8 trusty GoodGymers including first timer Duncan and a committed Camden commuter, Beth, trotted a short distance down to Splash Point where we embarked on a trophy gathering beach clean to just beyond the pier It didn't take long before Gill presented the group with a small bouquet of flowers closely followed by an abandoned walking boot and a red hat ! Not to be outdone Roisin found all sorts of bounty including a croc followed by Martin most usefully finding a water container ( You could have done with that on yor 17 miler yesterday ! ) Duncan enjoyed comparing crab sizes whilst Elisa came out with some unrepeatable one liners that made us all have a Good Gym giggle. Emerging from under the pier we created an impressive garbage scarecrow mascot which was a fine piece of modern GG art which we were very proud of. With the task successfully completed we set off on our steady 6k run inland followed by a fitness session back at Splashpoint followed by stunning GG light and fluffy cakes courtesy of Martins mum and friend. I thoroughly enjoyed tonight's experience and hope you all did too ! Lovely people and fun stuff too. Enjoy the photos ! I'm looking forward to next Monday already

18 GG Yorkies ran 7km to shift 91 bags of slate and created a platform for raised beds!

We welcomed no less than FIVE new runners to the GoodGym York gang, and three of those meant that Lizzie, Chloe and Mel got their mitts on some red laces for bringing a friend. Give them all a cheer!

One of our new runners was Kay from BBC Radio York, she'll be talking about GoodGym from 6am-9am on the 7th March so tune in or have a listen on iPlayer. We also welcomed Jo who is originally from GoodGym Lambeth but has joined us oop North.

After a combat-style warm up we headed out along the river (with only a very minor diversion where I got distracted with all the chatting and ran in the wrong direction, so really only made us a teeny tiny bit late) to Marjorie Waite; a sheltered housing complex. We were greeted by some of the residents and the chief gardener Pam, who explained our task.

We need this whole patch to be lined and topped with gravel, so we can put some big pots on the patch to plant lavender and flowers - Pam

With 30 minutes to get the job done, the team set straight to work, with some stamping the ground flat whilst others lugged the 15kg bags across to the patch. There was also a trolley with questionable steering that offered a fun challenge for getting some of the bags across.

Whatever way you think you want to go, steer the opposite way - Leanne, GoodGym Member

Within ten minutes the plot was flattened and lined with slate starting to go on. Opening the thick plastic bags proved to be another challenge.

Anyone got a stone or something I can use to rip the bag? ..err, I think there might be one or two!

18 runners made short work of the task; we boshed through it in 24 minutes - that's 1365kgs of slate. The residents were absolutely delighted and started reeling off all the other jobs they've got that we can help with.

We said our goodbyes and headed off, stopping at Clifton Green on the way back for some fun team relay races with bonus squats, star jumps and can-can kicks. We also witnessed very impressive sideways bounding from some of our more competitive members.

Another good deed done, see y'all next time.

Yesterday’s moody weather meant a smaller number turned up at Papa’s Park last night. It felt very intimate with just eighteen of us as compared to the 30-40 we have been used to for the last few months. As everyone arrived it was also apparent that most of us were a bit below par on this gloomy Tuesday evening;

I was tired and a bit emotional after an over indulgent weekend and Katie was much the same only she at least kept a lovely smile on her face. Beth was tired from her marathon effort of organising the Bournemouth trip and Tom was tired from the marathon itself. Will was recovering from being poisoned with red ink and Alex was recovering from being poisoned by a weekend of beer. George had a sore ass from meeting it pummelled by Daley Thomson (true story) and Robbie had a sore arse from it not working properly when he ran. Lucy was on the come-back after a back injury and Elise was on the come-back after a sprained ankle. And Emma had broken her wrist.

That left only Maya, Marie, Jackie, Abby, Imogen, Grace and Jo in full working order. The whole ensemble made me think of the Raggy Dolls (remember them? Google them.. they were all a bit broken but an awesome force when together) and to the casual onlooker we may not have looked capable of making a big difference to Lambeth that night… but we are GoodGym Lambeth and so we got to work.

Half the group ran a solid 5 miles up and down Brixton Hill to The Portico Gallery where they were met by John, his cat, his terrapins and the offer of tea. In return they moved a large amount of furniture in 20 minutes which would have taken John half a day.

The other group ran two miles up to Holland Park Estate where Ameena met us with gardening in the children’s playground and flyers to be delivered to the whole estate letting people know about an upcoming community day, like group one, the job was done in 20 minutes.

So there’s a moral to this story. Don’t underestimate GoodGym. Even at 70% we can still make magnificent shit happen.

I don’t have photos from last night, so instead here are photos of some of my favourite underdogs who also did great things against all odds.