17 GG Brenters, took on 2 storage rooms for Ashford place homeless shelter. Dashed off 5k. Killed 20minutes of plyometrics, sprints, walking lunges and killer squat combos and got home in time for sexy stretch time. All in an evenings work! Pow Pow!

The Queensbury Pub on Walm Lane was bursting at the seams with another full squad on deck at GG Brent. Joining the ranks of the fabulous familiar faces were 2 newbies in the mix this eve- Thais and Bharian YAY. I was also dizzy with excitement when old school original, none other than Sadhana rocked up with her signature sexy socks and beaming grin under cap!! This boost, got me hyper beyond belief and ready to roll out with my crew, fresh with spring in step.

No further than 0.6 miles to go, we cruised down to Ashford Place where the awesome Alan welcomed us in for the task at hand - clearing and sorting 2 donations rooms. Ashford Place is a firm friend of GG Brent and we are always delighted to volunteer our time there, to support their tireless work in the community. All year round they offer 30 long stay hostel rooms to local people who had been living on the street and work towards finding them permanent residence in the future. They also work to make services better for homeless people in Brent, campaign for policy change that will help end homelessness and innovate and develop tools to help their patrons work their way out of homelessness indefinitely. An absolutely incredible organisation and one that deserves all of Goodgym's support.

So stepping our best feet forwards, we jumped into the task quick smart. But because our crew was so large and epic this eve, it didn't take long before the jobs were done and rooms were packed and sorted. So taking advantage of the gifted time, the team wasted none and ran the infamous Ashford Place stairs, 4 flights, top to bottom, not once, not twice but thrice times over!!! AMAZING!!

After the stair-runs and standard photo shoot (Ovs!) It was back on the streets to keep the running mojo cooking. Gradual tempo runs led us down to Gladstone Park where more fitness fun was the order for the night.

The teams split into 4 and worked their way through a medley of sprints, squat jumps, tuck jumps and walking lunges and if that wasn't enough there was just enough time for a combined group hammer of the circuit for one more round.

Cheered on by nominated ambassadors - Enrique, Claire, Samuel and Mouse, the shouting and encouragement echoed through the park like thunder, with fellow runners stopping in their tracks to check the commotion and admire the efforts!

After a swift recovery (that's huffing, puffing, panting and sweating to you) the crew were back on the road for the last cool down mile back to base and it wasn't long before the lights of high road twinkled in our sights and lit the path home.

One last thing before we depart - Delicious stretching and a massive applause

Determination, motivation, good vibes and good deeds, sprinkled with the always raucous laughter and weird and wonderful chats, this is a crew that never fails to turn Monday from manic to marvellous!

See you next time!!!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

On the 6th day of the month, 17 Brent beauty's braved the icy rain for 90minutes. Ran a fierce 4K , dropped 200 leaflets and even had time to plyometric their their way through an adrenaline pumping fitness frenzie. Track attack but I should have work a rain Mac Just another average Monday for GG Brent. Pow Pow

Housekeeping to begin as always and to my delight another Welcominng of newbies was in order for the third week in a row. Not one but two new faces into the fold hurrah Stephanie and joining the ever increasing familia Ananda was push AKA Mum, brought along for the night too!!!

Another newness shout out came in the form of Our Big proud intro to the new lord of the GG Brent Twitter -Lucky Enrique, who would be sprinkling our goodcheer all over the socials for the next coming weeks YAY.

After announcements and a discussion on the best abs and core excersies to do (little did they know these were in store later ha ha ha ha ) the crew stepped up to the plate for task reveal time.

It was team effort all the way with seasoned Brent Goodgymer Eliza providing the deed for the night: Hand out the mighty big stack of leaflets for : Brent's affordable counselling service. So with all hands full, the paper chase was on & we were more than ready to rock, paper, scissor(kick) to track.

Stepping out into the night one word whistled through the air like a speeding train hurtling down a tunnel.... "Collllddd" omg was it cold and if that wasn't enough, no sooner had we ducked out, we were greeted by the biggest downpour of rain known to mankind and boy oh boy was it freezing too!! But completely and utterly unfazed (my crew is hardcore y'all) we rolled out regardless with smiles and laughter that lit up walm lane brighter than the street lamps themselves.

The 2.5k dash down to Willesden track took no time at all in the wake of our 'paper-trail' where passers by and Willesden-ites were both thrilled and dazed by the good vibes being flung at them, at every turn!!

Arriving at the track, with practically all leaflets handed out, YAY, the team reviewed the torrentials and absolute slip and slide of a track, with nervous anticipation ..... hummmmmm thinking on my feet, like any Goodgym coach would do I used my noggin and set up the plyometrics session under the blessed covering of the bleacher stands YAY!!!! It was the only way!!!!!! and to my delight, what was laid out in front of me to use - stairs!!!! Yessss!!! Stretching out to provide the perfect gradient level simulated track as an alternative option. Pow Pow!!

So without further a do, teams split in 2 and now the real work could begin: Team one began with: High knee runs up and down the stairs of the supporter bleacher seating, hitting every stair with their feet as they chopped and sped their legs at through 4 sets. Team two with me, got a lesson in plyometrics; Tuck jumps, explosive jump lunges and 2 feet to 1 explosive hops.

Now because i know you like the science part; Plyometrics, also known as "jump training" or "plyos", are exercises in which muscles exert maximum force in short intervals of time, with the goal of increasing power, speed and strength. This training focuses on learning to move from a muscle extension to a contraction in a rapid or "explosive" manner, such as in specialised repeated jumping. Although Plyometrics are primarily used by athletes, like sprinters and high jumpers to improve performance, they can also be incorporated into a cross training routine for an endurance runner too, to support conditioning of muscles and bonus time, act as a neat little fat burner as well.

After a minute of each split the teams switched and after a 4X repeats we all regrouped for some essential core work to finish. Using planks, split low legs and scissor kicks to blast the bods for one last effort as a united crew.

After the blitz in the rain the team wasted no time and with jackets zipped, hoods up we headed straight back out into the storm, to weather the last couple of km back to base.

Yes it was wet, yes it was cold, yes we welcomed newbies into the fold. But were we glum, highly strung? Think again, it was nothing but a Brent bonanza of fun fun fun!!!

See you next time!!!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

Eleven merry GG Brent-ers, ran 5k to Ashford place homeless shelter. Dropped twelve bags of warm clothing donations and finished the night with a bodyweight training session of sprints, box jumps and the 100 SQUAT CHALLENGE Just your average Monday in West London then!!! POW POW

The night was bright and clear and we were full of Goodgym Cheer, as we gathered at our local for the housekeeping and catch up bit. To my absolute delight, we welcomed back into the fold - Regular Neil, back for his first injury-free run this year and the awesome powerhouse fam that is - The Ananda's YIPPPEEEEEEE and joining Dimple and newly engaged Nisha (Yay congratulations!!!) was Jessica too.

Making up the gang this eve was our usual gaggle of gorgeous gals - Sister Sledge/Tabitha and Debs, Epic Eliza, Luscious Liz, Miss smiles and energy - Kapow Karen and the bold and beautiful Beth (who actually loves my mad ranting run reports!!! Yes)

So despite the cold, we courageous crew, head out into the darkness to speed the half mile dash up to Ashford Place Community serving powerhouse and homeless shelter based on Ashford Road Willesden. Serving the community in more ways than one, offering support for carers of dementia sufferers, art class, languages and a warm and safe home for 33 people who are without a permanent home!!

Having spoken to Danny the manager last week, I determined that they have a distinct lack of warm clothing to offer residence and furthermore the people who they cannot actually house for the night..... AHHH HAAAAAAA My brain began to tick....... What if we actually put some of those Christmas and January sale clothes to good use???

So out to the masses I did shout and my red shirted band of Robin Hoods returned my call (just to confirm there was no stealing involved lol) So bags in hands, we ran and soon enough dropped our donations into grateful hands.

After the drop, it was best foot forwards and onto Gladstone Park. With all of my imagination I came up with the most effective combo for my crew that would boost their Jan fitness goals; Fat Burn, condition Muscle and up endurance.

Split into teams, what followed was a 3 x circuit of: Box/Bench jumps, Bodyweight Squats and Sprints. smashing out an impressive 100 Squats!!! 70Jumps and 3X Sprint repeats, this team demonstrated that they can pack a punch when it comes to positive energy - from within and giving back.

A short cruise home, took us the cool down route back to base camp. With chats of nutrition and goals, glad tidings and gains, fitness and fun and with our Goodgym Brent, no one was glum.

Until next time....

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

13 Strong, tackled 4.5miles and dropped a whopping 200 leaflets for mental health charity Mind. That's one successful Monday and one massive sprinkling of Good(Gym) cheer all over our beloved Brent. POW POW!

At yet another awesome session, GG Brent continued to jubilantly jump into Jan with the third one of the year. The task this week was to hit up the Brent base for mental health charity Mind, collect a batch of leaflets and advertise their upcoming community run which takes place on Thursday the 2nd of Feb at 6.30pm. Easy peasey lemon squeezie..... or so they thought.

The warm up run was cruised in style, 1.7miles through the windy streets of Willesden, past Roundwood Park and up to Harlesden, our home for the night. But soon enough it was revealed that the location of Mind wasn't just the point of pick up, oh no, it just happens to be on the corner of the most perfect grid/block system of roads..... This basically meant that what could have been perceived as just a row of ordinary streets, was in fact the absolute perfect arena for Block Sprints & our outdoor track for the night. Where jog/sprint combos could be carried out, every time a corner of a road was encountered. Tempo training with a twist!! Oh yeah

Wth a successful collect and then total completion of ALL Leaflets delivered, the team continued the paper-chase. Bobbing and weaving through the block tempo track with the added challenge of real deal hurdles via the hopping over of cracked curbs and pavements!

Not once but twice the team annihilated the block sprints challenge, with only motivation and good vibes in the air. With the fitness and tasking nailed,it was heads down for the final Push (and one last stop for a photo pose of course) Straight back to it, the cool down run back to base. Chatting and laughter filled the air as the last of our efforts pounded pavements and our tired legs carried us home.

With The Queensbury at last in sight we finished up, stopped, stretched and said our farewells. Hammy only after as I travelled on the tube home did I realise I'd forgotten to carry out the 100 squat challenge I'd so gleefully promised!! Dammmmm!!! and no one reminded me hummmm I wonder why!??

See you next week for sore bums galore!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE.