On a crisp, decidedly lovely autumn evening, GoodGym Barnet assembled as usual at the Phoenix Cinema, a place that’s rapidly becoming our own version of the Heart of Gold. There, we welcomed a brand-new member, Tom. Now, Tom had been orbiting the idea of joining GoodGym for years (which is quite a long time in the GoodGym galaxy). A seasoned marathoner, Tom has decided to explore the shorter but still wondrous distances of 5km and 10km. Naturally, we welcomed him aboard with open arms.

After gathering in the foyer— we stepped outside to do a warm-up. This involved a brief "introduction to ourselves" via the classic name and number routine. (And no, it’s not a prison roll call, though it has a certain futuristic formality to it.) There was also a brief foray into holiday reminiscing: tales of journeys to exotic lands like Turkey, Crete, Cornwall, Sicily, Belgium, and Denmark. Just your average list of places you'd pop off to when you're not saving the local community.

In no particular order, our heroic team of runners included:

Peter Rachel George Paul Tom Kubilay

give them a heroic shout out. click on the red link.

Our quest for the evening: a scenic dash down the High Street, past the station, chasing the gloriously glowing red and orange sunset towards our destination—Northway Community Gardens in Hampstead Garden Suburb. Here, the great guardian of the gardens, Brian, awaited.

Brian, by the way, is somewhat of a warrior. His sworn nemesis? Bureaucracy. And oh, how he battles it, defending the beauty of the gardens from the forces of inefficiency. Armed with his pruning shears and an unyielding passion for fighting the good fight, he welcomed us to the task at hand: litter picking, sweeping, and the ever-satisfying pruning.

The most heroic task, however, came in the form of litter fishing from the stream. Armed with litter pickers and the precarious balance of tightrope walkers, we reached over the banks to retrieve the offending debris. It was daring work—soggy, slightly treacherous, and mildly reminiscent of a low-budget action sequence, but we prevailed.

Once we'd tamed the litter and pruned the greenery into submission, we secured the garden shed (because all great quests involve a shed of some sort) and turned our weary feet back toward the Phoenix. The run back, now under cover of night, was peaceful and introspective. Some of us, brimming with energy, opted for bonus sprints around the quiet streets. Tom and Peter, in particular, blitzed through the sprints like the fleet-footed heroes they are.

Finally, we gathered back at our base—the Phoenix—for a well-earned warm-down. There, discounted beverages awaited, and we chatted about our adventure over drinks, basking in the glow of a job well done.

Thanks for coming and doing some good! And remember, don’t panic—we’ll be back next week for more heroics.

Dear Mosquitos and Fellow Insects,

I know you've enjoyed buzzing around the lovely Ms. B. as much as I enjoyed spending time with her today. Please don't take this personally, but your visitations are officially over, and honestly, you were never really invited in the first place. You probably saw this coming since Ms. B. had to keep her windows closed on these warm summer days. Well, It is the end of your little game!

Today, I visited Ms. B. at 1 p.m. sharp and installed insect screens on two windows, which turned out to be a bit more of an adventure than I anticipated and took nearly two hours. Now, before you roll your multifaceted eyes, let me explain. I'm not that slow—really! I had to dash to the DIY store to get some extra Velcro, and it turns out that installing screens from the inside without exterior access requires some creative gymnastics.

But fear not, I managed to get the job done. Whether the screens will withstand wind, rain, and your determined little wings remains to be seen, but I'm optimistic. So, I hope Ms. B. can now enjoy a cool breeze without your high-pitched serenades in her ear.

Consider this your official notice of eviction.

Yours sincerely,

Last night’s GoodGym group run was a delightful mix of community spirit, fitness, and fun. We set out to meet Linda from the Friends group, who had requested our help to clear the area around the children’s playground and fitness equipment in Coldfall Woods.

The evening was warm and beautiful, perfect for a summer run. We gathered at the Phoenix Cinema, chatting excitedly about our upcoming holidays, before numbering up and setting off on a 4km run through the charming backstreets of East Finchley. Despite the heat, we took breaks to catch our breath and stay together, embodying GoodGym’s philosophy of social, inclusive running.

Upon reaching Coldfall Woods, Linda welcomed us and provided tools and bags. We spent a productive 40 minutes clearing weeds around benches and equipment, and picking up litter. It was rewarding to see the area looking tidier and more inviting for the community.

As the sun began to set, we headed back, the golden light filtering through the trees. We couldn’t resist playing a bit of frisbee on the recreational ground, laughing and enjoying the simple pleasure of throwing and catching as we ran.

We finished back at the Phoenix for a good stretch, savoring the last moments of the glowing sunset. Some of us then went to the pub for a well-deserved drink and a chat. To top off the evening, we watched the final of the freestyle relay event where Great Britain won the gold medal.

In our own way, we felt like we had won a medal too. Thanks to everyone who came out, ran, and helped make a positive impact in our community!

A few GoodGym people came together to do some online yoga.

Details on how yoga improves vascular function, particularly through enhanced endothelial function, one of the key mechanisms by which yoga can help regulate blood pressure. The endothelium is the inner lining of blood vessels and plays a critical role in maintaining vascular health. Here’s a detailed look at the mechanisms involved:

Endothelial Function and Its Importance:

The endothelium regulates several important functions, including: - Vasodilation and Vasoconstriction: The ability of blood vessels to widen (vasodilate) or narrow (vasoconstrict) is crucial for maintaining blood pressure. - Blood Flow: Proper endothelial function ensures smooth and efficient blood flow, reducing strain on the heart. - Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: The endothelium helps control inflammation and oxidative stress within blood vessels, both of which can contribute to hypertension and cardiovascular disease.