32 Good Gym runners ran 5k to pick apples for Abundance.

Before we headed off we gave a warm welcome to Francesca and Jen who were joining us for the first time and a round of applause to Tom 2 who was doing his 50th Good Deed – great achievement Tom.

The arrival of autumn was marked by the increasing amount of head torches and hi-vis gear as well as a noticeable chill in the air.

However, we soon warmed up under the guidance of run leader Kim, whose whistle kept piercing the Sheffield night as she gave us different exercises to do on the run to the mission. These included a raised leg walk which hadn’t been seen since John Cleese did it in Monty Python’s Ministry of Silly Walks (Google it youngsters).

We were met by Lucy and Peter who gave us our task and told us a bit about Abundance. It is a volunteer based organisation that rescues, shares, cooks and processes fruit which may otherwise go to waste from across Sheffield. The fruit is then shared with the local community. You can find out more about Abundance at www.sheffieldabundance.wordpress.com

And if you’d like to become a volunteer by scouting, harvesting, sorting, processing or distributing fruit you can email them at abundance@growsheffield.com

There were so many of us that Kim had us split into two groups: one apple picking, the other sprinting up the road and doing even more exercises – and then swapping over.

The task concluded with a brave group of runners holding a large tarpaulin under the tree whilst Mike shook it as vigorously as he could. The result was impressive - like a firework display of apples falling to the ground. One or two runners were hit on the head, thereby reaffirming Isaac Newton’s apple inspired law of gravity.

A steady run back downhill to the Showroom, a quick stretch and a beer or two rounded off another great Sheffield GG evening.

Oh, and for those of you who were expecting lots of apple puns in this run report, sorry – other than the title there are none. Having used every apple pun I could think of in Saturday’s Apple Picking for Regather report I had no new ones left – and simply repeating them would have made a tarpaulin run report …

This week saw 23 runners descend on Heeley People's Park to help out with the on going maintenance of this awesome community open space.

After the traditional get together, count-off and group photo we headed off from the Showroom on an almost arrow straight route to the task, taking the run nice and steady not knowing what fitness antics awaited later in the evening.

We received our usual warm welcome from Fantastic Frank at the task and were swiftly split into Team Rake and Team Mulch. There was a large section of recently cut grass that required the attention of the rakes and by the end of the evening there was what looked like a hedge along the road side edge of the grass area, ready for collection the following morning. Brilliant Bee kept look out to make sure the team weren't caught slacking as Sub Steve kept an eye on proceedings. Us Sheffield Goodgymers are getting pretty experienced at spreading mulch and the team shoveling, carrying and scattering was performing like a well oiled machine within minutes! No time for chatting here as Brilliant Becca, Capacity Cat and Toiling Tom were filling buckets faster than they were being carried away. With the light quickly fading it was great to see so many head-torches lighting the way, a great reminder that these will only become more essential as we head into the darker months.

Once we had finished up, we jogged over to a nearby closed of road for the fitness session. After a quick introduction to this variation on hill sprints, where everyone had to sprint up the hill level with Steve and then jog back, there was much amazement that the first rep was only a few meters! But soon came the realisation that their marker was moving and the reps were getting longer! After a quick tweek on how to safely navigate the turn back down the hill, thanks to Guidance Grace, everyone got into the swing of things and started to push themselves really well. Running Rob and Climbing Chris deserve particular kudos for having to catch the sprinting marker at the very top of the climb. A great work out by everyone.

At this point we split into two groups for our trip back home, each with a different distance and pace planned. The first group led by Speedy Sarah and the second by me, we set off back to base. The main difference in route was a loop around SUFC football ground, which is also a segment. The #GGSHEFF ladies are owning this segment now with the fastest 6 ladies times on the Leaderboard!!! We joined the groups together again en route with a quick wall-sit-wait and then took the last km nice and steady before a final stair spring back at base.

Callisthenics Kim then lead a great stretch and we chatted through the ever busy social calendar for this week! Before we finished twins Kim and Steve were serenaded with a chorus of Happy Birthday from everyone and presented with some birthday cake which was swiftly cut up and shared around the group. Thoroughly deserved by everyone who had put real effort into this evening runs, task and hills session. Well done everyone and thanks for the cake!

22 intrepid GoodGymmers set off into the early autumn evening.

We did a variety of short interval sprints and slaloms around trees and posts on our convoluted way to the Abbeydale Picture House. On arrival it quickly became clear there had been issues with communication - only one member of staff there, who wasn't remotely ready for us!

No matter!

We divided into 3 groups and set about plogging the local area, which is littered with, well... litter. Keeping constantly moving, we collected a good few bags worth of detritus, making the immediate area around the Picture House far more amenable - until the next time!

On the way back to base, we stopped at our regular Umix park haunt, where we paired up for some high fivin' frolics, running towards each other, then running back - rinsing and repeating - and doing:

• 10 Sit ups
• 5 Burpees
• 15 Star Jumps
• 10 Press ups

We also squeezed in a wall sitting competition, where 2 teams faced off with each other with mixed success. A few more sprint intervals led us back to the Showroom for stretching and the bar, where we said our farewells to Ultra Caroline, who has been a steadfast member of GG Sheffield for ages now.

Happy Running!

Regather next week!

An amazing 37 people rocked up for last nights run on an overcast and gray Sheffield eve, what a turn out!

A huge welcome to 3 new fantastic runners to the @GGSHF crew;

1. Chris Cutforth
2. Cat
3. Fran

Give em a cheer!

We were back off to help out SENSATIONAL SIMON and his small team of volunteer rangers who help to keep the NATIONAL CYCLING NETWORK looking tip top for all to use. With many a tool in the back of his car Simon gave us a quick brief of the tasks for the eve and we got straight to it. This week we had;

• TEAM EDGING
• TEAM TRIANGLE
• TEAM STICK IT UP
• TEAM GRAFFITI REMOVAL (Check out Helen's acrobatics in the photos!)
• TEAM LOPPING
• TEAM SWEEP

It was nice to have a local dapper chap walking his dog take the time to thank us for our efforts and tell us it was appreciated by the local community.

After a good 45mins of top work the section of the path we were working on was looking tip top and a lot more attractive for people to walk, run or cycle on this great local asset.

Once it was time to head home to the Showroom we said our goodbyes to Simon and headed down hill via Park Hill for a quick SUPER SQUAT session which involved make believe lava and the following squats;

• SUMO SQUAT
• SQUAT JUMP
• PISTON SQUAT

We also threw in some humps and lumps to run over on the way back as well as some stairs sets and a sprint finish for good measure.

A huge thanks to everyone who came along, put effort in and contributed, really appreciated.

Happy Running :)