn't out first bark chip pile rodeo so no instructions were needed and the whole team were soon working away like a well-oiled machine. Pete was the first to jump on to raking duties whilst Paul Kelly, Cara and Mitch were the team of sack draggers. Everyone else was armed with shovels and wheelbarrows and before too long were putting a huge dent in the the pile.

Whilst Vicky was trying to remember her latest rude word and Ed was busy climbing on top of the pile, the rest of the gang genuinely got properly stuck in and made excellent progress. But as the time was running down we needed to get a bit more inventive with shifting the bark chip. Paul Kelly's suggestion of filling up a full tonne sack and getting 4 people to drag it seemed like an excellent idea at the time, that was until we realised we'd ripped a massive whole in the bottom of it and accidentally created a perfect new path with the bark chip that was spilling out of the bottom. Ooops!

After that we quickly wrapped things up and headed to Memorial Park for a sprinting fitness sesh with a difference. Two teams competed to make it as far around the circular path as possible. Unfortunately for Vicky's team the rules for winning seemed to change to negate their underhand tactics

Then it was back to CVS for a quick stretch and a round of applause for our last outdoor group run of 2024. We'll be back to the warmth of Park Grove for present wrapping volume 2 next week!

Tonight we had a bumper turnout for one of the favourite festive tasks of the year - present wrapping. Maybe it was also the rare treat of being indoors!

Rich led out the group to Park Grove, with Ed in the middle and Laura and Barbara back marking.

Once we arrived we celebrated James' 50th good deed, then set to work wrapping. As some gifts hadn't arrived some of the taller members of the group offered to help put up some decorations instead. Once we all finished, we packed up and fueled up with a mince pie ready for fun fitness.

We decided to make use of the gym and had a few games of dodgeball. The idea was to hit members of the opposite team to get them out. Turns out some goodgymers have quite a competitive streak!

After a few rounds we headed back to base for a stretch and run through of the tasks for the week ahead. We also asked claire to pass on congratulations to Alistair for doing 50 good deeds.

An impressive turnout tonight in very cold conditions!

We started by celebrating some phenomenal running at the weekend with Michal doing some Bob Graham training, then Ed and Rich escaping from Meridan and covering 75 and 121 km respectively!

Max then led the group out to Holgate allotments and Rich led a walking group.

Once we arrived Helen provided us with a barrow full of tools and we quickly got to work clearing a plot ready to be let. Despite the cold the ground was soft and we soon had the area clear.

After a quick photo we headed off to do some sprints to warm up. Everytime Ed shouted whistle, we ran faster. He decided this was better than blowing a whistle so rival whistles couldn't interfere with proceedings.

We then headed back to base where we sung happy birthday to Paul Kelly and were treated to some of Jenna's fruity flapjack.