19 runners warmed their cockles by getting fit and doing good with GoodGym Liverpool, despite a chilly evening.

With lots of our regulars taking an impromptu night off, the team might have been smaller than usual... but not when Amy H. is around! Amy brings a new standard to the suggestion of "bring a friend" and likes to bring not just one friend, but a whole cheering squad! Well done Amy, you are our recruiter No. 1!

With a pretty simple, downhill and super short run to the task, you'd think that nothing could go wrong getting there. Alas, I seem to have some geographical mind block when it comes to the Pagoda Centre but after a nervous hesitation, we didn't go too far off course (compared to last time we ran there at least!).

We were greeted by Zilan and the sight of an office worth of furniture stacked up in the main hall. A very patient group were also trying to enjoy a Tai Chi session next to this mess and with our team stomping around. Oh dear!

Zilan explained that the Pagoda Centre (Liverpool's Chinese youth and community centre) hasn't been painted in at least 10 years... maybe more. So we got to work smartening the place up, tackling the main office, three bathrooms and a corridor. It was a tricky job, working in close proximity to each other, to walls and furniture, as well as some dodgy paint and some rough drips. But all in all, we left the place in a much better state than we found it, feeling fresh and bright.

A big shout out and welcome to so many newbies: Davey, Esme, Ellie, Casey, Tafwauli and Fiona - you all did a fab job and we'd love you to run with us again soon!

After the task, it was uphill back to base. We stopped half way for a quick fitness session with half the group tackling hill (slope!) sprints and the other half doing some strengthening and conditioning drills. Everyone gave it there all.

Fantastic work folks, so great to have you on board!

Next week is our BIG CHRISTMAS RUN when we'll be jingling all the way to the Liverpool Irish Centre followed by drinks at Liverpool Arts Bar. Find out more and sign-up here.

Food and showers....the Speke 10k had our Goodgymers appreciating the simple things in life!!

Little by little, the numbers of red tops expanded beside the sign-in table. Joined by the good company of Jak and Marie, the nervous excitement was palpable with some GGers facing into their first 10k, (kudos to Tim), and most of us facing into our first 10k in quite some time.

After a warm up lap led by Char, everyone was psyched and ready to go! After the initial grey start around the car park, the race wound round some beautiful stables buildings, the children's playground, through the archway and up a muddy hill to have the trees clear to open up to a beautiful view out over the Mersey and out to the Wirral. On the steady ground now, the path slinked down through the woods until it all opened up to the front drive of Speke Hall in all its Tudor style glory. But never mind that, the GGers were in the zone now, only catching a glance of it before heading out into the wilderness.

At this point, entering the fields, flippers and goggles would have allayed the initial shock as we absorbed all the nature underfoot! ....Hmmm...we're Goodgymers....in for a penny, in for a pound. At that very moment thoughts of food and showers flashed into mind and then out as we came back out to see a strange helpful man direct us to the woods with Mickey Mouse gloves!!

With Sam fitting in a daytime Blair Witch Project selfie whilst running through the woods, sight of the car park opened up soon after and that times two brought the red t shirts rolling in with strong sprints aplenty over the line.

Well in guys, a great race by each of you and a cosy rest is well earned

New attendance record claxon!!! A gray day in October goes down in GoodGym Liverpool history as our highest single Group Run attendance (to date!) with a massive team of 34 runners helping out.

What a difference a week makes. Last Monday we dropped in to single figures for the first time in months, as only the brave showed up in torrential weather. A week later and we're tearing up the GoodGym Liverpool record book. Amazing stuff folks, thanks to everyone for being there.

This week's task was based at one of our favourite places and iconic Liverpool building, the Bombed Out Church. After a run around the back streets of less than a 1km we arrived feeling fresh. Following a short history lesson from Ambrose, custodian of this wonderful building, we were soon put to work. The church's seriously heavy wooden pews, which we've moved before multiple times, were a breeze to carry with so many hands to help.

After rearranging the furniture we split into two groups whom I shall casually term Team Mud and Team Broom. Team Mud's task was to shift a tonne of top soil one hundred metres before spreading it on a new bed. Dirty work, but satisfying. Meanwhile, Team Broom gave the steps surrounding the church (a daily hangout spot for folks waiting for the bus, snacking on take away and local homeless folks passing the day) a good old brush and weed, since they are always in need of a little LTC. Both teams made quick work of their tasks in spite of the fading light (head torches at the ready next week folks!).

A huge shout out, thank you and massive well done to Amy for her incredible recruitment drive, convincing half of her cheerleading squad to join GoodGym. And to all of the squad, thanks so much for coming and do join us again soon :)

After the task we nipped back up the hill and went to the Met Cathedral for our fitness session. (As usual) I may have overcomplicated the session a little but at its heat was team camaraderie, mixed running drills and of course, steps! Everyone worked super hard and got their hearts pumping but saved a little energy for our Strava segment on the way back to base.

Amazing efforts everyone! Thanks so much for being part of a record breaking evening of getting fit while doing good.

P.S. Kudos to Task Force who turned out on mass (all 12 of them!) for a really productive meeting post-run. Amongst other things, we started to look ahead towards the January Challenge...!!!! Watch. This. Space.

Nineteen good eggs, celebrated 10 years of GoodGym with a proper run and a lifting and shifting task.

This week we are celebrating GoodGym's 10th birthday nationally and proudly waved out flag around the city. Our route to Liverpool Unitarian Church didn't take us past the biggest landmarks but we did still manage a few decent shots, we hope you'll agree.

The run to Unitarian Church was nice and straight forward and everyone did well to keep pace with few traffic light breaks. We were welcomed by Viki and soon put to work lifting chairs and boxes from the second floor room down to the bin or the basement. Once we'd lifted and shifted, clocking up those steps, 3 or 4 times each, the room had been transformed and can now be put to better use.

With a couple of minutes to spare, the Reverend treated us to a quick tour of the church and a chat about the admirable legacy of the Unitarian congregation in Liverpool (and beyond). What a stunning building!

A huge shout out to Eimear who joins the black t-shirt crew, clocking a massive 50 good deeds with this task - well deserved and well done!

Also a shout out to newbie Sharon who easily kept pace and got stuck in at the task - we'd love you to run with us again soon.

Never one to enjoy doubling back, I led the group on a slightly longer but more scenic route back via Princes Park with the sun setting in purple and red ahead of us. A gorgeous end to a gorgeous evening. Happy Birthday GoodGym, you beaut!

The celebrations continue with #GGSuperSaturday and our birthday social this weekend. Find out more and sign-up!

P.S. The title pun is a combination of chair-mendous efforts by Christina and Jo :)

Honorable mentions for:

• Game of Moving Thrones by Craig

• Stair and Chair Alike by Tim