Twenty two tremendous GoodGymmers met at the Phoenix to help at a local park.

It was a night of celebration at GGB tonight: the heroic Abi Perrin was joining us for second Good Deed of the day making our group run her THREE HUNDREDTH Good Deed! A mind melting amount of good done across GoodGym - please go and give her a cheer and consider buying her a well deserved drink at the next social!

We were also celebrating Task Force Pesh's 30th birthday! There was a truly exceptional cake contributed by our resident task force member/unofficial social sec/baker/marathoner/ACTUAL DOCTOR/whatsapp queen Mumtaz! Seriously check out the picture.

It was also Paul's birthday on Monday! Which he kept VERY quiet about. HBD Paul. If that wasn't enough, it's also Task Force Vicki's birthday next week. Phew!

To the run! We were joined by Mary for her first ever group run (welcome!) and divided into two groups to set off to our new task at Albert Road Rec. This is a wonderful multi use open space near Muswell Hill that is almost completely managed by The Friends of Albert Road Rec. They asked for our help with some muddy pavement maintenance, which sounded very us honestly.

It's a 3k undulating run so we divided into two with Paul leading off a fast group to go and get started, while I led the second group with Abi back marking for us.

On arrival we were presented with edging tools and buckets and set to work. The verges alongside the pavements had overgrown the pavements, gradually making them very muddy indeed, whilst also obscuring the London red brick that lines the edges of the paths.

We worked for about 25 minutes digging away the edges of the paths, scooping up the soil, and ferrying buckets of soil to be emptied. Making good progress, it was time for our run back.

The return involved a solid uphill km into Muswell Hill, so we decided that this would form our fitness session. Abi led a small group off first, while I led the rest with Vicki backmarking. It was a tough hill but we were rewarded with some flat roads after and then a visit to the pub at the end!

Brilliant work, thanks everyone, and we'll look forward to continuing our work at Albert Road Rec soon.

D

Fifteen keen goodgym runners ran to Stephens House and gardens to help the gardener Peter. We gathered outside the Phoenix to warm up a chat about our favourite tv programme. We said hello to new runner Anoosheh and congratulated Agnes on her recent half marathon. (Also announced lots of community missions if you can spare an hour or two.) community missions It was a lovely mild evening for a dark run to the task. Taking the back alleys through east Finchley we stopped to do paired exercises, a short sprint up a hill and a sit hold at a convenient brick wall. We also managed to deliver a few leaflets to promote the task venue before eventually arriving at the park. Peter then set us up into groups for litter picking and raking up leaves, in and around the playground, these were then transported for composting. We then had a little time to run down to the house to do some warm up exercises and a hill sprint. Before we left we did the now traditional yogic breathing to re-energise for the 2km run back to the Phoenix. Thanks for coming and doing good it is appreciated! Peter sent the following text ‘Thanks for last night. Great guys doing a wonderful job’

Ed & Andras are now on ten good deeds and Kat has don her first community mission. Give them a shout out!

Ten tough goodgym runners braved the storms to deliver leaflets for local charities. We were promoting our host the Phoenix cinema and a local park (The friends of Cherry tree woods) We gathered and chatted about Septembers good deeds. Rob did a phenomenal 17 good deeds, Rupesh 8, Jody 7, Vicki 6 Charlotte and Laura 5 and well done Laura for completing her first half Marathon. also well done to Julian on joining us! Julian Give them a cheer! The rain had dissipated and it looked like we might get lucky with our task and run. We numbered up, declared our favourite Album, warmed up and headed off into the drizzle. We soon started delivering leaflets and then the rain intensified! It was difficult to keep the flyers dry so after delivering a reasonable number we started to head back. Despite the conditions and being totally sodden everyone was up for a little running (swim) exercise in a nearby cul-de-sac.(pool) In pairs we split and ran in opposite directions around the road meeting and then paddling back.. sorry running back to our starting positions. We did four sets of running of various intensities and styles.( breast stroke being the most popular.) It was a short run back to the Phoenix and a quick wet chill down. There seemed a consensus that it was actually quite fun running in the rain…. its just not very good for the flyers!

Keep doing good and keeping fit!