Brambles, Banter and Baby Bottles: A Run to Remember at Cherry Tree Woods

We kicked off the evening at he Phoenix Cinema with our now-traditional circle chat—this time diving into our earliest childhood memories. From the sound of milk bubbling in baby bottles to first flights to India and tales of youthful bumps and scrapes, the stories flowed almost as freely as the banter and laughter.

With nostalgia warmed, we split into runners and walkers and headed downhill to Cherry Tree Woods—just half a kilometre away. One kind passer-by even applauded us on our way down, a first for many of us!

At the woods, we met András, our fantastic host from the Friends of Cherry Tree Wood, who had tools lined up and tasks ready. But first—bramble bashing could wait—a quick fitness session on the open field. Some warm up exercises and a nice plank to finish. we are now ready to take on the brambles!

Armed with loppers, rakes, and shovels, we got stuck into clearing overgrown brambles. We powered through the first patch so quickly that we tackled a second area before time ran out. Litter was picked, pathways cleared, and even some locals stopped to say thank you.

As we walked and ran back in small groups, it was clear just how much can be achieved in under an hour when a group of people come together with purpose and energy. It’s always a privilege to support local volunteer groups like Friends of Cherry Tree Wood, whose ongoing work makes these spaces safe and welcoming for the whole community.

The first person to read this and write a comment get a drink from me!

A few GoodGym members came together to do online yoga.

yoga talk

As mentioned in class yesterday, yoga is a great way to activate the parasympathetic nervous system — our “rest and repair” mode. By calming the breath and focusing the mind, we help the body shift out of stress and into a state that supports healing, recovery, and overall well-being. It’s one of the reasons a regular practice can feel so deeply relaxing. https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/can-yoga-decrease-stress-and-anxiety

GoodGym lends a hand at Hampstead Heath Parkrun

Sometimes the best things happen last-minute. On Friday afternoon I got an email from the Hampstead Heath Parkrun team—they were short on volunteers for Saturday morning. I replied, signed up, and by 9am I was at the start line, barcode scanner in hand.( my iphone!)

Well, nearly. The race director had a bit of a morning: the defibrillator and finish tokens had mysteriously gone missing. Undeterred, the team rallied. A defib was sourced from the nearby swimming ponds, and the tokens were digitised on the spot. It was impressive to see everyone pulling together to keep the event alive.

Around 500 runners gathered in the sun, and the Parkrun spirit was in full flow. One runner was concerned about her blood sugar, and when the race director asked if anyone had snacks to share—dozens of people stepped forward with drinks and food. It was a lovely moment of community in action.

I was paired with Samuel for barcode scanning—he managed the digital tokens, and I scanned the runners’ barcodes. Despite the rocky start, everything ran smoothly, and the runners were full of appreciation. At one point, the event was close to being cancelled, so it was especially rewarding to help make it happen.

I even bumped into a fellow GoodGymer, Paul, and we made plans for a celebratory swim and coffee at the ponds afterward.

If you enjoy friendly chaos, fresh air, and helping out your local community, volunteering at Parkrun is a brilliant way to start the weekend. It’s easy to sign up, and whether you’re cheering, timing, or scanning, you’ll be part of something genuinely uplifting. Come join us at Hampstead Heath sometime—or support your local Parkrun. You won’t regret it.