Lambeth trainer Katie covered the lovely Wandsworth group this week and disaster struck at lunchtime when our lovely task had to cancel due to illness.

RATS! Said Katie.

She quickly called upon some helpful Wandsworth runners who suggested some other spots to go. Sadly, none of them could arrange a task at such short notice so instead we headed down to Battersea Park, split into three teams of seven and played the Trick or Treat Challenge. Each team had to complete eight Tricks and eight Treats, with location specific challenges around the park. As it was such a chilly evening, this task worked well as everyone had to keep moving at all times. One of the Treats included some plogging and gaining a feeling of great satisfaction. Well done to the team who found a Prosecco bottle - very Battersea Park!

It was Jordan's team that made it back to base first and who also made the best Spooky Photo. Well done gang!

And with that, it was back to base with in a Ghoulish manner - everyone set off as fast as possible and a team of five chasers tried to catch us all before we reached home.

This is a big hill at the end just before you get home! Said everyone.

Once back at base the first prize team enjoyed some Fiendish Fancies and everyone else got a consolation eyeball. Don't say I don't spoil you Wandsworth! Thanks for having me and happy birthday to Brian too.

There's a chill in the air, the leaves are turning and it's almost time to dig out those running gloves. Yet still 34 eager GoodGym runners turned up to tackle two tasks for the local community.

We started off with a bumper week of news.

Next week we are putting on a post-run cake evening on October 1st in Wandsworth to raise money for a local cancer support charity that we've done some tasks for - the amazing Paul's Cancer Support Centre. Feel free to contribute a cake or sweet treat and simply donate a few quid and tuck in! Thanks to Jordan for this fantastic idea.

On the 6th October Herne Hill Harriers running club are putting on a cross country race for a bargainous £13 if you book ahead. Click here for all the details.

Fancy doing a spot of volunteering in return for a snazzy Adidas top, plus a 50% discount code for a future Adidas City Run (where you’ll get another top which you run it in)? Well then sign up here to help out at the Shoreditch 10k on Sunday October 14th 2018.

A huge welcome to Jen and to Jess who came for their first runs - lovely to meet you!

Twice the fun

It was a two task night in Wandsworth, so after we did a quick warm up and decided collectively which was the best London Park (Battersea came out top, natch), we split ourselves into two teams. Team one was coming with me down to the Venue community centre where we had a range of jobs to do after a recent flooding, while team two was going on a slightly longer run to a local primary school with recently qualified run leader, Danny - congratulations to you!

Waving goodbye for now, team one set off on a shortish clip down to the Venue, where we got stuck in to emptying a food storage room, used for keeping the food which is then handed out to the local community, following a flood at another storage facility the charity uses. Using our failsafe human chain method, we soon got the space cleared and ready, and even managed to give the place a tidy as well. This amazing place is a lifeline for local people who are struggling, and relies on support to keep it running. With that done, we popped over to Battersea Park for our fitness session, while meanwhile....

Team two was at Allfarthing School to paint a huge wall. This is what Danny said about the task:

"So the school task went great, they had everything set-up ready to go when we got there, even with the paint in the trays. The task owners were super nice! The task was to paint over the mural with the blue, which is now due to have literacy / numeracy stuff painted on it. People got more done than they had set-up for, so then did the large end wall also (the one with the cow on). Some people dutifully washed-up brushes and poured the paint back into the cans from the trays. The task owners even had biscuits there for people!"

Amazing work everybody!

Next week we have a really great new task at a school we've been to before. This local primary school is creating a dream garden for its students. To create a bespoke, beautiful learning space that can be used by the school and local community, including a new building that will enable volunteers and groups to use the space all the time, the school is raising the money for this itself and needs volunteers to help clear the ground ready for the garden to be built. It's going to be a big job, so sign up here for a an upper body work out and a really great community good deed.

Special thanks to Danny for taking a Wandsworth group on his first session leading! Great to have you with us.