Wall of Honour

• Thanks to Emily for running back to retrieve my bag and keys for the cafe!
• Big Shout to Hayley, Imogen, Victoria, Olivia & Saoirse for completing their first run with us!
• Pat on the back to Dom & Emily for completing another Half Marathon in under 2 hours despite the puddles last Saturday!

Let’s have a Recap

Last night a whopping 27 runners ran 5km in total to TRAID store in Peckham, a charity whose aim is to stop clothes being thrown away reducing the impact on the environment.

After welcoming all our new comers, we stepped out into the fresh winter evening and began a swift warm up learning everyones names! We took a back street route along Bellenden road and up to the store at the top of Rye Lane.

Jose the store manger was pleased to welcome us indoors and slightly shocked at the size of our group as the 27 runners descended into the store! Having arrived soon after the shop had stopped TRAID-ing we were able to assist their task of removing all of the end of season stock from the many display rails in the shop. Large boxes were placed nearby, and once we were shown how to pack and fold the items, it wasn't long before the boxes were filled and more had to brought out. In total 6 boxes were filled to the brim and carefully lifted and stacked using true GoodGym 'We can do this!' spirit, much to the surprise of the store staff who thought it might be too challenging! Whilst this was going on we had extra hands sweeping the floor, wiping shelves, polishing rails and cleaning the store from back to front. After 30mins the store was transformed and now completely empty, ready for the staff to restock the new season styles in the morning.

FACT OF THE DAY Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) often used to make the mid sole of athletic shoes can take up to 1000 years to decompose!! try donating your old shoes!

To finish the session off we ran back to Peckham Rye park and split into groups for some Kilometer loops, throwing in lamppost strides, out and backs and finishing with a sprint finish lead by Danny, and some Sally Squats lead by Dom. After a quick stretch it was time for our monthly social (walk to the pub)!

Next week we will be running 5km overall to Crisis Camberwell working with a local charity to help sort out their donations and tidy up stock.

See you next week Team. Wrap up!

Wall of Honour

• Thanks to Emily & Sam for back marking and keeping the group together.
• Pat on the back to Rebecca, Ian, Emma & Dom for completing Half Marathons in London and Lisbon last weekend!

Let’s have a Recap

Last night 20 runners ran 10km in total to the former Daily Mail Printworks, now being turned into a fantastic community garden and education centre run by Global Generation.

A slightly strange ensemble of runners arrived dressed in prison outfits, capes, bandages and deadly makeup in true GhoulGym fashion! With a longer run this week we set off promptly armed with 'trick or sweets', surprising a few passers by giving us strange looks as we took to the back streets on route to Surrey Quays.

When we arrived at Printworks site we were met by Martin who guided us to a beautifully hidden garden with fairy lights and log cabins. The task ahead was to dig up a mound of soil and transfer a very large bag of logs to the inside community centre. With time being short a team of 4 swiftly began digging at the stubborn mound of earth clearing the area with expert speed. The rest of the team lifted, carried, and wheeled the logs inside until half the bag was emptied. Then a masterstroke decision was made to drag the large back to the storage area and a chain was quickly set up hurriedly emptying and piling the remaining logs in a safe pile ready for use indoors.

FACT OF THE DAY In Toraja, Indonesian, a ritual called Ma'Nene (Care of Ancestors) takes place each year in August when the bodies of the deceased are exhumed to be washed, groomed and dressed in new clothes. The mummies are then walked around the village!!

With our speedy gravedigging and logging complete we headed back along cycle paths and through tunnels making sure our group didn't get too stretched, thanks for your help team! After a good night of exercise it was time for a well earned drink!

Next week we will be running 6km overall to Theatre Deli in Burgess Park giving their hall a lick of paint! So don't wear your best running gear!

See you next week Team. Wrap Up.

Wall of Honour

• Thanks to Emma for back marking and keeping the group together.
• Big Shout to Tom & Paulin for completing their first run with us!
• Pat on the back to Sam doing his 50th Good Deed last weekend!
• High 5's all round to Allie for finishing the Royal Parks Half as a Rhino last week!!

Let’s have a Recap

Last night 20 runners ran 4km in total to the nearby Cossal Estate Residents and Tenants association hall. This venue is used by many local groups for various activities from arts and woodcraft, circus training, choir practice and concerts. We were met by Jaki who directed us into 2 groups for the various tasks for the evening. One group swept up all the leaves, weeds and rubbish in the outside patio area, clearing a nice open space ready to use for their Xmas party! The second group cleared all 2 store cupboards full of unwanted items of all shapes and sizes! From paint pots to paintings, old stereos and camping beds everything that was no longer needed was carried out in a chain to the dump. We even managed to retrieve a piano that had been inaccessible and unused for 20 years, giving it a new home inside the main hall.

When spotting 4 swiss balls lying around there was only one way we could make best use of them...with a 4 team GoodGym relay competition!

FACT OF THE DAY in 2012, Neil Whyte completed the record for the fastest time 10 Swiss balls have been jumped across at 8.31 seconds! Imagine giving that a go!

First up was an 'over and under' through the legs challenge, followed by a swiss ball dive along the floor with varying levels of success! We finished off with a bear crawl and crab race challenging our coordination, core strength and flexibility. It was no suprise all 4 races were extremely close and fiercely faught!

Next week we will be running 10km overall to the former Daily Mail Printworks in Surrey Quays, which is now a community Paper Garden run by Global Generation to nurture creativity and community.

It's getting dark so bring a head torch. Bring your contactless/oyster card for the overground option home.

Well done team! See you next week.

Wall of Honour

• Thanks to Girija for back marking, sporting her new 100 t-shirt!
• Big Shout to Imogen, Molly, Raj and Phoebe for completing their first run with us!
• Pat on the back to Emma & Kathy for completing the Oxford Half Marathon in the pouring rain with fantastic support from Emily & Civ.

Let’s have a Recap

Last night 23 runners ran 4km in total to the Salvation Army Springfield Lodge supported housing in East Dulwich. A centre that provides youth accommodation and support in all other aspects of their lives.

We took a quick warm up dusting off some balletic leg swings confirming our names and ability to count to 23! Then we set off along a sleepy residential route climbing a long steady hill on the way, with a brief pause to lean (wall-sit) against a wall. The task owner this week was our very own GoodGym runner Rosanna (not in running gear and very smartly dressed!) who explained the plans for the task ahead. With lots of items needing to be moved to other parts of the building, she had thankfully prepared sticky labels to tell us where to go!

The first team began outside weeding, clearing and sweeping the pavement and filling up the bins with any rubbish. A second group started removing and cleaning various items of furniture before transporting the chairs back into the main building. Sam & Mike impressively carried a wardrobe returning it to a room on the ground floor, thankfully with no stairs! And a final group arranged the remaining items that needed to be loaded onto shelves in the limited space of the garden shed. In 25 minutes and many hands our work was fully done prompting some lovely feedback from the staff 'what lovely guys and girls' 'can't believe the strength of some of them!'.

FACT OF THE DAY the Salvation Army was founded in 1865 in the East End of London, now with branches in over 75 countries. There is a Heritage Centre Museum in Southwark which also houses the reference library and archives!

After a quick round of Squat roulette and Press up dominoes we headed downhill with Abbie & Ineke leading the way back. And a closely fought ultra-competitive Lamppost relay gave everyone a final sweat before we rolled into the bar next door.

Next week we will be running 4km overall to the nearby Cossall Estate Residents association community garden to help clear up any weeds and leave the area looking nice heading into winter. Sign up here

See you next week Team. Wrap up!