Tonight was a dual event - both a group run with a task and a race.

I have decided to register everyone who did the race because even if you werent there early enough to help you were still doing a good deed as your entry fee was going to local good causes.

It was a fantastic sunny night with a brisk cooling breeze - the majority of our crew managed to make it down to Watermead ahead of the masses so we could help the rotarians with pre event tasks.

Mel and Rach helped out on the registration desk with handing out numbers, the rest formed a posse of synchronised wafters directing cars to safely and tidily park. I think we did a fine job and the Race Director (a very old friend) thanked me warmly for our assistance.

The race itself got underway on time - some 520 or so had signed up - not quite that many there in the end, something about a football match!!! - as it turned out, I think most people got home in time for the good bit.

I managed to blag Katy a place even though the race was full and transfer deadline had passed - sometimes its not what you know but who! In truth, due to an admin error Mel and I had been allocated two numbers each (we only paid once though) so I was able to swing the place on the basis that Katy ran as David Snutch - first race I have run in where I will get two results.

It was also great to meet Justin who had travelled up from Buckinghamshire to join us and take part - it would have been good to talk more but we had work to do. We came alongside at about 2 miles and both concluded we had gone off a bit quick. I did notice a trait in Justin that seems to come natural to GoodGym runners - thanking marshals. I always try to do it as long as I have enough breath to talk. Without them races like this could never happen so I encourage you all, always spare a thought for race marshals.

If I wait until the results are out to applaud the achievements of team GoodGym I will miss my report deadline so you will have to go online yourselves tomorrow to see how you did. Needless to say, in that heat, a massive well done to all who took part.

PS: Apologies for the lack of action shots tonight - Mel was very busy handing out numbers!!!

The weather gods were smiling on us last night as only 10% of the forecast 90% chance of rain appeared to materialise.

With only one no show due to a missed bus we set off on a dead straight route along to Hinckley Rd and up to Western Park

On the other hand the traffic light gods were not smiling as it seemed to me we spent more time waiting for green men than we did running!

Lindsay and Sam led the front whilst Mel and I brought up the tail. It was nice to discover a bit of a gradient on that route…Mmmm will have to remember that for future evilness!!!

Arriving at site our hosts were already there and had made a start – the task was to take everything out of a storage container and then put it back again… but neatly.

A chain gang was soon formed and various articles of equipment and other ephemora were being decanted into a row of waiting wheelbarrows.

Gerald put his Scouting knowledge to good use lashing together some timber to make new shelving and Jen seemed to be in charge of hanging things off the walls - watering cans a speciality

Faced with the prospect of redundancy, a few of the group elected to clear the track of fallen leaves. One of the hosts led us off into the woods and walked, and walked, and walked some more! For a while I thought we were being given a full track walk but eventually we got to do some clearing.

Whilst all the work was going on I nipped off to set up some cones on a nice little double hill ready for when it was time to call a halt to the task.

Our taskmaster Rick thanked us for the help and told us we were “worth our weight in gold” a reinforcement that our tasks sometimes may seem small and trivial to us but for those we do them for it’s a massive help.

Off to that hill and everyone put a good shift in, it will probably hurt this morning! The last climb was particularly challenging and by the way we all stood at the top, hands on knees, panting and blowing out steam like a herd of winter cattle I have no cause to question anyones commitment.

All that was left was a nice steady jog back to base once again running the gauntlet of pedestrian crossings.

Don’t forget that deep squat/explosive jump thingy I showed you at the end – twice a day for 30 seconds 2-3 days a week – let me know how you get on

See ya next week.

18 people ran 7k to do a litter pick on the canal

Tonight it was great to Welcome Jane from the Birmingham Mail to GoodGym Brum. Jane is going to do a 'feature' on the group so it was great to have her with us.

Back and front markers were sorted on a rather mild evening for November and we were on our way to the canal. The group split up into four smaller groups, each picking litter on a small section of the canal. It was quite a busy task tonight as there was quite a bit of litter knocking about. Once done all the groups made their way to the Aston Lock to dump their bags off, Sam and George running there with their sacks! The group had five full sacks in total, top work!

The first GG Brum time trial!

Once that was done we carried on with the run until we reached Millennium point. Once we got there it was time for the the first ever GG Birmingham time trial! The distance was 1 mile or 1.6k. It involved three and a half laps around the Millennium Point garden. What a great workout it was! Everyone worked incredibly hard! It was fantastic to see as I called out the finishing times! Aaron was first over the line just missing out on a sub 6 min clocking finishing in 6.03, he was followed shortly by Julien and John, Dionne put in a great performance finishing first of the women. I've named just a few but the whole group were magnificent everyone posting great times inside 9 minutes! Top stuff! Hopefully when we do it again in January the Christmas 'cheer' won't have taken its toll too much and the group can go even quicker ;-)

Once the time trial was done there was time for a quick group piccy with the big wheel in the background and we were on our way again, back to 1000 Trades.

Next week we will be out doing good again, it would be great if you could join us sign up here.