January is the month that brings new goals, challenges and newbies for us, but it's also the coldest!

Huddled up like penguins, 12 GoodGymers found comfort in the warmth of Old Spike Roastery. After last week's amazing turnout, we were back to our average as we welcomed back Claire after her three months in Lisbon soaking up the sun, sea breeze and...

As 18:45 arrived, Sam delivered his typical GG speech including his ice-breaker question which was a simple snap poll to determine whether people liked salted or sweet popcorn as National Popcorn Day falls on Friday. Yet, they also had to answer:

What is your soup of preference?

Technically, mixed won in the snap poll, but Salty had more votes between the two obvious choices. In terms of soups, (homemade...from a can) tomato soup had the most votes, but we had ramen/laksa, spicy parsnip, cauliflower, pea, carrot & coriander, chicken (noodle), potato & leek, scotch broth and of course, cream of mushroom.

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"I'd rather have Cream of Mushroom soup than live in Dulwich" - Isaac

Since it was going to be a longer group run and it was cold, Sam gathered everyone in the alleyway for a warm up before leading from the front as Lindy backmarked on the way there. We ran towards Lordship Lane passing Goose Green and unfortunately, a crazy guy who catcalled. We stuck together as we climbed up East Dulwich Grove to reach JAGS (James Allen's Girls School). With just 700 metres left, we pushed on downhill and across past North Dulwich station to reach St. Faith's Community Centre where we met Emma and Mikhail who ran from home to meet us there.

Sam took out the GROAD flyers and having pre-determined the teams, he split the group into three:

• Team Daryl - long run covering the streets in Dulwich Village. He had Emma, Gemma and Isaac in his team.
• Team Maria - medium run covering the streets between Dulwich Village, Herne Hill and North Dulwich. She had David, Elena, Laura and Mikhail in her team.
• Team Lindy - short run covering the streets behind St. Faith's Community Centre and the estate across it. She had Claire, Nathan and Nelly in her team.

Off they went to flyer the homes with the good work GROAD does and since they are opening up again on Sunday, it was a great chance to remind the neighbourhood that they can drop off unwanted and unloved items at St. Faith's Community Centre (every Sunday from 14:00 - 16:00).

After 35-40 minutes, the teams came back to St. Faith's with almost all 200 flyers delivered. During this time, Jessie made an appearance as she was running late having ran from London Bridge.

After our group photo, we said our goodbyes to Emma and Mikhail who ran/cycle back home from there. The rest of us ran back 2.5k to Old Spike, the same way we came. This time, Nathan and Gemma backmarked as Gemma and Claire walked the final bit to the pub!

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Thank You to all the GG-ers

A personal thanks from me to all those who came out last night! It was cold, but the run kept us warm. I know Andrea from GROAD appreciates us going out and reminding the neighbourhood of their service at St. Faith's Community Centre on Sundays. Thank you to Daryl, Lindy Maria for leading your groups and for being on time (considering the distances you had to cover)! Finally, thank you to the backmarkers. See you all soon!

We welcomed not one newbie, but two newbies to our group run this week! Andrada and Sunday came along for their first GoodGym experience with Sunday also doing his DBS check to get going with more good deeds!

Everyone packed up inside Old Spike as Sam delivered his GG intro speech to everyone, but did the longer version for the newbies to understand what GoodGym is all about and ways they can get involved. Kudos to Claire for hitting her yearly target of getting to 30 good deeds by the end of 2023. Since she is off to Portugal soon until after the Xmas social, Sam gave her gift, which was a "Women of London" map depicting where there are buildings designed by women architects in London including our very own, Dawson's Heights.

After our final warm-up on the Green, Sam's ice-breaker for tonight was a two-parter: With Sourdough September coming to an end, what is your favourite type of bread? or the second question was: It's Women's Health & Fitness Day in the US, who is our fitness female role model?

Many people liked sourdough and the various forms it comes in from crumpets to loaves, but we had Tiger Bloomer, Baguettes, Sunflower seed, brioche, and Irish soda bread...

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Fire fighting

With Sunday opting to walk to the task, Daryl accompanied him as the rest of us ran the 2k via Nunhead to get to Cossall Hall to meet up with Alan and Jaki who were in the courtyard getting the tools out. We also met Alice, Anna, Laura, Mikhail and Vic there.

Since it was too dark and the Nature Reserve was shut, we couldn't litter pick inside. However, we still had some keen beans with the headtorches on to litter pick around the estate.

There were six, Alex, Anna, Laura, Lindy, Nelly and Vic, that stayed behind in the courtyard to clear it all up. Whilst the rest went outside to the entrance of the Nature Reserve to weed the planters in and around them. Armed with various tools including a strimmer that Mikhail happily took on, we cleared as much as we could in the 40 minutes. We easily put away 10 bags of weeds, litter and trimming as the beats of the 90s were playing in the background. With limited light, we could only do so much.

As we approached 20:00, Sam called it a day and decided that we should pack up and head back to the courtyard to bring back the tools and collect the others.

Most depart their way from Cossall Estate, others on the run back, but some stayed until the end with a few of us heading to White Horse for a pint or two.

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Thank You to all the GG-ers

A personal thanks from me to all those who came out tonight! Firstly, a massive thank you to Daryl and Emma for walking to and from the task with Sunday and to Emma and Laura for backmarking the run there and back. Thank you to the rest of you for coming along as gardening in the dark has it's potential dangers and surprises, but we all managed to do what we can! There was a definite transformation in the courtyard and we would only see the changes to the front of the Nature Reserve in the daylight.

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Thank You to Alan and Jaki

GoodGym is all about getting fit and doing good! We praise the runners/cyclists/walkers who come to get fit and help out, but we often forget about our task owner. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alan and Jaki for allowing us to come after canceling last week due to the heavy rain. That's it for group runs to Cossall Estate this year and we'll be back when it's lighter. We are always up for doing sessions on the weekends to help out with any weeding.