5.7km, 9 runners and two hills across Peckham and Camberwell.

How many marshmallows does it take to power up a hill?

Despite the grey clouds and the ever ominous threat of rain, our lovely crew of runners were out in force to take on some inclines and some jobs for Janet at Salvation Army Camberwell Grove.

After lots of news: (races, missions and socials) we warmed up and got running passed all of the bins that had been put out for Thursday's collection. A steady climb up Chadwick Road took us near our task for next week and then ready to breeze downhill towards the yummy smelling restaurants in Camberwell.

We arrived with Janet sweaty and ready to work. Some set to work to paint and give some tlc to the office where Janet co-ordinates all of the projects for mums, babies and families in the community. The other fashionista focused half set off to sort through donations of baby clothes and to sort out the loft full of various donations. Much discussion was had over if Peppa Pig is actually quite a strange cartoon and a bit scary. The discussion that followed may have been about being vegetarian.

Meat eaters welcome though.

Our painters looked snazzy in their CSI outfits and quickly spruced up the office with a chic magnolia tone. Though we'd have liked to give another coat, it soon was time to clear away and de-robe so that we could get home in time & let Janet lock up. We do always get spoilt when we visit the Salvation Army and tonight, our hill running home was powered by marshmallows! No fat, lots of sugar. Other diets are available

The run home was pretty lovely, quiet streets and a downward straight to finish on. We stretched, we said bye and we look forward to next week.

26 runners ran between 5k and 3k to paint for Kentish Town Tenants Association and help at Skip Garden

A thick layer of cloud hung over Camden this Wednesday evening, June certainly wasn't bringing us summer and it wasn't bringing us Paul 'PB' Bown either!

We did have two new faces - welcome to Sarah and Lewis and for the second week in a row we had some GG Bristol visitors in the shape of the infamous Paul 'PB Sr.' Becker and Dave Guest! Great to have you all in Camden :)

With Paul off sick (get well soon!) myself and Polly took charge and we split into Team 'PA' and Team 'UL'...PAUL...geddit?! With the briefing done and a great warm up from Polly off we went. Here's what the teams got up to:

• Team PA led by Pritesh

Team PA headed up to Kentish Town to help the tenants association with the upkeep of the estate. With Chris ably leading the way we got there with plenty of time to continue our painting efforts.

It's not creosote!

We met Vaughan, donned our gloves, split into teams and got straight into the painting. Richard and Steve bumped into a local resident while painting and filled him in on what we were up to - he thought GoodGym was an excellent idea and asked if he could take a photo for his social media streams and we duly obliged - check the pic here.

Everyone did an excellent job - we got the smaller fences done before a few started on the larger fence and before we knew it it was time to head off. We said our goodbyes to Vaughan and then Chris led us on an alternate route. This led us to the canal where we bumped into some of Team UL. We cheered them on and then completed our run back to Somers Town.

• Team UL led by Polly

Team UL went off to Skip Garden to move logs, a water butt and turn the Ridan composter.

Four runners took off to the canal with trolleys to collect chopped wood which will be used to make a bug hotel. Steve led on this having previously done this task - thanks Mr C!

Bug Hotel

The remaining six helped to relocate a water butt, so it can collect rain water from the roof of a new shelter. Paul “chief gnome”, told us rain water is best for plants because of its lower pH value versus mains water. Next, the team then got to work churning the contents of the Ridan composter with a particularly enthusiastic Will managing to get most of the compost down himself...well done Will, no harm done!

Paul said he was always surprised how much we get done on our visits and was very chuffed with the work.

Next we took to the canal to run 3k & 5k and coo over the goslings.

With everyone back we had a stretch and a few of us headed for a well-deserved drink and some sweet potato fries!

Thanks for all your help in supporting us with Paul away and don't forget to sign up for next week here and tell all your friends about #volunteersweek and the starter session on Sunday!

PSB & PM out!

27 GoodGymers ran between 3-5km to paint and garden.

After tropical weather recently the sun was shining and the evening was set for doing good. We collected together with the news this week:

• Polly has hit 50 Good Deeds and earned her black t-shirt!
• Everyone did amazingly at Run Hackney on Sunday - well done!
• There are DRINKS tonight at the Joker of Penton Street, come along
• Also GoodGym Croydon starts next week, tell your Croydon friends and get them to support!

We had two tasks again this week. Firstly we were continuing painting for Kentish Town Tenants Association, they are a community group who help improve the lives of those living locally, especially those who are elderly and isolated. Secondly we did some gardening at Cecil Sharp House, this is proclaimed as the home of English folk music and does lovely events from ceilidhs to weddings which require the grounds to be tidied.

Home of English Folk

After an active warm up and some talk about socket to pocket the group split and we headed off in opposite directions to #DoGood and #GetFit.

Cecil Sharp House Report:

After a lovely 1 mile run through the streets of Camden we arrived at the spectacular Cecil Sharp House to do some active weeding and gardening. We'll be heading to this task monthly for the rest of the year to help keep the place ready for events and community work.

Interesting tools

When we met the task owner Susannah she explained the importance of having us come along and already expressed gratitude for us being there. There was orange & blackcurrant squash on offer before picking various tools, including some interesting ones! The team scraped, weeded and swept the front and back gardens. Lucia seemed addicted to sweeping continuously falling blossom, Steve seemed to have lots of garden chat as always and George got the technique of using the interesting tool down. We stayed until the task was done with everything looking lovely and tidy. Well done everyone!

Jess's Painting report:

The other group sprinted off to help the Tenants Association finish painting fences for local residents. We’d made a great start last week, and Vaughan was happy to see us again.

Black paint beard

After a nice run there we got to work quickly, sprucing up the shabby fences with a slick coat of shiny black paint. Some of the group managed to give themselves a new coat of paint too - special mentions to Jackie for her very thoroughly painted arms, and John who accidentally (we think) gave himself a rather striking black paint beard.

Laurence Llewelyn Bowen has nothing on us.

Shout out to the many snails and other insects we came across - hope they’re enjoying their surprise new home makeover. Laurence Llewelyn Bowen has nothing on us.

Finally our time was up, and after a quick scrub with white spirit for some of the paintier members of the group, and a refreshing round of orange juices kindly provided by Vaughan, we sped back through Kentish Town to the community centre, just in time for PB’s stretch session.

As always brilliant work everyone! See you next week, we'll be going to Skip Garden and Alara, sign up here.

Remember drinks tonight and our taskforce member Frances is organising a 10 mile trail race in July, go along and enjoy the picnic afterwards.

PB out.