We said hello to new and old friends this week before heading out on the hunt to slay the Durham Ox, a now derelict pub where the exterior which is a key part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network (NCN) has become overgrown and unkempt, much like my old mans eyebrows actually...

We were kindly greeted by STUPENDOUS SIMON the Sustrans Volunteer Ranger Co-ordinator who had kindly organzed and collected tools on loan from Regather to help us carry out our work.

After a brief from Simon re the NCN , this local stretch and H&S aspects to keep an eye out for we got straight to it, cutting back over growth, digging up weeds, litter picking, sweeping and ho-ing (the clean type).

After a good spell hard at it the stretch of NCN looked unrecognizable and ready for cyclists and walkers alike.

Once tools had been returned to Simon's van we ran past our good work and bid farewell to Simon until next time and headed for the infamous Sheffield landscape of Park Hill for some fun fitness which this week included a bumper set of exercises inc;

• Box Jumps
• Stair Sets
• Hill Sprints
• Burpees
• Press Up's
• Sit Up's
• Leg Raises
• Planks

Once we returned to the Showroom we stretched off and heard the latest news before heading inside for chat and liquid refreshment.

Until next time, happy running!

With 2 FANTASTIC new runners along to the nights run we gave a big cheer to new runners:

• Sarah Thornton
• Alex Cockerham

Give em a follow!

With intros over we headed out from base toward the Heeley Alternative Energy Centre to meet our Task owner for the night 'ADMIN ADAM' who had done a fantastic job of organizing leaflets and maps for us to help deliver our and their leaflets to try and find some more carers in Sheffield. It was a task that was right up our street!

We split up into pairs with leaflets in hand and had some quick team photos before deciding that it was 'leaflet butter jelly time' and everyone headed out into the cold Feb air flyering high and low, but mostly high - Sheffield's got some hills!

Everyone made it back in time with some showing the battle scars of the task with HERIONE HELEN sporting a paper cut from her committed efforts and lightning fast flyering hands! A brave face she did have and after a brief clean up and plaster we got a quick group photo and headed back out to one of our fave parks for a HANG TOUGH session.

This week we kept with the pairs and had a TRIPPLE TROUBLE session where partners took it in turns to hang with optional pull ups, legs up, knees up while their partner got in a quick 10 of:

• Box Jumps or step ups
• Press Up's
• Tri Dips

After each complete 10 we swapped and also got in a quick 60m Sprint on the track before heading home for tea and medals!

Until next week, happy running!

Tom :)

This week saw @GGSheff run to a new location with the fantastic REGATHER to help Friends of Lynwood Gardens with the upkeep of this city centre gem.

WELCOME

We welcomed a new runner to the group this week who mucked in really well with the group and is a real chip off the old block. Give a big CHEER and follow for LUKE

LETS RUN

With a bit of a longer run than usual everyone did a fantastic job of getting to the task site. On reaching the site we were given a fantastic and thorough brief of the nights task by GORGEOUS GARETH who even brought some posh moveable lights for the task to make the task doable in the dark of the wooded area and made for some very arty lighting for photos.

TASK TIME

Our tasks for the eve was to shift cut down weeds into a compost pile and shift as much woodchip into the muddy grounds of the park as we could to make the area more useable for the public and the kindergarden on site. By the end of the task we had covered a massive area with very little beating around the bush. The team really stuck with the task throughout with everyone chipping in!

PHOTOS & TREATS

At the end of the task we gather for a great group photo taken by MAGICAL MARTIN and had time for a quick drink before heading back to base with bags of treats provided by GORGEOUS GARETH of REGATHER in the form of honeycomb and fudge - DELICIOUS!

SPRINTS & SITS

On the way home as it was a bit of a longer run put in some sprint and returns with everyone doing a great job and really giving it a go when they saw the sprint go off the front and the hands go up for the loop back to 'THE KING' as the back marker. We formed a great wall sit tunnel in the underpass to give high fives and cheers as people came through and get a great group photo.

Back at base we used the wall for some stretching and headed inside for liquid refreshment, pun suggestions and talk of a GG climbing session this week - watch the WhatsApp!

Until next week,

Happy Running :)

With OPHELIA howling around the Steel City, blowing road barriers in our path and breaking Tom's camera, the @GGSHEFF crew still stood (and ran) firm last night.

With our planned task with Regather at Lynwood Gardens being in a wooded area, we thought it best to re-arrange this task for a more clam future night so headed of from the Showroom over to Mount Pleasant to see the infamous Jonny Douglas who gave us a brief about the Save Mount Pleasant project which for which we were flyering that eve.

After a brief sit on Jonny's comfey corner sofa and explanation of the project and it's plans we headed out into the wind with flyers tightly clutched destined for peoples letter boxes.

We split into two teams with 2 team captains* Bombacious Bash* and Sensational Sam (who was on his 50th good deed that night - Horrah!) The two teams the split themselves accordingly to ensure that no letterbox was left out and we smashed the following roads:

• Sharrow St
• Hobart St
• Salmon St
• Club Garden Road

We then headed for shelter from the wind in the Park Hill Flats complex which offered shelter, fantastic views of the city, famous historical public proposals and lots of letter boxes in a row!

Following the tactical completion of operation Park Hill we headed outside and onto the newly lit Cobbled Killer where some of the group ran hill reps whilst some other took on the Steel Steps and then we re-grouped at the top before returning to base to stretch, hear news and grab refreshment.

Until next time,

Happy Running :)

18 excellent @ggsheff runners ran 3km to help the CATHEDRAL ARCHER PROJECT tidy up their community garden.

After hearing about the teams efforts on Sundays run at DIG DEEP we set off into town taking on a few obstacles on route to the CATHERDRAL ARCHER PROJECT.

On arrival LOVELY LYNN welcomed us with cold bottled water and a brief about the project and the tasks for the eve which included a lot of cutting back of overgrown plants. The aim is to be able to use the garden as an activity for the project and its users who will hopefully take ownership of the garden.

After a good 45mins of hacking away the area looked a lot clearer and ready to be used once again. Lynn gave us a lovely thank you before we headed back off into the city for the fitness session.

This week we took advantage of the cities structures and landscape and focussed on some stair sets, box jumps and a killer hill rep session to finish off before heading into the SHOWROOM for a well earnt drink and natter.

Until next time.

HAPPY RUNNING

8 GoodGymmers ran 10k as part of the Dig Deep running weekend at Whirlow Hall Farm.

But before that, on Saturday.....

*Courageous Caroline* ran the 30 mile ultra!!! Well done Caroline - an amazing effort!

The rest of us turned up on Sunday, a perfect sunny morning for the inaugural outing of the GoodGym Sheffield flag (thanks Sam!) Despite signing up for the "easy option" of "6 country miles", it turned out to be a bit hillier and muddier than we anticipated! After an initial slog out of the farm and up Ringinglow Road, we turned across a series of fields and styles before dropping down some steep and slippery steps into the woods. This was quite a struggle for those without trail shoes (everyone except Mike), and a few runners were hitting the deck. But after sliding safely to the bottom we started our ascent of the beautiful Limb Valley, which climbed steadily upwards, and upwards, and up a bit further....prompting Bash to make some excuses about a heavy leg session the day before. On the plus side, the slow pace meant people had time to read our T shirts, and several of us managed some mid race recruitment discussions with fellow runners. Eventually we hit a much needed water station, before a final ascent through the mountain bike trails of Lady Cannings Plantation brought us out into a sea of glorious purple heather on Houndkirk Moor. At this point the course looped back on itself, which allowed for lots of GoodGym high fiving as we passed each other. From then on it was mostly fast downhill until a final climb back to the farm.

*Magic Mike* sped home in 7th place and took up position as GG photographer to catch the rest of us crossing the line - nice one Mike! *Surprised Suze * somehow finished as 2nd female, while *Battling Bash* made it round in good time despite his heavy legs, and *Sparkly Sarah* bounced over the line looking like she hadn't just run the same race as the rest of us. *Katabolic Kat* cheekily pipped *Admirable Ash* on the line, while *Saintly Steven* and *Valiant Victoria* crossed in unison.

Since we'd all managed to finish well before midday it was deemed too early to hit the bar, so we celebrated with a round of well earned burgers from the Farm Shop BBQ.

Look out for people sporting their race T shirts at future group runs - and remember to give Caroline 5 times as much kudos for hers!!

What a whopper in Wandsworth last night. With the muscle power of 41 runners, we were really able to make a huge difference at a local community project, and even got a special technical session from a guest coach. What's not to love?!

Before we set off, we had a run through of the week's news, which included saying a huge thank you and well done to all of those who helped out, ran, volunteered and paced at Saturday's Tooting Common park run. It was a brilliant morning, with GoodGym pacing 20-35 minutes, being the best (noisiest) cheering squad and generally making the event a big success. The report isn't up yet, but keep an eye on the Tooting Common parkrun page for when it does appear. In the meantime, check out these photos.

We also welcomed some lovely new runners to the team - give a cheer to Phoebe, Stephen and Kate. Fantastic to have you with us.

Well done to Matthew, Jack and Jim who also raced in Decathlon's Wimbledon 5k yesterday, and to Jessie and Luke for smashing the Race the Sun (or Rain).

While we did our warm up, we did a quick poll to find out what made people laugh. Answers included Fawlty Towers, when people fall over, Mabel's hamster and Trump.

With a short run of just over a mile, we set off at a nice speed and quickly arrived at the Doddington & Rollo rooftop garden, where a range of jobs was chalked up on the board ready and waiting for us to get stuck in. There was plenty for us to do - turning compost, cutting back the vines, a vast amount of watering, weeding paths, clearing beds, and cutting up garden waste ready for composting - but Team Wandsworth was up to the job. Within just over half an hour we had made some huge progress and the garden - which is on top of an old car park and is used by local residents who don't have access to outside space to grow fruit and vegetables - was looking even more blooming lovely.

We waved goodbye to the garden, and set off for Battersea Park where we were meeting a running technique coach from BodyLogic, a running school in Battersea, who was taking us through a series of drills and technical points for distance running. Seb led us to a nice quiet spot in the park before setting up cones and leading us through various elements that will make our running more efficient, concentrating especially on positive backwards arm drive. If you enjoyed the session, BodyLogic is offering GG members that attended 50% off a running video analysis here at Body Logic that expires at the end of the month. Just email for the details and code if you're interested.

We put what we learned to the test on the way back, when we split into two groups and raced to our starting point. I noticed plenty of good arm drive on the last hill up to the BAC (when it is really needed) -you were looking great, gang.

Next week we're off to a spot more gardening on a local estate, so join us for another fun session by signing up here.