This week 17 wonderful GoodGym-ers ran 6km to paint a carehome's garden furniture

This is a very special week for GoodGym Barnet. Not only is it our 20th group run! (Applause) But it's also Hazel's 50th good deed. Give her a cheer!

We were joined by GG newbie Thais tonight, who totally smashed her first run with us! Be sure to click her name and give her a cheer!

After a quick warm up and intro outside the Phoenix Cinema we were off on our journey to Dell Fields to finish painting the garden furniture. I stalled for a couple of minutes to wait for Simon who was visiting us from Islington (with CHEESECAKE), but we decided to text him the route so he could catch up. Damian lead the group out while Paul was our trusty back-marker. This gave me the opportunity to float about in the middle and talk to loads of you!

On the final stretch a man stopped me to ask GoodGym and seemed very excited to hear we ran regularly and did good. He promised to tell his wife, so hopefully we see her next week! (This is a great reason to make sure you're wearing your GoodGym shirt!)

As we arrived at the carehome, so did Simon, who must have been running behind us just out of sight!

The group quickly took on sanding and painting roles as we finished varnishing the chairs from our last visit. As GG-ers slowly finished their tasks, they were treated to some strength and mobility drills up the garden path. There were duck walks, bear walks, hops and squats, while the others put in those finishing touches. Then it was a quick tidy, before heading out front for a very brief round of exercise before our run back.

We split into two groups to head home, with Damian, Freya and Paul taking the speedy lot back, and me and Hazel leading the slightly less speedy group.

Back at base there was stretching, cheesecake and, of course, biscuits.

The Barnet Biscuit of the Week: HOMEMADE BISCUITS courtesy of super TF member Heather, who couldn't run with us tonight but still baked us cookies!

We also had a bonus #BarnetBiscuit in the form of cheesecake from Simon AND oreos from Del. There were so many post-run snacks this week we didn't get to the oreos, so Freya has been tasked with keeping those safe for us until next week. Biscuit-sitting is a tough job. Let's hope she doesn't accidentally eat them all after one of her many runs (she's already don't over 60km this month)... Be sure to link strava up with your GG profile so your runs get counted in the heroes section too.

Don't forget we have a starter session THIS SATURDAY at Community Focus in Friary Park at 2pm. It'll be less running than a usual GG run, so definitely one to tell your friends about if they're a bit nervous about keeping up on the group runs. There will also be some running drills and some gardening. And probably biscuits. Meet at the community centre. Sign up here

And be sure to bring along your ID to the next group run or starter session so we can get you mission verified! Just need to see some photo ID and an official letter of some sort with your address on it and a date within three months. Two of one and one of the other. So, for example, a passport, a driver's license and a bank statement from less than 3 months ago – or a passport, a utility bill and a bank statement. We need lots of runners to help Ms F on 22 Jan, so if you're already mission verified you can sign up here.

See you on Saturday!

Pennie

42 runners went to Vauxhall Foodbank to sort a MEGA Christmas delivery. Phew!

It was a MEGA turnout in Lambeth last night with runners old and new gathering for a run to the lovely Vauxhall Foodbank. They had spent 3 days over the weekend asking shoppers to buy and donate one item of food from their list and the public had been very generous. The Foodbank supports individuals and families who are in sudden crisis over a short period with food donations. Christmas is a key time for families in need and we always enjoy helping them out.

We split into two groups and headed off to Vauxhall. One group took the shorter route of about 3km each way and the others headed off on a longer version. Once we arrived, the lovely Faith gave us an intro and we got down to the sorting.

There was so much food that we ran out of crates and had to use the cardboard boxes to store everything in. Some people did some excellent labelling and others did tremendous packing. All in all it was a massive effort and we look forward to hearing exactly how much we weighed in - it must have been a record!

I wonder if we made a weigh-in record?! Wondered everyone

On the way back we ran in three groups - the relaxed runners set off, leaving the other two groups to finish weighing and squash any unneeded boxes. The entirely mediocre group 2 headed off next: would we be equal to grade C+or a B? Who knows.....

Finally the speedy group took to the streets and headed home for some stretches and a well earned dinner. Great work team and thanks for coming. We made a massive difference tonight.

17 GoodGym-er run 6km to varnish a carehome's garden chairs

This week GoodGym Barnet set a new record for attendance (not including launch night), with three brand new people joining us for our run. Massive welcome Rachel, James and Lauren who all made it down to GG Barnet for the first time – give 'em a cheer! And to Beattieand Will who finally returned!

This week a number of people hit 10 GG Barnet runs! Well done to Will, Mark, Heather and Freya. The Phoenix is giving everyone who comes along to 10 GG Barnet runs a free cinema ticket. I have the first 10 already waiting for enough of us to go and watch something awesome together! We are three people away from the first 10!

After a quick warm up along the side of the cinema, I lead the way to Dell Fields Care Home. Heather was my trusty back-marker this week. The 3km route to the carehome took us over the big bright bridge crossing the North Circular again, which Hazel and I agreed was oddly satisfying to run over.

Once we arrived at the home, we were handed some sand paper and paint brushes and set upon getting as many of the garden chairs varnished as we could in the allocated time. Everyone did an amazing job. Within 25 minutes we'd finished eight (or so) chairs – there were only two left. We ran out of paint brushes, so while most of the team worked, people took it in turns to run, side-step, duck walk and high-knee down the garden path.

We then had a quick workout out the front of the home involving some sprints, squats and rocket jumps. It unfortunately also involved Hazel ruining a very nice pair of leggings.

Freya then lead the team back to base along a different route, while I back-marked with Heather, Hazel and Phil. Half way back we split into two groups, with Damian leading the speedy group back to the Phoenix and me taking the less speedy group back. Everybody in the speedy group agreed that it certainly earned its name, with Damian ensuring the pace was kept on zoom.

Back at the Phoenix we were treated to this week's Barnet Biscuit: homemade Jaffa cakes, courtesy of Heather. I'm still blown away that these are even a thing you can make at home. Heather deserves ALL OF THE CHEERS for making these.

Next week we have a nice short run to Newstead Children's Centre in East Finchley to paint the hallways. Sign up here. It's only 1.5km each way and will be indoors – what more could you ask for?

Don't forget to bring your documents along next week if you'd like to be DBS checked – ID + Proof of Address, two of one and one of the other.

See you next week, folks!

25 energised GoodGymers ran 6k to the Mabley Green user group to load, shift and tip 1 tonne of mulch on to the bases of 50 baby trees on Mabley Green.

Awesome to have so many new faces tonight!! Hope you all had a top time and really hope to see you all again next week! (If you have any questions please drop me a mail). It was also great to see Kev visiting from Bristol for the evening.

With so many of you running it'll be great to see you come along to the Regents Park 10k on the 6th of November!! All the information about the race and link to enter can be found here. See you there!!

A powerful 3k run down to Mabley Green with a little pause for a a few targeted lower-body dynamic warm-up exercises saw us make good time on one of our longer GoodGym runs.

We picked up a troop of wheelbarrows and army of Spaces then marched back to Mabley Green to get cracking!! 35 dominant minutes of speedily loading the mulch in to the barrows before the pusher burst in to action running 150m to the trees to tip the mulch carefully on to the optimal spots, guided by Jonny from the Mabley Green User group, before sprinting back and going again. We rotated jobs to keep the pace high and got in a little Fitness Fun in the kids play park doing a military style assault course and body weight strength exercises before rotating back in to the Mulch Party.

In 35 quick-fire minutes we moved a cubic tonne of mulch and Jonny said it would have taken his team a whole weekend to get that much done!! Awesome effort!! Look forward to coming back in a few weeks to finish off the pile.

We split up in to groups for the run back the Sexy group led to perfection by Peter, who got us underway, and were chased down by some speedy running from the Speedy Crew to the Race back to Base!!.

A few static stretches and a naughtily loud round of applause finished off a great evening!!

Be great to see you all next week when we go back to our Monster Project at Core CIC to paint and clear out way to GoodGym Greatness!! Please sign up here and come along to some great Fun on a Run

Smooth shovelling

Joel

27 energy filled Hackney GoodGymers ran 6k to attempt to help Gillett Square Kids play project. After a Key drama, we turned our attention to getting fit with a top fitness session in De Beauvoir Square.

We started the evening on chip watch as Ros teased us mortals with feats never before seen at GoodGym Hackney. Eating triple fried chips at 6:55 is an unconventional preparation for the session but she backed up the big iron stomach talk by holding the food down and dominating the physical session, fair play!!

We welcomed some amazing new faces to the fold and had a DBS ID check done to get going helping vulnerable and isolated older people in Hackney! If you fancy going on Missions and/or Coach runs bring your ID and proof of address along next week!

We celebrated the achievements of our brilliant runners who had completed Berlin Marathon, Cardiff Half marathon and Hackney Marshes Parkrun in the last couple of weeks! Lots of amazing performances and so inspiring for the rest of us as we dream about our next running challenges!!

So the task didn't go to plan!! We ran the 2k (with slight detour) to Gillett square to begin the task of cleaning the oversized outdoor play equipment but the key holder was nowhere to be found! I can only apologise for this, the session was confirmed on Monday so not sure yet what went wrong. Instead of waddling home with our tail between our legs we decided to go dominate an extended fitness session on our favourite De Beauvoir Square track!! So we ran down there and split into small teams of 3 for a mass continuous relay! 7 minutes of scorching running action saw us run half a lap (150 metres) before tagging our team mate who sped off around the track! The laps tricked but and the pace remained high and serious effort from everyone was put in! As reward we had a 3 minute rest as I am nice like that before smashing out another 7 minute block of continuous relays!

As Peter had maybe gone a little too hard on the sprints we broke the running up with some physical preparation exercises! 4 groups completed minute efforts in Lunges, squats, press ups and plank holds. With our muscles throbbing there was just enough time to finish off the evening with pairs tag race where, in pairs, we ran around the track at 80% when we met our pair we turned and gave it Full Beans to beat them back to the start! Three rotations of this finished off a quality running fitness workout! A 10 minute jog back to base and static stretch-out rounded off a top evening!

Thank you guys for your hard work and huge efforts well done, hope you slept well!

Next week (have already been confirming task) we are off to a new task to create a Well Being Garden in a residential facility for people with mental illness. We have lots to do, so would be great to have you along! Sign up here and if you have one bring a head torch/bike light along with you!

We have a double dose of actities this Thursday! First the start of Fitness 4 All Camden where I will be taking a 4 week block of Running Fitness sessions just behind Kings cross station in Granary Square. Please sign up here. Also on Thursday is the monthly GoodGym social drinks, this month they are in Islington, check out all the info here.

Have a good week and look forward to seeing you all next time.

Smooth circuits

Joel