Last night’s GoodGym adventure started with an unexpected twist: we arrived at the Phoenix Cinema to find ourselves stepping into what looked suspiciously like a low-budget remake of Men in Black. Black suits, earpieces, security checks… we were only missing Will Smith! (but he could’ve been inside)

I paused at the door—slightly concerned that my bum bag (delicate territory) might be subjected to a full MI5-level inspection. Thankfully, Rachel arrived, and we decided to store our high-risk belongings in my car. Enter our two brave new recruits, Freya and Caitlin, just in time for the action. Caitlin needed a quick change, which meant navigating cinema security like a spy on a mission—successfully in and out without blowing our cover. (I was asked to move away on the basis that a car might mount the pavement towards me! ! bizarre! )

Feeling very protected (by men with clipboards and scanning devices), we did our warm-up next to the cinema, no doubt confusing the surveillance team further. We then boldly stepped into the unguarded wilderness of East Finchley, en route to Martin Primary School.

To pass the time, Rachel suggested some icebreakers. We each shared what we once wanted to be as kids (spoiler: none of us are astronauts now) and played “two truths and a lie” as we trotted along. It turns out runners are surprisingly good liars—or very bad detectives.

At the school, we met Scarlett and reintroduced ourselves, along with our crafted childhood aspirations and deception-based fun. Inside the school grounds, Jon welcomed us to the orchard, where the weeds had staged a full-blown coup. Brambles, bindweed and nettles were suffocating young trees like villains in a botanic thriller.

Armed with rakes and sharp tools (yes, we were trusted with these), we tackled the chaos. I warned the group about rake safety—especially after one of my nearest and dearest had an unfortunate rake-meets-face incident that ended in A&E and a lesson in cartoon physics. Fortunately, no repeats here.

After a heroic tree-rescue effort, we rounded off with a strength circuit: squats, triceps dips, sprints, and press-ups, with a side of motivational chat on the importance of strength training for runners. Gritty, glowy, and weedless, we jogged back to the Phoenix.

The security detail was still there—possibly baffled by our return or wondering if we were all part of some elaborate distraction. Either way, we cooled down before the cinema crowd poured out, said our goodbyes, and went home with that warm, weird feeling only a GoodGym mission can deliver.

Another one for the history books! giveCaitlin a shout out on her first GoodGym mission!

A fantastic turn out for our group run to Martin Primary School - 9 Goodgymmers and some new faces!

Joining us for the first time was Ahmad, who - amazingly! - has already done his Taskforce training. Also great to welcome Rosie and Gabrielle (Gabonnet), both on their first group session with us in Barnet, but not their first sessions. And so, our mighty pack warmed up outside the Phoenix, then set off for Martin Primary School, some walking with Rachel leading on the way there and Theodore on the way back, and the rest of us running.

There, met by John the groundskeeper, we took up shovels, rakes and barrows to help mulch the paths from the gate into the forest school. In highly organised teams, we set to refreshing the paths for learners old and young to be able to access the kitchen, orchard and parachute-canopied living classroom in the middle of the forest patch. With so many of us, the work was done in record time, so we jogged back to the Phoenix for a warm down and stretch, with some extra squats thrown in while we waited for the walkers to catch us up.

All round, a solid session, and mulch fun was had by all!

GoodGym Barnet: Helping a Forest School in East Finchley

On a crisp January evening, five dedicated GoodGym members gathered at the Phoenix Cinema for a group run with a mission: helping a forest school in East Finchley. Despite some last-minute dropouts, this hardy team of volunteers was ready to make a difference.

As we assembled, we shared stories of our favourite childhood books, setting a light-hearted tone before the evening’s work. A special mention to Susanna , who joined her first nighttime group run after attending our weekend intro session—she took it all in her stride.

We started with a gentle jog down East Finchley High Street to warm up, stopping midway for some dynamic exercises, including three-step punches, kick-ups, stick strides, and twists. With our heart rates up, we continued to the school, ready for the task ahead.

The Good Deed

At the school, we were greeted by wheelbarrows, shovels, and rakes, with instructions from our host, Jon, to spread fresh woodchip over worn and muddy areas. The chilly night air mixed with the dust from the woodchip, creating an almost magical, eerie atmosphere.

Anthony Mak-Fan showed great commitment and determination, tackling the heavy woodchip with focus. Meanwhile, Susanna on her first group run, worked effortlessly, making a strong first impression. Rachel Melinek was her usual reliable self, leading the group back to the Phoenix with energy and enthusiasm. Beattie, always dependable, was an excellent back marker, ensuring everyone stayed together and safe.

Mid-task, I took a moment to show Susanna and Anthony around the rest of the forest school, giving them a sense of the space we were helping to maintain.

After completing the work, we returned via a slightly different route to include a sprint workout. We tackled three sets of sprints with gentle jogs in between, adding an extra fitness boost to the evening. Along the way, we also did press-ups against walls before finishing back at the Phoenix Cinema.

A Bonus Good Deed

While warming down with gentle stretches, an elderly lady approached and asked for assistance retrieving personal items from her car. She needed her credit cards to pay for a film. Without hesitation, we stepped in to help, completing an unexpected but rewarding second good deed to end our session.

A big thank you to everyone who came along and worked hard to help the forest school. Your dedication and teamwork continue to make a difference in our community!

Once more, intrepid Goodgymmers gathered at the Phoenix and rose to the challenge of the forest school paths at Martin School. With the sun having just slunk below a moody autumn horizon and clouds threatening rain, we had the added bonus of it being George's first time leading a group run.

Fortunately with two experienced Goodgymmers running alongside, Paul and Rupesh, nothing could go wrong. We warmed up gamely, sharing exercises and swapping stories of our favourite warming winter food. Then we jogged up the High Road to the school.

There, met by groundskeeper John with flashlight and tools, we got stuck in to the now much-compacted mulch pile. We filled wheelbarrow and wheelie bin, carting woodchips down the path and spreading them with our trusty rakes. Even Gus, our unofficial mascot, eagerly chipped in by keeping foxes at bay while we worked.

We toiled swiftly and fully chipped the path from the gate to arch, where darkness swallowed our feeble torchlight and we were like, nah, maybe stop there, which was fortunate because time had run out and so, after a brief exchange of stories about Shaolin monks and Chinese martial arts with John, we trekked back to the Phoenix Cinema for a gentle warm down, and for Gus to hydrate.

Another great session, the paths well mulched and ready for the forest school's next horizon-expanding experience.

The sun, in its usual nonchalant manner, was beginning to take its evening bow as seven of GoodGym's stalwart members embarked on a mission that combined the heroic with the horticultural. Beattie, John, Rachel, Moya, Lucinda and Michaela had one single objective: to lay down wood chipping on the forest path at Martin Primary School. This was not merely a whimsical endeavor but a preemptive strike of sorts, ensuring that when September rolled around, the returning children would have a path as smooth as a duke’s handshake, well... or some other minor royal...

But our intrepid heroes were not content with just securing the future of these young scholars’ footwear. No, they had a plan so cunning it could have been devised by a fox with a degree in strategy. Along with the wood chipping, at the end of heir task they carried a bounty of apples, freshly picked from the ground, if one can combine 'freshly' and 'ground' in a single sentence.

As they reached the school, the scene was one of industrious delight. The air was filled with the mingling scents of freshly chipped wood, very hot underneath, and the crisp, tangy aroma of apples that would have had even the most jaded of noses twitching in appreciation. With the precision of landscape artists, they spread the wood chippings, transforming the once earthy track into a path fit for the most discerning of schoolchildren.

And the apples? Well, they were carefully stowed away, ready for the day when one of their number would be seized by the irresistible urge to turn them into something far greater than the sum of their parts. A crumble, perhaps, that would one day be enjoyed with the same satisfaction as a job well done.

So it was that the GoodGym runners departed, leaving behind a path as welcoming as an old friend and a stash of apples with potential yet untapped. The children will return in September to a pathway worthy of a fairy tale, and one day, perhaps, that apple crumble would come to pass—a fitting end to a fruit-ful day. Well done everyone!

On that blustery wet summer day, I joined George and Valeria for a GoodGym mission from the Phoenix Cinema to Martin Primary School in East Finchley. Despite the unusual weather conditions, we tackled the large pile of woodchip for the school path. The Orchard looked promising, with plenty of apples on the trees. Armed with a wheelbarrow, two wheelie bins, shovels, and a rake, we patched up holes in the forest paths and improved areas under the trees. During our efforts, we also had a chat with John, who facilitates after-hours use of the school. keep running walking or cycling and doing good.