Arriving early tonight, I was reminded by Will that this would be his final GoodGym run in Birmingham. Not as a protest about me leading the group for the first time, but because he is relocating to Somerset for a new job. Hence the pun above and all which will follow (I have tried to remember some of the many created by George).

Binned there, seen it, done it

During a nervous first briefing I informed the group that over the last 4 group runs to the Birmingham City Mission, all of the fitness session hills had been ‘binned off’ due to weather, extended tasks and for pre-Christmas drinks. So tonight, I left it for Will to decide what type of hill reps we would do to get our sessions back on track.

Tonight we welcomed Rory to his first GoodGym session and Lucy joined us for her second group run. Please give them a cheer and your support. We also celebrated Laura wearing her 100 T-shirt and Ben joining the TaskForce after completing 10 good deeds.

Last Will and Testament

After a quick headcount, Rob led us to the BCM with Liam and Tousif taking on the back marking duties. It was great to see lots of good spirits in the group as pairs and threes ran and chatted along the way. We negotiated the quite busy city centre streets and found ourselves at the task rather more at the time we usually set off than the time we arrive. The usual stalling tactics of getting a cricket discussion going mustn’t have worked on me!

Where there’s a Will there’s a way

We had a slightly different task for some intrepid adventurers tonight as we were asked to look through the pantry and check the dates of the food items. Rob identified Liam and George as ideal candidates following their ‘Speed dating’ at the Foodbank last night. In the end, Liam went for it along with Rory, Laura and Chloe. The group found an enormous collection of salt, an even bigger pile of doughnuts and cakes (which I was assured that they didn’t eat any of, even though it was likely they were going off soon and needed eating) and some out of date items carefully removed. George applied himself diligently to the washing up along with Rob and Francesca, as Ben used the in and out doors well to bring in the dirty dishes. Outside the kitchen, Will, Lucy and Tousif kept very active by serving the food. Tousif even managed to grab a few photos when it got quieter.

After a few thank yous from the staff at the mission, we were ushered out as they got the next part of their evening started. So we turned our minds to the fitness session and jogged to our usual spot around the corner. Ben said his farewells at this point as he was feeling an injury from his run at the weekend, so it was great that he joined us for this much of the group run. Best of luck resting and recovering.

The illusion of Free Will

At this point I gave Will the choice between two four minute hill sessions with recovery, or a six minute session of Kenyan hills. He quickly got wise to the fact that I’m a soft supply teacher and asked for another option. I did indeed offer the option of just a four minute session, but as he went for this it was quickly overruled by Rob, who was looking forward to the challenge! Still, at least it wasn’t binned off!

Will Power

Everyone got earnestly into the four minute session, especially Chloe who showed great form as she charged up the hill, and Rory on his first session as he made great efforts to catch her. Everyone stayed committed all the way through, Rob showing he meant business and Lucy showing no weariness from her recent half marathon efforts. After a minute of rest I set everyone straight off for the two minute finisher, with Tousif fighting through it really well, Francesca maintaining a great pace and George making fierce effort look effortless. After reflecting on how much I’d rather have been doing the hills myself, giving everyone a chance to catch their breath and getting a group photo, we set off for 1000 Trades.

My Heart Will Go On

Which can only mean one thing - more hills. All the way back, more or less, so we all enjoyed the rest, stretches and beverages at the end point! Thank you to all of the group for supporting me tonight leading my first group run. All the best to Will as well. I hope all of the puns aimed at you will not put you off returning to us when you inevitably come back to see all of the unseen attractions of the second city! Only time Will tell!

By heck it was a cold night for us GG runners! We still had nine committed bodies though, on what was probably the coldest GG Brum so far this winter.

We set on our way to thankfully a nice indoor task, even better it was in a kitchen, even warmer! Yep we set off to Birmingham Mission with George and John sharing the back marking duties.

On arrival, the task owner was very impressed with our turnout despite the cold weather. We were split up with John and Rahul serving food and the rest in the kitchen washing up and plateing up the food. I even had chance to have a left over Steak bake!

Once our job was done we headed back into the cold. The hills were put on hold tonight, it was a little cold for anybody to be stood around timing....and that would be me. That was the idea, thought up by Morwenna for this weeks pun, ok we didn’t actually have any snow on the run, but Brum did receive a little bit of the white stuff earlier in the day!

Anyway we headed back via the longer route, along the canal towards Brindley Place, then down to St Paul’s Square, we did an extra loop around the square arriving back safely to 1000 Trades and some welcome warmth

Next week we will be out doing good again, it would be great if you could join us sign up here.

Tonight we had a fantastic turnout considering the less than favourable weather conditions. It was great to welcome Naneesh for the first time.

With Liam doing the front marker job and George the back, we set on our way in the wind and rain. On arrival we were met by Kandy who works for a company called Renascence. She was here to ask some of the group how the environment effects their opportunities to take part in exercise. John, David and Balal did that while the rest of the group helped sort clothing upstairs and Ryan and John helped out in the kitchen.

As there was a lot of sorting to do tonight, we were at the task a long time, which actually worked well with the weather outside. Therefore there wasn’t time for a fitness session on finishing, so the group headed straight back to 1000 Trades.

Next week we will be out doing good again, it would be great if you could join us sign up here.

On a very wet and windy night we still had six people ready to do some good. We even had a newbie, Cesca joined us for the first time, if she can stick tonight’s conditions she won’t be fazed by anything!

We set off on our way to the Mission. John doing the back stop job. On arrival the task was to move bags of clothing donations from the store cupboard, to upstairs. Once it was all upstairs it needed to be sorted. George who incidentally takes credit for this weeks pun, found what we thought was a massive can of beans whilst we were in the store cupboard, along with ‘industrial cans’ of spaghetti hoops.

Anyway we spent over half an hour on the task (we were all quite relieved to be inside!!). Once done we wished everyone at the Mission a very happy Christmas before heading back to 1000 Trades. The weather had improved a little so although with it being very wet and potentially slippery underfoot we ‘binned off’ the hill session, we took the slightly longer route back via the canal and up to St Paul’s square. That took us to a nice 5k in total. Great work in less than favourable weather conditions.

Next week we shall hope for better weather as we are heading to the German market after the run! sign up here.

Tonight was Brum Mission night, so after organising one of our Christmas party’s at the Flight Club in Brum (nowt to do with aviation, it’s darts!) we set off on our way. Morwenna doing the back marker job and myself and David the front.

Balal had done a fantastic job of getting loads of clothing donations from work, so we all took a bag each, to make the run there just that little bit more challenging.

On arrival we had a quick picture, then it was on with organising all the donations, there were sacks everywhere! Hence this weeks pun, thought up by Karen, as Xmas really had come early to the Mission!

Once done, due to party arrangements earlier we were a bit behind schedule, so we ‘sacked off’ (yep more sacks!) the hills and ran a slightly longer route back via the canals. Liam put in a bit of a spurt towards the end, maybe it was the excitement of noticing the fact his namesake Mr Gallagher was playing at the Birmingham Arena as we ran past! It certainly meant we had to do a bit of weaving by the arena.

Anyway after a lap around St Paul’s square, that took us too a nice, just over 5km to by the time we got back to 1000 Trades, so job done!

Tonight we had ten of us Brum GoodGymer’s going to help out at Birmingham Mission. We were pleased to greet Rahul for the first time to GG.

On arrival at the Mission we were split up into two groups, one to help out in the kitchen, the other to help store sleeping bags, hence this weeks pun thought up by Emily. The Mission are in desperate need of sleeping bags, so if you are reading this report and have one to donate please do!

On a slightly sad note, it was the task owner John’s last day he would see us. After 29 years with Birmingham Mission he is leaving due to some health problems. We will miss him as he has always given the group such a warm welcome and really appreciated our help, therefore it was only right we had a last group photo with him :-)

After the task it was onto the hill work. The session was 4 minutes of hill sprints x 2, with 1 minute rest between the sets. Most of the group are running the Birmingham Half Marathon on Sunday, so a great session to get the legs fired up! Liam sat this one out, as his legs are still recovering from his escapades at the Berlin Marathon 9 days a go! He joined me on the ‘support shift’! Everyone put in some top effort, Balal and John were striding up with good power. Emily was pushing really hard and Miriam put in a great shift sporting her bright pink compression socks! Rahul put in some great work on his first GG outing, but as ever everyone was fantastic!

After that was done we headed back to 1000 Trades and that was us done. Good luck to Emily, Morwenna, Rob, David, Balal and Rahul for the Brum Half on Sunday, I’m sure you will all do great!

Next week we will be out doing good again, it would be great if you could join us sign up here.