38 GG Yorkies completed three tasks across the city!

Tonight we split up into three groups to spread the good and have triple the impact. We welcomed along one brand new runner to the team, so give your big Yorkie cheers to Debbie!

• The 6km team led/tailed by Tim and Ed went to Gale Farm Court to clear an area where a raised bed is going to go
• The 5km team led/tailed by Paul and Becky went to St Nicks for some planting
• The 4km team led by me and tailed by the rhyming duo of Nikki and Vicky went to the YUMI allotment to dig in manure and create a woodchip footpath

It was plain sailing at the YUMI allotment, despite some tools that were definitely designed for children. We had to turn over fresh manure into the three large flower/vegetable beds to get them ready for planting. We also had to dig the weeds out of a section of footpath, lay down some weedguard and top with woodchip. There were also some areas in the borders which needed digging and weeding.

Babs and Katie were busy tackling one of the borders but little did Babs know that Katie was secretly and gleefully sticking cleavers (sticky weeds) to her back the entire time.

The last time we were at Gale Farm Court, Pete ended up in A&E so he had unfinished business. The residents were delighted to see him with all limbs intact and the team set about tackling the big roots and plants which needed clearing.

Rich was pushing the limits of what could realistically be lopped. It started with thick branches but when he squared up to an oak tree, Tim had to step in.

At St Nicks, the team had to dig up a patch of nettle roots to clear the way for wildflowers to be planted. Nick headed off with a mattock and apparently looked like the eighth dwarf, going off to work.

You could call me Lanky

There was a lot of rubble in amogst the digging and Jonathan asked the team to make a pile so that "lizards can bask on them".. we're not sure if that's real or true but a pile was made nonetheless. Everyone then had to plant lots of tiny plants.

After all the planting, the St Nicks team had a fitness party in the park and even got to have a play on the swings.

I know someone who died because they went over the top of the swing - Jessie

Didn't stop Paul Kelly and Legendary Leanne from going for it..

My team finished up with a few hill reps (Babs still with a couple of cleavers on her back) before a plank challenge back at base. John beat Lauren in the Forecast sprint finish (that's 2-0!), Tim hadn't needed to get out his first aid kit and Jonathan had given us several massive bars of St Nicks branded chocolate - all in all a good night!

31 brilliant GG Yorkies gathered for their weekly dose of good deeds.

Unfortunately Boss Egg was laid up with illness this week, so it was up to run leaders Paul A and Leanne to lead us to victory in two brilliant tasks.

First up, we celebrated Paul Kelly's 50th Good Deed by handing over the illustrious Cape of Good Deeds. Then we warmed up with a bit of whole body rock paper scissors before heading out on two separate tasks.

Painting at Park Grove Primary School

Leanne led out a group of 14 to Park Grove Primary school where we met site manager, Gary. Most of the team set about sanding the rusty iron school gates ready for painting, with a few weeding the flowerbed next to the gate. Once the sanding was done, the gates were ready to paint. As well as painting the gates black, there were some paintings of children to refresh, so there were a whole spectrum of colours to choose from. Painting isn't the easiest task in the dark and some of the team weren't all that confident about the quality of their work...

If it looks shiny, then I'm sure you've done a great job (Freya)

Meanwhile, Nick, Maddy, Lindsay and Katie were round the back of the school, dealing with two piles of bark chip - some spreading one pile around a clearing, and the rest digging a different pile into a wheelbarrow to spread around the base of benches. They looked like they needed an extra pair of hands, so I appealed to the painting team - to no avail . Fortunately, Super Becky turned up at just the right moment, fresh from Parent's Evening at her own school and declared that she loved digging bark chip!

At the three minute call Zoe declared:

I can paint an octopus in three minutes

She grabbed some red paint... I gave her four minutes, and she did finish her octopus, but unfortunately the gates as a whole weren't to be finished on this occasion.

We used the marked-out playground to have a game of 'Toilet Tag' -including a running round and a skipping round. Despite clear instructions that there would be burpee penalties for anyone who strayed outside the marked space, everyone seemed to have selective hearing when it came to receiving their penalties.

Planting at Gale Farm Court

On the return back to base for the cool down, we met the Gale Farm Court Group who had been out to the sheltered accommodation to

• Do some weeding
• Plant bulbs
• Dig up tree roots
• Plant three new trees

There were rumours flying high of some kind of drama, but run leader Paul rushed off straight after the cool down to take one of our newer members, Pete's bag to him in A&E. Since Paul was busy tending to the injured party and submitting an accident report, the rest of the run report has been completed through the collection of witness statements.

Paul kelly: I was busy planting daffodil bulbs. I didn't see nuffink.

Tim: Mitch got soil in his eye.

Tim: I went over and chatted to some mature ladies - they rubbed their hands together and said 'Oh yes!' then tried to give me money!

It turned out that the ladies in question had held a coffee morning to raise money for Macmillan Cancer support after they'd heard about GoodGym Yorkie, Sean's efforts. They'd raised a fantastic £106.20 for the charity.

Back to Pete, Egg got wind of the evening's events pretty quickly:" OMG - I'm away for ONE NIGHT! Who hit him with what tool? Was it Max?" When Nikki heard about the witness statements she declared: "I'm sure I saw BadGym Max push him"

Max: Hmmm, well, we was holding the tree, I pulled the tree, he toppled over and fell on the stump and cut his leg. Craig was there too."

Nikki: He was very calm - 'You OK?'. ' Hmm yeah I'm OK but I think I need stitches' as he holds his own leg together.

Tim: We walking lunged past the police station so that they didn't see us.

Needless to say, there was no pushing involved - it was definitely an unfortunate accident, and one which heroes Paul A and Craig managed magnificently.

Latest reports are that Pete is doing well, waiting to be stitched up in A&E. We think he might be angling for the 'most accident prone' award at this year's GG Yorkie Awards.

Two teams of GG Yorkies ran to help St Nicks at different sites across the city!

Phenomenal Paul led the 6km group to Heworth Holme for what some seasoned GoodGym folk thought was a "phantom task" (this is a task that doesn't really exist), but Jonathan of St Nicks reassured everyone that it was a real one.

The task was to dig up clay-rich soil from Heworth Holme, load it onto the tricycle trailer and relocate it at St Nicks where the team are trying to create a wetlands area - but as the site is a former landfill the type of soil there isn't right. So, not just digging up soil and putting it somewhere else.

This is the easiest task we've ever had here, Jonathan hasn't had to use his superpowers to help us yet - Becky

Of course, Jonathan did go on to ride a trailer-load of clay back to St Nicks which probably weighed more than the whole of our GoodGym team combined.

For the 4km task, we ran to Millennium Bridge where we were met by Maria and Eithne. Our task was to rake up the grass cuttings from Millennium Fields, which is part of the meadow keeper's project and is a site where St Nicks is trying to promote biodiversity through wildflower planting. Grass cuttings need to be raked up and removed to prevent the soil from becoming too nutrient-rich.

We've done plenty of grass raking in the past but it was particularly challenging as the grass was extremely moist after a lovely day of Yorkshire rain.

Come and experience the joy of wet, clumpy grass! - Ellie B, selling it

There were a variety of bag sizes for loading grass cuttings into, as well as a giant tarp. Debs and Lindsay had paired up and had two of the smaller receptacles, but were doing many reps down towards the riverbank to offload.

We've got a grass bath and a swag bag! Debs

After the chilly and wet task we got ourselves well and truly warmed up with a session of step reps, sprints and various exercises such as the bench toe tap!

An outstanding crowd of 44 GG Yorkies completed a huge range of tasks at Millthorpe School as part of our #runandtalk event

Mental Health Ambassador Nick opened up the evening tonight with a brilliant explanation of what #runandtalk is all about. Running is great for mental health in many ways but GoodGym really helps by making us feel connected to our communities, being sociable with other people and giving runners an overall sense of fulfillment.

We introduced lovely new runners Ian and Zoe, and gave massive cheers to Nikki who finally got to wear the Cape of Good Deeds after completing her 50th good deed months ago. Next up was the Brilliant Bev who got to wear the Centurion Cape for completing 100 good deeds!

Our task tonight was with Emma, who runs a 'Forest School' on the grounds of Millthorpe School. Emma had saved us after our original task was cancelled and had a job list as long as her arm. We had to (take a deep breath):

• pull up two pond liners from a pond which hadn't been entirely drained
• dig a series of holes along the fence for bushes to be planted
• bark the whole campfire circle (with bark that was really far away)
• weed a border
• dig up deep-set posts from the old boardwalk
• remove all the old wood/chicken wire from the boardwalk and fill up Emma's car
• move loads of bits of wood to make a new, neat pile

Phew. Good thing a big crowd turned up, eh?

Barbara grabbed a wheelbarrow and set straight off to collect some bark with Tristan, Emily, Leanne and some others. The bark pile was so far away and with only two wheelbarrows it was going to take far too long so the team commandered a wheelie bin and filled it with bark so it could be done in less trips.

Where you been? Nick

Right over at the other side of the school! Babs

No, where you wheelie bin?! Nick

Dan had grabbed the sledgehammer and was tackling the big wooden posts whilst everyone who had baggsied a spade was digging holes for bushes along the line of the blue fence.

Most of the team were on the pond liner task, which was dirtier and stinkier than anyone had imagined. New runner, Zoe, was right in the mix and had already ruined her trainers on her first run.

It's okay, they'll wash! - Zoe

There were many tactics for extracting a giant pond liner that was stuck under a disgusting pile of sludge and it was getting pulled in all directions like a slippery tug-of-war. Every time a bit came up it would flick up and whoever was nearest would get splattered with grim pond slime, but that didn't put anybody off!

Over in the stick relocation department, lots of people were branching out and not sticking to the plan. Ste found a pair of knickers in amongst the foliage and we didn't know what to do with them so he put them in a bucket. Shortly after this, Katie found a bra and was so worried about being photographed with it that she chucked it at Tim.

I'm used to women throwing their bras at me - Tim

The bra also went in the bucket. Even with all that drama though we ended up with a huge and very neat pile of sticks in the right location.

Lizzie and Becky weeded the borders and Paul Kelly jumped onto sledgehammer duty whilst the pond team tackled the second, even deeper pond liner. Emma was welly-deep and doing her best honourary GoodGymer bit and nobody actually fell in which was a total miracle, even through Christine and Jenna both came pretty close.

As the last bit of pond liner came out, a huge cheer erupted and a crew of very grubby GG Yorkies were done. It was just the bark crew to finish off spreading the last wheelie bin of woodchip.

We had just enough time to fit in a Back to Basics Workout with all the best stuff like squats, lunges, burpees and a few partner-assisted single legs squats too!

25 GoodGym Yorkies and a GG Yorkie task owner got together to make Improvements at Danesmead Wood.

We started out by awarding the Centurian Cape of Good Deeds to Ellie who was embarking on her 100th good deed - well done Ellie! Then, instead of the warm up, we did the Time Warp (with added squats and star jumps) to get us fired up for the task ahead.

At Danesmead Wood, we met Carl, who explained that there were a plethora of tasks to complete. Before long, small teams were dispatched to the far ends of the (fortunately small) wood. Egg seems to have a habit of leaving the tasks where people are spread far and wide to me!

Just a stump to the left

One team were charged with sawing up bits of chopped-down trees so that it could be carried to the other end of the wood to build a dead hedge.

Some local teenagers had already used some of the branches to make a den and were guarding it closely when we arrived. In spite of the run report title, no sticks were nicked in the making of this task- there was plenty to go around for everyone.

When I got to this sub-team they were discussing what to name their saws:

• "My saw is called predator!" (Craig)

• "How about Jeremy Sawdon? (Ellie)

• "Paul? Most things in GoodGym are called Paul anyway." (Ellie)

• "Shorn?" (Craig)

And a relay to the right

Meanwhile, another team were working out appropriate distances to stand apart so that they could relay the sawn up branches to the other end of the wood. To me, it looked like a lot of standing around so I advised them to 'look active' if they saw me coming.

It wasn't long before they actually were incredibly active, running constantly with massive branches to get them to the other side of the wood to add to the dead hedge.

Tim managed to cut his arm whilst doing the relays (nobody knows how), so I got to crack open my first aid kit and dole out an antiseptic wipe and a plaster.

Pull your rakes to your hips

One team of two raked up a large area of pre-cut nettles to pile on top of the dead hedge.

Apparently there was another larger team doing a similar task in a hidden glade. I managed to find them with 5 minutes to go, and insulted them by telling them I didn't even know they existed, then asking them what they'd been up to. I defended myself by referring to the recent 'allotmentgate' incident. After all, finding a team 5 minutes before the end of the task isn't nearly as bad as leaving them behind... Fortunately Carl had been looking after them and they did a fabulous job of clearing their patch.

And sting your knees through tights

The rest of the group were charged with seeking out Himalayan Balasm. At this time of the year, after it has already flowered, it isn't quite as simple as just pulling it out of the ground as the seed heads can burst, causing it to spread farther afield.

This group were armed with plastic bags to put over the seed heads as they removed it. Nick was soon found to be complaining "why is all the balsam in amongst the nettles?" There were similar cries of dismay from the rest of the balsam group and some of them jumped at the chance to join the relay, just to get away from the nettles.

Lucy, however, stuck it out and was later found looking worried, holding two big sprigs of balsam, no plastic bags in sight, and shouting "I've got some live ones!"

It's the damn squat thrusts that really drove us insa-a-a-a -a- ane

With the task done, I managed to find everyone and get them together for the group photo... just after we'd all been given locally picked apples to munch on! Then it was onto the fitness session.

We split the group in two for a 'choose your own adventure' style fitness session that I've named 'I went to GoodGym' (It's a bit like the shopping list game, but with an increasing number of exercises as each person has a turn.) Since Becky has recently gained her run leader crown she took charge of the second group, making sure they didn't all choose 'sitting down' as their exercise.

In my group, Stef shocked us all by confessing that he didn't know how to do lunges, and then followed up with adding a set of squat thrusts to an already challenging list of exercises to do. Max gave us some light relief at the end -instead of adding 12 reps of a new exercise, he chose 'I went to GoodGym and all I got was this lousy t-shirt'

Meanwhile, in Becky's group, Tim was heard to include '10 seconds of silent contemplation' as his exercise of choice and Mel finished off the round with 13 high fives for our fellow GoodGymmers.

Let's do the GoodGym again!

By the time we were running back to the Premier Inn for the cool down, it was already pretty dark - next week will almost certainly be headtorch time. Bring them along if you have them folks!

P.S. Big shout out to the pub gang (Craig, Stef, Tim, Max, Katie, Huw, Tim & Becky - hope I haven't forgotten anyone) for insisting on a Time Warp themed run report and helping with the puns. It was a real team effort tonight!