Welcome to 2018 and what a perfect way to start the year off! A really nice mix of regulars and new runners tonight as we welcomed Danni, Laura & Roy for their first Goodgym experience and also Jamie who has previously ran with Goodgym in London.

There was a change to tonight’s advertised task as the elderly residents at the almshouses decided they would prefer us to visit when we have the evening light so that’s one to look forward to for the spring. So instead we headed to a task the same distance away but at the top of one of Brighton’s biggest hills! I tried to find the easiest way up but I know this gave some of you a bit more than you bargained for so well done on achieving your first summit of Southover Street!

Tonight’s task was another gardening, pruning and clearing one, this time in a community garden behind the estate in Finsbury Road. As the area to work in was quite small we split the group with half working at the task with run leader Helena whilst the other half completed a fitness session with me including lots of squats, lunges, kicks, jumps and exercise you can do in a small area whilst standing up!

The task involved cutting back buddleia, grasses and other vegetation which was covering a path and by the time we’d finished half of the path was totally clear and I’m sure we’ll be returning soon to finish the job. We’d bagged up about 15 bags of garden waste and the final task was to try to cram it all into Cllr David’s car to be taken off for green recycling. And cram we had to including a few bags in the front seat (hence tonight’s pun, thank you Helena!)

We headed back to base via a slightly different route and as far as I’m aware no one even mentioned Christmas! (Apart from me when I commented that nobody had mentioned Christmas!)

See you next week, keep on running!