Last week we had 15 runners coming along to the first group run this week we have done one better with 16 wonder what is instore for us next week anyone care to hazzard a guess?

It's our second group run of the year and our first celebration of the month, joining us for her 51st good deed was Stephanie, having completed her 50th on the weekend at a mission. She'll soon be wearing her snazzy new black t-shirt. Up next to celebrate their 50th are Ingrid and Ros 2019 is the year for milestones and record breaking nice to have our Croydon faithfuls amongst the honours list.

Today we welcomed first timers Erin and Martin I'm confident we will be seeing them again soon. The look on their faces after today's run said it all, they felt the GoodGym magic and will be back for more. Be sure to extend onto them some more GoodGym love by cheering them.

• Welcome to our visitors Tina, Clare and Darryl.

We are halfway through the month and going good on out distance target in the January Challenge, check out our stats we will definitely get the distance. We are making an inroad on the deeds but was it SMART? Regardless of it being SMART or not we will give it a good go and hold our heads high come 1st February when the final figures are tallied up.

Introductions, congratulations and GoodGym domestics out the way we headed over to Southern House car park for our warm up, while Juliet, Ellie and Erin our walkers headed to the task.

We arrived at Park Hill school where we were met by Esther, she had list of task all lined up for us to do but today we were more than ready for her list of task after all we were 16 strong.

• Cleaning the pond (Erin, Juliet and Clare)
• Sweeping the leaves from the path (Erin)
• Clearing a patch of grass and weeds for bulbs to be planted (Ellie, Stephanie, Kate, Zara and Ros)
• Making a path for the forest adventures (Martin, Nicola, Audrey, Paul, Andy, Darryl and Tina)
• Wrapping the beans in blankets in preparation for the frost (Juliet, Tina, Paul, Clare and Erin)

Having completed the various task that was assigned to us we bid Esther farewell and headed through the gates of the school were we completed a lap around the school with Ellie and Juliet being our time keeper. After the last person came in we then celebrated Stephanie's 50th by refueling with some celebrations then headed back down the hill towards East Croydon for our cool down stretches.

A massive thanks to our host Solutions gym for allowing us to use an area in the gym for some core work, and stretches.

Next week we are off to Tunstall Nursery sign up here, this group run is withing walking distance from our start location and at the end there will also be another opportunity for a time trial.

Events coming up in Croydon over the next few weeks

South Norwood Parkrun take over sign up here please also indicate on the spread sheet what you would like to do. You will receive a good deed for volunteering.

Quiz night and social sign up here remember if you join their mail list you will receive 20% off your food and drinks in January.

GoodGym News

We just had the BIGGEST EVER week of GoodGym activities. Group run attendances were a whopping 1190 with community mission attendance at 243. With missions and coach visits there was a total of 1,621 good deeds. Well done everyone!

WWF Partnership - GoodGym will be partnering with WWF for Earth Hour 2019, Saturday 30th March. The yearly campaign aims to raise awareness of environmental issues by asking people to turn off their lights for one hour. A lot of major landmarks around the world are involved in the campaign and there is always international press coverage. The plan is to have each GoodGym area complete an environmental task on their group runs the week commencing Monday 25th March.

For Earth Hour itself (8.30 - 9.30pm) on Saturday night there will be a big group run in London, with community missions/group runs happening around the country in those areas that are keen.

GoodGym 10 Year Anniversary. This September will mark 10 years of GoodGym's existence.

To mark the occasion GG Central would like to bring together runners, trainers, partners, older people and task owners for a party of some kind. GG Central are looking to get input/ideas on making it happen, there are three ways to get involved in shaping it: * Attend a meeting on the the 31st of January 6-8pm at Somerset House London * Join an online hangout on the 7th of Feb at 7.30pm * If you can make it to either of the above email dora@goodgym.org to RSVP.