"I forgot how much better it can make you feel!"

It's been three whole weeks since we last had a GoodGym Newcastle group run so it was ideal that tonight's run was awesome. Two new runners and a few returners too, giving us a super high turn out of 28 on a cold and windy January night. We oooohed and ahhhhed over Carol Anne's epic new BLACK GoodGym tshirt and had a quick catch up on the running achievements of some of the gang that have happened while we have been on our break.

This included: * A 5K AND 10K PB for Evan

• A longest ever run for Deb (10K)

• A marathon PB for Paul

Kudos!

Our warm up tonight included a quick fire round of "Best Christmas Present" and there were three clear winners: The Present I most Want: A blanket with a mermaid's tail (Maddy), Most Obvious Present: Trainers (Jon) and The Weirdest Thing I have Ever Heard In My Life: A painting of a Hoover (Andrew). This is included in the Report pics for evidence. And with that we were warmed up, smiling and reacquainted! Charlotte led a walking group that arrived at pricesely the same time as us, a fabulous skill!, and Carol Anne kept the back of the group happy with that laugh you can hear at every corner of our city.

Our group run took us to The Bike Garden , that hidden gem we love at the back of Nunsmoor Park. This amazing community space has provided us with many tasks since we started back in April and tonight was our first indoor task there. We split into two groups, half doing running drills and intervals with Anji, half starting the tasks with Paul, then a swap so everyone got the chance to get fit and do great things.

Jobs tonight included:

• Clearing out a cupboard

• Sorting out recycling

• Cleaning tables

• Cupboard inventory

• Scrubbing spades and other garden tools to make them so shiny you could see your face in them

There was a small moment of panic when time was up and something clattered as it fell out of the cupboard but Rachel rescued and repaired whatever had happened and we were able to clear up and leave on time. Our Task Owner Una was so pleased with the work we got done tonight, it was yet another task that took us just 45 minutes but would have taken her small team of volunteers much, much longer. A few group photos, a quick cooking advert from Katy (again, photos of THAT amazing soup she was making included for evidence) and we were off back to Hotel Indigo.

Don't forget, there's another chance to do great things this week as we pay a visit to Age UK for a one-off Saturday Group Run Hope to see you then.

Welcome back everyone, thanks for starting the new year off with a bang!

Happy running,

Anji

What a lift-off for GoodGym Newcastle!

After a big intro at our new base at Hotel Indigo from trainer Anji and not forgetting, of course, a massive group photo, 42 runners set off to do the first ever GoodGym good deed in Newcastle!

Back-marked by Ed, the group set off on what some described as a mountain up the famous summit known to others as Westgate Road, past the famous motorbike shops (did anyone teach our Southern visitors how to say mo-ta-bike in Geordie?) reaching the task venue for the night in just under 2K of completely uphill running- what a way to warm up!

We were met by the lovely Jill at Changing Lives who has really helped us to get GoodGym Newcastle off the ground. While some wanted to stay and enjoy the juice and biscuits being dished out, others were keen to get to work. There were four tasks in all: a huge garden clean up complete with jazzy gloves and tools and a kitchen clean then round in the main house, two groups got to grips with a communal area clean and a kitchen freshen up, complete with the dreaded OVEN CLEANING.

I wonder if they will pop over to my house later to have a go at my oven?

More juice, fruit and a few more photos and 40 minutes later we were off again, this time 2K downhill -yay

We stopped off to do a mini drill session led by Queen of the Drills Anji who really enjoyed seeing everyone looking super cool doing tip toe walks and trying not to trip over one another doing that cross-over-feet thing that footballers do.

We are back with Changing Lives next week (venue TBC) so join us for more uphill training, juice and jazzy gloves. We will be staying at Hotel Indigo for a bank holiday drink afterwards. Join us!