Eleven runners ran 6km to help Harlesden Town Gardens

On a dark November night, 8 runners met up at the Queensbury to set off on a 2 mile run over to Harlesden Town Gardens. We found runner Meg, and task leader Gabriel waiting for us with a welcoming bonfire already blazing steadily in the pit that GoodGym Brent runners had helped create in a previous task – great to see it being put to good use!

Dinesh and Dimple arrived shortly after the main group after having just missed us at the Queensbury, but luckily their navigation skills and nous led them to the heart of the action around the glowing fire.

We quickly formed a branch-busting bunch to saw up logs to keep the fire fuelled, and a marshmallow-skewering and toasting, sparkler-twizzling support group to keep them motivated. Claire had sadly underestimated the enthusiasm and marshmallow chomping capacity of GG Brent runners, and one pack of those fluffy sugar and gelatine clouds just wasn’t enough to go around, so Joe and Uthman saved the day by running to the corner shop to re-stock so we had enough to make smores (marshmallow and chocolate, sandwiched between two digestive biscuits, wrapped in foil and toasted in the fire, for the uninitiated!).

It’s great to see how the Town Gardens are evolving, and Gabriel told us about Friends of Harlesden Town Garden’s future plans to build a clubhouse there, here is the link if you’d like to cast a vote to support their funding bid:

https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/voting/project/view/17-4315

It was so cosy round the fire that it was hard to leave, especially after all the sugary indulgence – but somehow we managed to tear ourselves away and get back to the Queensbury again, I don’t know about everyone else, but the hills felt a bit steeper on the way back…!?

You Guys were ace, thanks for coming, great to see your faces!

On the eve the hallows, there were some scary sights to behold in Brent! But thankfully amongst the horrors, were 14 local heroes, who, although wearing masks, carried out tasks, in the name of what's Good(gym) in Willesden. YAY!

SCREAM QUEEN The usual meet up was a freaky affair, in our old haunt, The Queensbury! But making a play for old Queenies crown, was I, the Goodgym prom queen of death, in all my crowning glory!! But to my absolute delight, I wasn't alone in my Halloween costume efforts, with the majority of the crew bringing a whole lotta fierce, with faces painted, masks, head dresses and props! Hurahhhh haaaa haaaaa haaaaaaaaaa (that was an evil laugh by the way!)

Amongst the familiar faces was another I'd seen before, although a member of my Peckham flock who appeared to have flown West for winter! Michael, a regular Southwark speedster, but due to a change in address was ready to bust out with Brent!! Hurrah!

So after housekeeping and the big reveal of what would be the prize for best costume - A pumpkin disguised as a chocolate orange and my crown, we hit the road for a fast mile down to the police station.

ELLO ELLO ELLO The Old Police Station is a site we've been visiting for months and months and are proud to say have contributed to its complete regeneration. Once a den for squatters, thanks to Colin and his community crew, it has been shaped into a glorious hub for artists. What was once an unsightly eyesore, is now a tremendous center for arts and crafts, which values community spirit and supports local business.

Devil may care, artistic flare So after our pavement pace down the high road, we arrived excited and raring to go. Waiting at the door for us was Colin, our host, ready to explain our missions for the eve. First up on the agenda was was the most important task; The creation and painting of our very own Goodgym mural, representing all the hard work that we've achieved since beginning our volunteering, way back in spring. So with paper at the ready, the crew began sketching the designs, that would later be translated onto real life, painted wall art!

Rubble in paradise As the sketching began a few of the scary soldiers peeled off to tackle some lifting and shifting of rubble and rubbish outside, into Colin's trusty old van. This task was EPIC to say the least!! Led by Uzman, the gang of Goodgym ghosts and ghouls, hoiked and slung mountains of debris and made way for some much needed outdoor space! As the crew formed a chain of shifters and lifters, Joe was put to work inside the van, where he felt far more comfortable than standing on the roof, like last time!!

Paint by numbers With all the action outside going on, I nearly missed the excitement inside, when the actual wall painting finally started! Crammed into the mini room where our mural would take shape, the team worked tirelessly, chalking up outlines, then painting on the infamous GG logo and all manner of related images, from running shoes, to wheelbarrows and spades. Michael worked particularly hard on the creation of MEEEE, now to be remembered forever doing pull-ups on the tube!!

Drop it like a squat Even though the night was brimming with all manner of tasks to be completed, I still found time to put my Halloween hotties through their paces. Splitting off in teams of 4, a HIIT session was on the menu, consisting of squats, stair runs and sprints!!

We've only just begun Even though we would have loved to have stayed all night long, we feared the inevitable of turning into pumpkins ourselves, so I had to wrap the timer on the cop shop task drop. However, we still have loads and loads of our mural to complete and will therefore be back to do more in 2 weeks!!

But before we could say a final farewell, sister sledge - Tabs and Debs were crowned the winners of the Halloween Prize for their fantastic face painted efforts!!! However the twosome turned out to be not so gruesome, when they shared their choccy orange prize out with the troops.

Homeward bound So that's a wrap the winner revealed as Debs the cat. Oh and Tabitha too, as a scary ghoul. We ran home feeling pleased, with all we'd achieved, on this Goodgym for Brent, on all Hallows Eve.

See you next time fit fam xxxx

Eight runners met up at the Queensbury for the short run down to Willesden Green's former police station-cum-community hub in the making to brush up on their painting skills.

We welcomed Lucas to his first GG run, and Simon who was out doing a bit of GG tourism for the evening - and seems to have bagged most of the boroughs already! They were joined by Simon H, Tabitha, Debbie, Coralie, Liz, and deputy run leader Claire, who all already had an idea of what was in store...

We were met by Colin with his usual bags of energy - despite claiming to be knackered, he still managed to get us all tooled up, find lights, find power sources for said lights, show us what to do, not trip on any cables, and all whilst regaling us with fantastic and incredible stories of parties to end all parties... and probably managed to apply more paint to walls than the eight of us put together!

We rolled up our sleeves and got out the rollers, brushes and trays and set to work to transform the indoor space into a symphony of white and orange - seriously, our painting and decorating talents are wasted in our day jobs!! We left, paint spattered but happy to see how the place is evolving, it is almost unrecognisable from our first visits here a few months back, especially the beautiful gardens. It gave us a warm glow inside to think that we had contributed a bit to this transformation. Inspirational!

A wee run back up the hill to the pub, with a few stretches, and off home to wash paint out of our hair, aaah....

Thanks everyone!!

WOW, WOW, and WOW. What a brilliant evening at Goodgym Bexley last night. Not only were all distance running records broken it was possibly the most unusual task we have done to date. As deadline for arriving at Crooklog arrived, 13 Bexley Goodgymers were on the start line. Some looking a little nervous, some ready to get out there and conquer. By conquer i mean we had a mountain to climb to get to our task. That mountain being Shooters Hill!!! Big hi 5 to Ashley for joining us for the first time. We hope you had a blast. Let me tell you, there's nothing quite the feeling of belonging as you head out in our group weaving in and out of the commuters and shoppers all eager to get to our task at the Oxleas Apiary That belonging became really important when we reached the bottom of Shooters Hill as we coached and encouraged everyone that needed it to the summit.

That belonging became really important when we reached the bottom of Shooters Hill as we coached and encouraged everyone that needed it to the summit.

On arrival we were greeted with massive smiles from John and friends and shown to the Apiary and the big task at hand. After a quick drink it was down to work. We were all offered bee suits but everyone declined. I'm not sure if that was due to not wanting to put people out, or just bravery on everyones part but we started working suitless. It wasn't till around 4 minutes in when Neil took a sting that everyones bravery subsided and it was suits on, hahaha.......... I would just like to say that this wasn't just a brilliant task, it was an education lesson. John couldn't of been a better host as he filled everyone with knowledge about the bee world. It is really so fascinating and we left the task with a massive new insight into the world of bees. Thank you. Well just as we were finishing the heavens decided to open up and after getting 16 people into a shed (another task conquered :-) ) to try and keep a little dry it was decided it was time to brave our run home in the rain. Before i sign out bee fact Bees have around 3 to 5 days of life left when you see them flying around. When you see them exhausted on the floor they are coming to the end of their life. Giving them sugar water etc will not make them better or live any longer. Well thats was it. We all made it back in one happy peace. All very chuffed we had run up and back down Shooters Hill. Well done Bexley Goodgymers, you rocked!! Tonights Heroes........ JANINE, NEIL, LIZ, LUCY, PETER, TANYA, SHARINE, SARAH, SUSAN, ASHLEY, FIONA, ROSE and ME.......

9 GG Brent fitties were fast and furious as they pushed down pavements and paraded their way through tonights leaflet task for Brent's good causes. YAY!!

Now all I can say to start this run report tonight is - What Debs wants Debs gets and when our bride to be requested a track session, how could I refuse!! So armed with our source of good-deeding info sharing leaflets for - The NHS, Granville community food kitchen and some home grown repping for us GG BRENT as well, we got to stepping and paper chased our way through the ends, all the way to Willesden Sports Centre. BOOM!

Oh and thank you mother nature for blessing us with a rain free evening. Really and truly, this will be the first track attack session in a while that hasn't been a wash out! phewwwwww!!!!

So after our community spree which included face to face, library drops and postal passion, we arrived at our home for the eve & let me tell you, these guys were raring to go. Seriously energised and ready for some fabulous fitness fun and games in the form of drills, skills and a lot a lot of HIIT training - THATS High intensity interval training to you and me ;) POW POW!

After some mobilising and skills work, in the form of walking lunges , crab walks and various hop, skip and jumps (No that wasn't into the sandpit although Tabitha would have loved that!!) it was set to work on running 200m sprints, timed and repeated to track pace!

Can I just say at this point, OMG what a set of times, for each and every one!! All achieved even in the midst of some worried faces and moments of self doubt, particularly ironic was the cries from Jo But I'm not a sprinter hummmm really?? As she smashed in under 40 seconds each time!!! Bolt eat your heart out please!

Everyone gave it their all and worked their socks off for the whole session. Huffing, puffing, panting, recovering then going again and again. Special shouts go to Pushpa aka 'mum' who shaved 15 seconds off her first time in round three, living up to her name as she "Pushpa'd" to the max!! Think she was holding out on us and is a cheeky lil speedster at heart!!

After the main event, we finished off the session and the last of the legs with step jumps x 10 for three rounds and with that all jelly legged and understandably exhausted, we jogged the cool down back to base.

Another great evening doing good in Brent, with a HIIT-Fit focus for our resident badass athletes, that really packed a punch!

See you next time fit fam!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE