Today in solemn contemplation and hearts filled with empathy and love, 13 Goodgym runners from Brent, ran through postcodes and 2 neighbour boroughs, to give what we could and pay respect to the community, survivors and victims of Grenfell Tower.

It was a humbling sight to behold when my eyes fell upon the group I call my GG family who showed up in droves to run 5k to Grenfell. Running to pay respect and give what we could in donations and volunteering.

Lighting our route was the most beautiful of setting suns, which made us smile although our hearts were heavy and with a mission to Avenues Youth Centre on our minds, the run, despite the heat was swift if not a little sweaty.

Arriving at Avenues we were greeted so warmly by the manager Carol and even though this time their volunteer needs were already met, we did make some amazing contacts and perhaps arrange for one or two of our crew to support their future fundraising in the way of running the London marathon..... I just have to figure out how to convince the team to do it.

So turning on our heels again and catching the last of the glows of sun as it set over the beautiful canal, we head towards Latimer Road and the main memorial sight for Grenfell.

Now I am not littering this run report with catchy puns and tom foolery because this was so not what this run was about. We were in solidarity, in mourning and in partnership with every other human being who was and have been there, making the effort, yesterday, today and tomorrow!

In fact, just speaking with the community we understood that they would continue to need massive support for the next few weeks, if not more, especially when the media attentions will surely begin to ease off and they don't want people to forget the need that will be there. So people must continue to reach out for many weeks and months to come.

So with this in mind, we linked up with Sister Ruth, the incredible community leader who was taking charge of organisations, from the church on Latimer Road. We pledged to be back, both as individuals and as a team, because this may not be our borough, but this is our London and we must erase borough lines and postcodes, to show unity, love and understanding. To give back to this significant and life altering community cause and demonstrate we will not stand for how these people have been treated. It must be talked about, it mustn't be forgotten and it cannot happen again!

Our final goodbye was in a song, shared with some of the other mourners and Sister Ruth. We sang together Amazing Grace and as we sang, we lit our candles and said personal and quiet prayers, for all who had been lost and for all those suffering now from this terrible tragedy.

I urge you if you haven't, please go there, because no news article or TV broadcast can convey the true heartbreak of this community in mourning.

Together we stand.

Twelve runners set out on a beautiful Monday night for short trot down to the Old Harlesden Police Station where a huge task awaited them out the back...

Abraham was there to meet and greet, and introduced us to Colin, who explained that a new art complex called CREATE SPACE will soon be opening there and will be available for local community use, and that they are fighting to make it a great space for everyone, rather than letting it be developed into blocks of flats. Anyone looking for more information about volunteering or signing up as members can contact colinlearatceatespace@outlook.com (0749 232 1626).

Colin led us out to the previously unexplored territory round the back of the station, (where the creepy old Willesden gallows are located!!!) and set us all to work, with Sadhana, our intrepid (and prolific) photographer catching all the best action moments!

There was (quite LITTER-ally) heaps to do;

• moving wood

• weeding

• sawing branches

• moving piles of mattresses

• litter picking

• fighting unruly ivy...

...but the team were undaunted - we had no trouble with the rubble! and cleared some space in that place! Bravely ignoring slugs and wee beasties, brushing past clumps of nettles and thistles and enduring their nasty stings, we worked on for 50 minutes, searching for doc leaves to soothe the pain, but to no avail... We packed up and set off back for the Queensbury with just a sliver of daylight left - yay for spring!

Before you go... The next GoodGym monthly drinks will be on Thursday 6th April from 6.30pm til late, upstairs at the Marquis of Cornwallis, WC1N 1AP (near Russell Sq). All the details are here: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-monthly-social-april I hope you can make it!

The next is a 'save the date' for the GoodGym Olympics, which will be held on Saturday 10th June at the Parilament Hill Track from 1-6pm; the idea is that different boroughs compete in events like 400m, and the elimination mile, to more novel events like a welly throwing competition and even hopefully a wheelbarrow race with real wheelbarrows. Each area will be encouraged to make their own flag for the event and even have a GoodGym Bake-off (ala a summer fate style), so hopefully it will be something for everyone.

Bye for now, till next time! XXX

Monday-Funday was excitement city, when 9 Brent beauties, set out to run 5miles, do some good and throw out a massive dollop of crew-love all over West London. BOOM

As always, my beaming Brent bevy of beauties awaited me this Monday eve, ready to rock some community love all the way to Stonebridge Park.

New to the mix was - Sabina who my joined ravishing regulars: Sadhana, mouse, Steph, Liz, Amy, Elisa and Debs and after mega announcements, race updates and a sprinkling of Italian lessons from Debs and Elisa, the team wasted no time hot-footing it out the door, to set to work on the first leg of the tour.

With the 2.5miles distance in our sites, I led pace from the front with mouse scooping up the rear. In no time at all we had steamed all the way over from base camp to Dollis Hill, our first marker along the way. Next up, along the north circ, 2nd marker, 3rd and 4th all melting away as we flew past - Sadhana's bridge, Ikea and the Wembley Arch with Debs shouting proudly omg i've run all the way to IKEA YIPPPEEEE

Finally arriving on Pitfield Lane, the whole distance was dashed in 30mins flat, even though the crossings seemed to take a hundred years to go green! This epic time of course also included one brave effort from she-warrior Steph hurting her ankle on route. But like the badass she is, she moaned not one jot and with the help of the magnificent mouse supporting her sister in arms, we all reached our destination for the night - Sufra community food bank, with bags of time to get stuck in and help with the task for the night.

Sufra Community Food Bank, had one request of us this week, shift the massive mountains of soil from A to B, to pack the massive, empty tanks due to be stuffed with veg that would grow, ready for summer plucking. So with shovels and wheelbarrows a plenty we got to work. Confession time........Of course I say 'we' when really the gallant girls did all the back breaking work, while I photographed the epic efforts. Standard!

In 30mins the girls had shovelled, shifted and wheeled 50% of this mountain and managed to pack 4 troffs to the brim AMAZING WORK. Sadhana even had time to complete her planking challenge and pose for some seriously sexy snaps!!

After the work it was full steam ahead, back to base and at full pace. Thank goodness for Mouse who volunteered to lead the last leg, as poor Steph really couldn't run on hers and for the first time in Brent GG history there was an order for an Uber!! But a necessity measure when one of the troops needed a helping hand, or should I say Leg back.

Back at base we regrouped and stretched and hugged out the last of the love for what was an unbelievable team effort, proving goodgym isn't just about spreading love to the community, it's also about supporting and caring for each other and working as a team to help each other along the way too.

See you next time for an even bigger dose of crew love!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE.

We had GoodGymmers from all over the place last night.

Bex and Rachel were joining us for the very first time. Lucie was checking us out after completing a Thursday fitness session and Ewa was back at GoodGym after last getting involved in 2015!

Then we had Matt and Chris from Bristol, Heather and Damian from Barnet (who both did wonderfullly at Brighton Half at the weekend), Jacqui also from Barnet, Lewisham and Greenwich regular Tom (shhh, we think he is meant to be with Adele this evening), Ewa from Tower Hamlets, Steve Lee from Camden and wannabe-Islingtoner-but-feels-sorry-for-Camden Frances.

Big news. Last night was Damian's 50th run Go and give him a big cheer.

Aidan took a strong group over to St. Luke's for more planter filling. That is pretty much done now so well done to everybody that has shovelled, wheelbarrowed, shifted and turned over the last few months.

Simon, Graham and Kike took care of the Caxton contingent, whose job it was to yank up all manner of unwanted foliage from the community centre's front garden, especially thistles, which we managed to rid the area of completely.

Yes, we all got wet, but so what? It's almost as though doing good is some sort of water repellent.

Treats for the evening were provided by Simon. Homemade flapjacks. BIGGGGG apologies to those who were off doing a lap of Highbury Fields and missed out. By way of apology I will be baking again next week and this time everybody will get some.

With Pancake Day looming there was only one thing to debate: should we stick to the traditional lemon and sugar filling, go for more exotic stuff like Nutella and banana, or go completely crazy and choose a savoury option? Most did go for modern, fancy fillings but there were a few traditionalists among us. Aidan insisted that it was unacceptable to have only one pancake anyway so you may as well have all the fillings. Go for it!

Next week we have a whopping three tasks and they're all great. Freightliners Farm, Thornhill Square and a brand new adventure at Urban Wild Gardens. Plus of course there'll be more flapjacks Sign up now

Be flippy,
Simon

Ten jewels in the Brent crown braved the unpredictable weather (Storm Angus will have to do better than that to stop this bunch doing good!!!) to run to Ashford Place, London's first 24-hour shelter for the homeless dedicated to promoting inclusion and reducing isolation.

We were delighted to see a rather more hirsute Dan back in the ranks after a break and a brief foray into GoodGym Barnett - but we forgave him ;-P... especially as he's been busy growing a Movember moustache, good for you Dan, keep it up! We also welcomed Fausto back to the fold after a few months' break, and long-standing and newer runners, Elisa, Tania, Deborah, Tabitha, Enrique, Clare Mouse, Mel, and cover run leader Claireybell.

Our friendly group managed to recruit two more runners for next week's run before we even left our base at the Queensbury pub, good work guys!

We managed to tear ourselves away from the glowing pub fire and out into the night (which wasn't as cold as it looked from indoors!), leaping over puddles and piles of wet leaves like sprightly pixies to avoid soggy socks and squelchy shoes.

After a short run and a quick stretch, we arrived at Ashford Place where Alan met us and explained what he wanted us to do, opening the door to a room bursting with bags of donations and furniture - our task - to make it look "different"... So we rolled up our sleeves and hauled out bags and bags of clothes, bedding and toiletries, sorted, re-bagged, and labelled, a jumble of chaos into an orderly oasis of organisation and calm - it was one of those jobs that you would put off forever if you had to do it on your own as it would have taken 2 days, but ...

with ten pairs of hands, we had it done in about 20 minutes!

We still had time to fit in a run to Gladstone Park where we set to some tempo runs cleverly disguised as a game... we ran a loop of the park in single file, with the person at the back having to accelerate to make it up to the front of the pack again, the person at the front setting the pace - there was definitely some healthy competition going on with Deborah and Tabitha leaving us in the dust as they vied for the lead. We finished off with some cool down stretches and a jog back up the hill to base again.

A quick reminder, if you are interested in coming to a GG Brent Christmas meal and/or drinks (no run involved, lycra and high-viz optional, name badges will be provided for identification purposes...), there is a doodle poll on GoodGym Brent's Facebook page, we will confirm the date by the end of this week.

Well done guys, keep shining your light around Brent and beyond!

Swapping Monday blues for running shoes, a Goodgym perfect 10 help an angelic book shop sparkle again!

Undeterred by the election of the absurd and not swooned by the bright light of a supermoon, members new and bold gathered at GG Brent local, The Queensbury. We welcomed 2 new members again to the fold this week - Amy and Hannah and were pleased by the return of Helena even after last weeks Queens Park mile attacks! Special shouts go out to both Eliza and Deborah for making it without their usual running mates - There's no 'I' in team!

Completing the crew we had (She ain't got no belly) Coach Ellie! Making up the rest of our terrific team of track-tastic trudgers: (Next week's coach) Clairey-Bell, (Can't tame me) Amy, (Getting leaner) Samina, (Every one's a-fan-a) Hannah, and the rose among the thorns Enrique (that's me : )

Hot to trot but sweaty we were not, as our destination was just a short skip away. We had arrived at our Beginning, and we vowed to make it Glorious!!Greeted by the the welcoming 'Hi there' of our favourite JEEP 'dri-ver' some of the team tooled up with sponges and things, others charmed a lend of a ladder as two nipped into a Sainsbury's loo, to fill a blue bucket and one of those green recycling bins with water, to wash away some sins.

'Wax on, wax off' type upper body efforts cleaned the Sign and window - "watch out below, oops, there's water on yo!" (unlucky Samina! and everyone else who got splashed!) Working so concertedly, we managed to remove, quite sweetly, some unsightly graffiti.

Having heard the good news it' time we were off to climb the mountain. Following Ellie as she ran, grinning with her cunning plan - Hill Training - AAAHHH MAN! (Did someone say squats - apparently we chose this?)

Pointers on technique said like words of encouragement lead to a fast and steady start for the group, then a shaky turn had us realise that calories are what hills burn! A self imposed beasting drill on a damp North London Hill. The collective sigh of relief upon arriving back at the bottom after Hill folly three was red in the face for all to see.

Speaking of bottoms. . . Even after the the trio of triumphant trips to the tip, any GG Brent meet wouldn't be done without the monkey on all our backs (sides) SQUATS!!!

Delirious by this point we squat. We squat and hold, we squat and thrust, oh god we even (balancing pretty well considering) bounce in to and out of alternate squat lunges!!!???

Back to base to celebrate Andrea having just achieved a distinction in her Masters!!!

Monday's really are good!

Kinda sad it ended - We're all broken. . . and just a little mended : )

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

Sprinkling a special dose of Goodgym cheer, 13 radiant runners, pounded pavements, highjacked hills and put to bed PBs on a marvellous Monday night in Brent.

Full squad on deck for the first Monday in November, GG Brent were thrilled to welcome not one, not two but three newbies into the fold. The Super-Spanish addition - Cecilia and Helena and although new to Brent, a fabulous familiar face - Hazel, doing the famous Goodgym borough rounds tour. Additionally awesome was the fact that Hazel had brought along with her some home-baked treats of Brownies and Biccys for afters YAY!!

Joining me (coach Ellie) and our new runners in the ranks were a gorgeous gang of regulars including: Clairey-Bell, Mouse in the House Clare, Tabitha and Rebekah (aka sister sledge), Daring Debs, Lovely Liz, Super-dooper (don't forget the first aid bum-bag) marathon trooper Sadhana and... Man alert Monday: Neil and Enrique YAY.

Confessions before sessions, I had to relay the news that all my efforts to rescue the cancelled tasks had been unsuccessful this week. However, with some quick joined up thinking from Hazel and the crew, we turned our misfortune into a chance to spread the message of Goodgym with a handy leaflet drop, while grabbing the opportunity to stretch our legs and tackle a full on fitness fun and run session in the Wonderful streets of Willesden.

With this in mind, the team bounced into action. Led on in the front by the one and only 'Mouse' we set to work on the 1 mile dash to Queens Park, where the, circumference of the park, perfectly offers a one mile timed challenge op for the troops.

So armed with my timer and cheering lungs of steel, it was 3,2,1 AND THEIR OFF Dashing the fastest their legs could carry them, to set the bench mark.... here's lap one!

Breathless and quite literally steaming, the teams raced in, one by one.... under 7mins, under 8 and under 9s AMAZING Shocked at their own speed, there was no resting on our laurels and after a quick catch of breath off they went again. Incredibly, round 2 brought in consistent times for each athlete, proving there was no fluke and thankfully also..... no puke phew

Even after the epic 2 mile dash, this team of warriors finishing off, only the best way they could......squats of course to the glorious chimes of our Balearic beautys..... This will give us the Culos Perfectos in town* and that is a bunch of PERFECT BOTTOMS to you and me..... HA HAAAAAA

So after such an epic achievement of a session, there was only one way to finish, with Hazel's bountiful bake and stuffing our faces with goodies. Hurrah I suppose it goes to show, we will get the rewards when we Pud-in the work

Until next time x x x x

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

13 Goodgymers, Dropped 200 leaflets for 2 worthy causes on a wintery but wonderful Monday night in Brent.

Greeted by the awesome sight of not one, not two, but three new faces and a whole bunch of awesome oldies too, I was over the moon to be back from hols and straight back into the warm embrace of the one and only GoodGym Brent.

With welcomes and housekeeping underway, the team were introduced to the task for the night - The Bi-Monthly track session and leaflet drop. This week I was delighted to welcome Tania's contribution for the Brent Social counselling services, an opportunity for low income and out of work local people to be supported in achieving positive mental health, through talk therapy in the borough of Brent.

With no time to waste the team were off, speeding down the road and engaging with all the community along the way. Newbie Rebekah was the woman with the effective 'wink' and used these Eye-rresistible (sorry) charms to drop the most out of the whole team.

After the one mile dash to Willesden Track the team didn't rest on their laurels and got stuck straight into the the most Hard-Core strength and abs session known to mankind. Strength work started with: *Walking lunges *Piggy back runs *Squat sequence Quickly followed by walking held planks and scissor kicks for..... well as long as I could do it so that was a looonnnnggggggg time!!! HA HA

Mixing in with the strength work the team bashed out a series of speedy 100m sprints followed by 200's and recovery runs. It's safe to say they gave it a Good-Gym run for their money (again sorry, it seems my holiday away has been plenty of time to come up with the cheesiest of all cheer puns)

After sweat there was the stretch and one last dash home to freedom. Despite the cold and teasing drops of wintery rain, there was only good vibes and good times had by all, what a way to get back in the game!!

Another successful dose of community goodness and athletic throw down to boot. There's only one place to fuel body and soul and that's ramping it up with West London's finest - GG Brent.

Until next time.....

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

On a wet Monday night, seven GoodGym Redbridge runners took on the challenge of delivering flyers for an ‘Active Together’ initiative and ran more than 8km in the process.

Spurred on by the knowledge that “skin is waterproof”, the magnificent seven met at our usual home – Wanstead House Community Association – for the usual briefing and catch up. Excitingly the group was joined by three Redbridge first timers – Alice, Caitriona and Tim.

With the usual GG news dealt with it was time for Sam from Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure to talk us through the nights task. She explained that we were flyering for an initiative called “Active Together” which aimed to engage with the residents of local housing estates and find out what would make them get out and be more active. A brilliant task and one well aligned with what we do at GoodGym.

Without further delay, the group headed off up Wanstead High St in the direction of the Hermitage Estate. Armed with bags of flyers and one fire key for accessing the buildings the team set to work distributing the goods. Each building was three of four stories high, which meant the added bonus of a stair workout in each building. With Vision’s Sam and Trainer James, doing relay to open the doors, the group soon made quick work on posting the flyers and within 30 minutes the task was complete.

With 30 minutes left on the clock there was still time for a short 4km run around Snaresbrook before heading back to base for a cool down stretch.

All in all a brilliant task which saw GG Redbridge help make a real difference in the local area, get a little bit sweaty and a lot fitter. And the rain even held off.

Great work everyone. Same time next week?

P.S. Big shout out to Peter for the photo taking!