Tonight we started by naming and numbering up and stating our favourite exercise, then doing it. Pete demonstrated pilates beautifully (see photo) and no Amy, sleeping lions is not an exercise!

We then welcomed Nate to the group and headed off along the river to Leeman Road. When we arrived we were asked to spread some compacted soil around the grassy area. It looked simple enough but it was pretty solid so took a lot of physical labour to break up!

After 45 minutes we'd flattened one pile and made good headway in the others.

We then headed off to a grassy area for some fitness fun where everyone had to keep collecting tickets with exercises on until they were all gone. We then headed back to base where we celebrated Ed's parkrun PB and some folk headed to the pub.

23 GoodGym Yorkies ended the August Bank Holiday with a trip the City Mills independent living to help clear the weeds from their patio areas.

We started the evening by giving a very warm GG welcome toKa Man who was doing their first ever GoodGym task, as well as welcoming Olivia along to her first Group Run and Tess who was returning for just her second. Give them all a big cheer 👏

Michal was in charge of tonight's session, so Ed and Vicky could have a bit of a rest, and led the run out with trip along the city walls much to the surprise of some oncoming tourists. We shortly arrived at City Mills to be greeted by Mary, one of the residents, who explained what we would be doing. There were a few different areas that needed our attention so we promptly split into groups and made a start tacking the weeds that were growing out of the patio areas.

Whilst the majority of the team got to work in the car park, ripping out weeds and the presumably unwanted saplings that were growing, a select few lucky GGers went round to the back of the building to a beautiful terrace area that overlooked the river. Everyone got stuck in with forks, trowels and sheer strength making light work of the task. So much so that Rich had enough time to have a little sit down on an abandoned loo!

James T and his broom were in high demand to make the finishing touches to the task before we all grouped around the GG flag for the group photo before heading off for a quick spot of fitness.

Being the fell-running guru that he is, Michal had the group running up and down the notoriously steep Baile Hill to varying degrees of enthusiasm. But everyone managed to make it up and down at least once (but by Gover definition it's only a rep if you've done it twice!)

Then it was back to the Priory Centre for a bit of stretching and plenty of sweet treats courtesy of some leftovers from the camping weekend and some delicious chocolate fridge cake from Babs!

Tonight we had a bumper turnout to help at the Kings wildflower meadow path.

A select group set off at party pace followed by the main group after naming and numbering off. We were also joined by a few cyclists and some folk joined us at the task.

We had a few unexpected late sign ups so we needed to split into two groups with one taking on the litter pick challenge and the other tackling dock leaves.

The litter pickers had a list of treasure to find in pairs with the tie breaker being a selfie. Mitch and Lyndsay were the only team to collect everything even though they had to climb over the fence to the beck!

Group dock leaves were introduced to a new tool - the lazy fox - which was used to slice dock leaves at their base.

Time quickly passed and we were back off to base via a few hill reps on little Hob Moor.

All our good work was rewarded with Rich's brownies, which were still warm!

Tonight we were celebrating Amy Woolard being crowned GoodGymer of the month and John Bourton reaching an outstanding 500 good deeds! Well done both of you.

Warming up, we numbered off giving our favourite thing about Canada in honour of it being Canada national day (full disclosure, I may have got the date wrong for this). Still, always good to big up Avril Lavigne. Then we split into two groups, some heading to Millennium Fields for raking up where the meadow had been given a trim, and some to Planet Southbank.

Vicky reports from Planet Southbank that the crack team was helping with some tasks in their community garden. One group cleared the fence so the railing could be painted, another helped to sort out the big pile of twigs and leaves and a third edged and dug over some beds. They also did a bit of litter picking. At the end they were rewarded with cake made by one of the neighbours and offered various bits of produce. They were very happy with our help and the little plot looked much neater afterwards.

Meanwhile at Millennium Fields we got stuck into the raking and dragging the cut grass over to the allotment compost bins where for reasons that escape me it was mixed with mud. For entirely predictable reasons Mitch jumped up on down on the top. Also, Abigail was spotted having a little nap on the soft pile. Many blackberries were also foraged. Mostly by me if I'm honest.

Both teams met up at Scarcroft Green for an olympic triathlon themed relay race (lacking a pool and bikes we made do with running, hopping, and skipping). Then it was back to the Priory Centre to warm down and off to the pub for beer and John's cake or legging it home to catch Kelly Hodgekinson bringing home the gold.

We had loads to celebrate tonight on what felt like the first proper summer evening group run of the year. So first off it was a round of applause for Jenna for braving the early morning Run/Swim at DeerShed festival. Then it was a shout out to Nicola for a course best at Heslington parkrun and Richard for a seasons best as well, although clapping was delayed until they finally arrived at the task! We also celebrated Jackie taking part in her 100th Good Deed! But the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for the most amazing news that Vicky and Neil got engaged at the weekend and we could not be happier for them both💍

So after all the wonderful weekend news, we celebrated the start of the Paris Olympics by numbering off with the event that we would add to the Olympics if we could. If only the 40m zig-zag was an actual sport, Paul Kelly would be a shoo-in for a gold medal, whilst it was also good to see Carl back himself in ultimate frisbee!

Then it was off to the task with Ed leading and clearly not realising there are quicker ways to get to Fishergate Trianlge than the route that leaves you stranded on a traffic island! At the task we Maeve from St Nicks who dished out the instructions and set us off to work on pulling up the grass and weeds before they overtake the whole space, which is starting to become a lovely little nature spot

The focus was on the bigger clumps of grass at the top end of the triangle, so most of the hard work went into ripping up that, whilst other people took more leisurely approach sitting on the wall and pulling out the dandelions. Before too long it became clear that the hot weather and close surroundings were sapping the energy put of the group and encouraging lots of chit chat, so the decision was made to stop 5mins early and make a start on the hill reps!

After a quick team photo, the walking group headed back to CVS whilst the rest of the gang went the long way round to Blue Bridge Lane for some sprints up and down the hill. Each rep had a different person shouting 'go' just to keep everyone on their toes. But that stop everyone from putting in maximum effort on each rep. Top running guys!

Then it was back to CVS for some stretches and baked goods courtesy of Jackie and Vicky

See you all next week 👋

Tonight we started our warm up by saying which drink we'd like to get rid of - suggestions included pernod, cider and whiskey! We then celebrated Cara's 200th good deed and welcomed Nick to his first run, before heading off to Park Grove for a final session of fence painting.

Once we arrived we made a prompt start on turning the rainbow fence blue. Within no time one side was done so a few nimble folk jumped the fence to do the other side (Then vicky found the keys to the gate in her pocket!)

The session then finished with a coconut shy relay race! Lots of people knocked one off to take home (whilst others just stole them!)

Once back at base and refuelled by Amy and Cara's biscuits, a bumper group headed to the pub to discuss the use if coconuts in more detail!

A small but perfectly formed group of GG Yorkies met for this weeks Monday night group run. Whilst numbers might have been low, spirits were high as we celebrated the weekends achievements with a round of applause for those who taken part in the Normanby Hall 10k on Sunday, including a couple of PBs. We then named and numbered off by celebrating the birth of Dutch painter, Rembrandt whilst naming our favourite TV show theme tunes (there is a link there, promise!)

Then it was off to task with Ed leading the group and Abigail backmarking with Vicky riding along side us as we headed to Hull Road Park for an evening of soil shifting. We were met at the task by Kristina from City of York council's environment team, who set us up with shovels and wheelbarrows and directed us towards 5 big sacks of soil which all required shifting into the play area were the removal of some old play equipment had left a rather large hole that needed filling.

Vicky took on the chief raker role and was joined throughout the task by Abigail and Jackie, whilst the rest of the gang got to work with the shovels and barrows.

One by one the sacks were emptied to the point of being dragable and the hole quickly filled up. But with time running down and Ed setting up the cones ready for another fitness sesh, it was touch and go whether all 5 sacks would be emptied in time. With literally seconds to spare the last sack was dragged across ready for stamping down with the whole team jumping up and down on top of it, apart from Mitch who was desperate to start a mosh pit with anyone he could.

After a quick team photo it was then time for a fitness sesh involving burpees, star jumps ,sit ups and a sprint finish. And it was Team Holgate who came up trumps with some rapid working out

Great session everyone

On our first warm summer's evening in what feels like forever, a stonking 25 GGers turned out for this week's Group Run to Hull Road Park. Before heading off we awarded the GoodGymer of the month gong for June to the amazing Abigail who not only regularly volunteers her services for back-marking duties but also recently completed her Taskforce training. Give her a big cheer (even if she wasn't on brand) 👏

Vicky then set off with the steady pace crew whilst the rest of the gang celebrated Mark Cavendish's achievements at the Tour de France, numbering off by naming the field in which they could set a record in. Turns out a GG York like food, a lot! Then it was off to the task 💪

At Hull Road Park we were greeted by Kristina from the City of York Council Environment Team who split the group into 3 teams:

Team 1 would be removing Verbena seedlings from the flower beds so they could be replanted elsewhere

Team 2 were getting edgy on the paths, removing overgrown grass and weeds

Team 3 were on bush trimming duties, removing unwanted plants from the hedgerows around the basketball courts

My face is in bush and I'm covered in hairy balls - Michael

Team 3 soon realised the perils of getting stuck into bush task as they came out covered in sticky, hairy ball type things. I'm sure they have a name but we were being too childish to look it up

Team 1 did such a good job removing the verbena seedlings that they soon ran out of plant pots. That didn't deter Sarah though who resorted to keeping the seedlings in the pocket of her leggings (possibly to take home to plant herself 🤫)

Meanwhile team 2 did a superb job on the path edging. Despite starting in the wrong place, they did a great job and uncovered loads of pathway that was previously lost the overgrown grass.

With the task coming to an end, some of the crew made a start on the bark chipping that is set to feature in next week's task. After a quick team photo Vicky led the steady group back to base whilst Ed set up this week's fitness sesh.

is this like the human centipede - Lyndsey

With the cones dumped in the middle of a circle of GGers, there was only one thing for it - a game of human Hungry Hungry Hippos. With people split into pairs and adopting the wheelbarrow position, the aim was to collect as many cones as possible. Turns out then some serious core strength is required, especially when reversing! Martin and Michael were the victors and their prize was to gather in the rest of the cones. Well done guys!