Introducing

The evening started off with the usual intro and then an introduction to the newly appointed Hammersmith and Fulham TaskForce. Ellie, Justine, Sarah, Will will be joining Jason for the next year. This lovely bunch have been rewarded for their involvement in Goodgym, both as regular runner on the group runs and being a friendly face to those old and new.

A delight, not a task at all

After a good old warm-up we headed off to North Hammersmith to do something quite different. After a previous success back in April, we were back to do a different kind of good deed with a Yarrow Housing.

Yarrow works with people with learning disabilities and acquired brain injury, ranging from those who need 24-hour support to those who only want one or two hours per week. On this occasion we were visiting one of their residential properties. Polly the trainer was going to take a gentle stretching session for both the residents of the house and the goodgymers.

Once we arrived, Helena from Yarrow Housing greeted us and gave the group an explanation of why our presence was great stimulation for the residents and how they might react (or not). Plus, that they had bribed them with pizza afterwards, so they should be more receptive to the session.

With gentle reggae music playing in the background the whole group went through a series of stretches starting from head all the way down to the ankles.

After a 15 minute session we said our goodbyes, left them to eat pizza and headed back to base. Will took Ellie and Helen back a slightly longer route, including a fartlek along King Street. Polly embarrassed her group by stopping them to do some fitness session outside a Hammersmith restaurant. (Sorry guys) Good job we had a lovely dinner afterward for November’s social.

A whopping 15 people turned up this week to do good and get fit.

This week we were helping out at Yarrow Housing's art centre called The Gate giving the walls a lick of paint. Yarrow provide services for people with with learning disabilities and acquired brain injury, ranging from those who need 24-hour support to those who only want one or two hours per week.

How you doing, London?

We started this week's group run a bit differently because all this week Goodgym is helping support Thrive LND and their campaign to improve London's wellbeing and mental health. We spoke about ways in which Goodgym'ers could make an extra impact this week. Here were the 6 suggestions:

1. A city where individuals and communities take the lead > Smile at your neighbour
2. A city with a happy, healthy and productive workforce > Treat a busy colleague to a cuppa
3. A city free from mental health stigma and discrimination > Ask a friend or family member if they are OK
4. A city with services that are there when and where needed > Reconnect with someone you’ve lost touch with on social media
5. A city that maximises the potential of children and young people > Visit one of London’s great free museums, galleries, festivals or parks
6. A zero suicide city > Offer your time to a local cause or someone in need

Let's tick 6 off the list

So after finishing up the intro speech and welcoming Chris, Anna and Emily to their first GG, we went for a warm-up outside.

With myself at the front and Jason at the back, we headed off to The Gate - only 1km away meant we got there in no time.

Once we arrived and met the Volunteer Coordinators Marie and Helena, we were given an introduction by one of the ladies who attends, music sessions at The Gate.

Time for an arm workout

The crew got straight to work painting one of the day centre rooms. The walls were originally a dark, royal red. Because The Gate do art classes, thankfully there was a never-ending supply of paint brushes and rollers.

The team coated the first room in paint in no time (including the floors), and a group moved on to paint the corridor next.

By 8pm all the walls had a first coat of paint and some had a second!

Round the houses

For our run home we added in a nice big loop away from Hammersmith and then down by the river, peppered with squats and star jump breaks. Well done to Helen for adding in another lap of the park.

Thrive LDN

Check them out and Tweet us @GoodGymHF if you do any of the suggestion above this week.

Happy running!

PSB, OUT