One of the great things about GoodGym is it brings us into contact with community services that in their own quiet way provide an invaluable service to many local people. They usually do this with tiny budgets and inspirational, hardworking and dedicated staff and volunteers. Walthamstow Toy library is one such place. Providing children with a place to play and socialise and parents with a chance to get some valuable respite and also to socialise.

I also like to count GoodGym volunteers among the number of people who contribute to this effort. Giving up your time to help oil the wheels of these valuable community services is simply fantastic so thank you to the seven runners who came along tonight to start a small project to improve the Toy Library.

We started the evening with a short, sharp run uphill to Walthamstow Village and arrived at the Toy Library where we met Helen who briefed us on the evening's tasks. Upon receiving our instructions, we wasted no time in setting about the jobs. Well, I say wasted no time, but we did abort the fence painting mission after opening up an ancient paint pot and noticing that the contents had turned from paint into some indescribable liquid with a nasty niff about it. We quickly reassigned ourselves some tasks and had Ramon, Hannah and Jessie on landscaping with rakes, spades, hoes, etc. Nerys and Pippa on carpentry, the latter deploying some newly acquired flat pack furniture making skills and Carmen on brushwork, painting a bridge with some paint that was actually paint.

After that, we headed downhill to Lloyd Park for an intensive four-minute workout of squat jumps and burpees. Finally heading back to base for a stretch and a thirst quenching drink.

Fabulous work everyone but we have left unfinished business so will be heading back to the same place next week to progress the project. Sign-up here and I'll see you there

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GGWF were due to visit local reahbillitation charity, Change, Grow, Live (CGL) for a spot of gardening yesterday but due to a low turnout we discussed options and decided on a regular old run instead. This is great because we will now visit CGL next month instead.

With The Big Match dominating everyone's schedule a solitary runner showed up but it was great to see Jesse who had been unable to attend the last few session. So the two of us did two laps of the lovely Lloyd Park returning to Mirth, Marvel and Maude where I sank two pints and watched from the second half as Croatia put two goals past England to win the second semi-final of the World Cup.

Normal service will be resumed next Wednesday when we head to Walthamstow Toy Library for form DIY. I hope you can join us there, sign-up here

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An intrepid group of GoodGymers headed out on a cool spring evening to give a bit of TLC to the secluded and tranquil Chingford Memorial Park.

Teamwork started at the base as we had a quick huddle to decide on the best route to leave the district of Walthamstow and head out to neighbouring Chingford. Some great running and street knowledge on show from the team and the trip through the smart Lloyd Park was a highlight.

After completing our first 3.5 km, we arrived at our destination, and the team wasted no time in getting stuck in filling up bag after bag with the unsightly detritus that was blotting the otherwise picturesque landscape in the park.

With no time to lose after the task, the heroes of Chingford Memorial Park downed tools and headed off into the sunset for another 3.5 km run back to base and a rapid cooldown routine to cap off a fine evening of running, plogging and generally being fantastic.

Thank you to everyone who came along, you guys rock!

On a sun-drenched summer evening in Walthamstow, fourteen fantastic runners headed out of Mirth, Marvel and Maud and made a beeline along the Hight Street to The Mill.

The Mills is a fantastic multi-use community cafe, space and soft-play facility which plays host to a large number of little visitors who love to make use of the toys and play space. As we all know, toddlers often don't observe the same hygiene protocol as the rest of us so keeping these toys clean and germ-free could help prevent the spread of all sorts of nasty germs.

With this in mind our band of volunteers set about cleaning, polishing and tidying toys. Toy Story 3 came to mind and if the little playthings could talk, I am sure they would have expressed their gratitude at their bright new sheen.

After, dropping the j-cloths we headed west to a local sports centre for some running drills: sprints, grape-vining, fast-feet and skipping all featured in a breathless session before we headed back to base for some stretches and refreshments for some.