Twenty tremendous GoodGymmers ran to help the Friends of Friary Park keep the park looking glorious.

Meeting at the Phoenix, we were joined by Harriet and Clare for their first ever GoodGym run - welcome! It's a brave one for the first run: our farthest task, Friary Park is 4.5k each way, with plenty of hills and mixed terrain.

After a very quick warm up we set off in two groups: I led the front group with Graham back marking, while our newly annointed unofficial-official social sec Sarah led a group at Party Pace. Everyone did great - we stopped and caught our breath a couple of times, but it wasn't really needed and we were all at the park within half an hour.

Greeted by Richard and Yvonne from the Friends of Friary Park, were put to work with a variety of tasks. The friends manage the park's gardens including the many flower beds and keeping it free of litter. Dividing into twos and threes, we got on with litter picking, while Yvonne led teams to cut back a variety of plants (including some rather lovely lavender) and pulling up some dead shubbery and other weeds.

The time flew by, and after half an hour's work we tidied up, said our goodbyes, and set off. The way back is marginally easier - more down than up - so everyone powered through. When we got within 500m of base the front few runners picked up the pace for a nice fast finish.

Well done everyone - a brilliant evenings work.

We celebrated with this week's Barnet Biscuit: chocolate bourbons and a trip to the pub.

See you next week

D

Twenty toned good gym runners ran to Highgate woods to help the ranger. We gathered and chattered outside the phoenix cinema on a warm and humid evening. We talked about events, missions and welcomed three new runners. Mairead Daly, Peter Yates and Una. Give them a shout! Fay also spoke about how much she enjoys meeting her ‘coach’ every week. We counted out the group and declared our favourite Rom Com. Quite an eclectic list! We warmed up in Cherry Tree woods, ‘running a circle’ before setting off on the slightly elevated route to the woods. We stopped to do paired squats and arm resistance work before quickly reaching the cafe in the centre of the woods. We met Cindy (the ranger) who explained that we would be litter picking. We set off in groups to find litter with the promise of unbelievable riches for the heaviest load. After twenty minutes Cindy declared the winners - who basked in the glory! I gave the group the choice of circuits or a childhood game. We were soon playing ‘stuck in the mud’ but with consequences! Squats and or press ups for captured individuals. Circuits could have been easier! After a group plank we set off back to our base with Damian leading a fast group back.

Thanks for coming…. you did good!

Hope you can make the second year Anniversary group run next week!

Twenty one ran for Goodgym Barnet on a glorious but challenging day. We had to split our forces to deal with an emergency request from The Friends of Muswell Hill Playing Fields and Coldfall Woods They had been advised by the councils tree expert that the new saplings would die without additional watering. Goodgym Barnet rallied to the call with one of the largest groups we have ever gathered. After a short warm up we split the group in half with Damian leading out eleven runners to our scheduled task at Long Lane Pastures.

Damian said:

11 runners joined me to run to Long Lane Pasture. This is a brilliant local space that feels like a world away from London when inside. It's entirely managed by volunteers so our help is always appreciated. Tonight's task was raking hay and composting: we got to work with rakes, loading up wheelbarrows and transporting it to the compost heap. We must have filled about 15 wheelbarrows. Hard work complete, we were joined by a dog walker and her gorgeous little puppy Mabel, who we naturally adopted as our mascot and helped puppy train for a few minutes. We posed for photos then ran back to base via a quick fitness drill focusing on strength to help our running technique.

The second group ran the to the young saplings. It was pleasant running through quiet backstreets and then through the fresh smelling Coldfall Wood. It’s a impressively large and magical bit of Woodland. We stopped every so often to do squats and leg raises. After twenty minutes we met up with Linda who explained what we had to do. Using Jerry cans, filled from a nearby tap, we transported and then poured the water down the tubes at the base of the trees. Satisfied that we had done what was required we headed back through the wood with the sun starting to set. A warm down, stretch and high fives all round. I received the following text from Linda just after....

"Thank you Good Gym volunteers and Paul for arriving like the calvary over the hill in red to rescue some very dry young trees....the weekend rain had done nothing to improve their lot..your visit will!! big thanks from the Friends of Muswell Hill Playing Fields and Coldfall Woods www.coldfallwoods.co.uk"

Give a shout out to the new runners Claire, Sharon, and Sarah....and thanks to the back markers and to everyone who came.

You did good!

Last night sixteen superb GGers ran 4km to do some gardening in Northway Gardens.

Meeting at the Phoenix, we were joined by GG Barnet celebrity (and now Camden regular) Freya and GG first timer Ruth! Give them a cheer.

After a quick warm up we set off with Fay and Hazel back marking. The run took no time - though we found a nice patch of grass for some squats halfway too.

Arriving at the gardens, we quickly divided into teams. Task leader Brian explained that we needed: a team opening compost bags and spreading it in the beds, a team litter picking, a team edging the pathways in the gardens, and a team edging the flower beds.

Everyone got to work and soon all the littler was collected and the compost spread. This left everyone to work on the edging - with some new tools from homebase courtesy of Brian - which soon left the flower beds and pathways looking very smart indeed. Hopefully the pictures give some idea.

We all agreed that the gardens are looking great and it's a real pleasure to be there on such a sunny evening.

After tidying up, we said our goodbyes and set off. This time we stopped for a running drill: 300m (ish) laps near the station. Dividing into teams, everyone did one lap at medium effort before kicking and working hard on the second, especially on the slight incline. Good work team.

After that it was a short dash back to the cinema, with a sprint finish of course, and some stretching.

Sarah had kindly made lemon cookies which she shared out at the end. Thanks Sarah!

Next week we'll be heading to Friary Park to litter pick: it's 5k each way, so one of our longest runs. If you have any concerns with the distance but still want to come let me know and we'll work something out.

We'll be back at Northway Gardens to carry on our good work at the end of July.

This week's Barnet Biscuit: lemon cookies courtesy of Sarah.

Over to Gaga: