Welcome to Robert for your first GoodGym Manchester session 👏 Great to meet you.

This evening was a bit different. After being approached by Natalie Kate Moss Trust, a charity raising funds and awareness for the treatment and prevention of brain haemorrhages, we combined GoodGym with their Brain Gym resources to get us thinking about our brain health and lifestyle. As part of that, we covered ~4.5 km from St Peter's Square around via Hulme, University of Manchester, Ardwick, and circling back to Sandbar. The combination of a brisk jog and social interaction both forming a significant aspect of the Brain Gym suggestions 🧠

We had bumper numbers this evening, with Scott fresh from a speedy Media City Half Marathon, Hazel joining from Stockport, Peter back from Sri Lanka, Tanoshi and Fanette joining for their 1st Monday night group run, Robert, a journeyman of Bath and Merton GoodGym groups, and regulars Sam and Ben.

We self-quizzed ourselves on the Brain Gym recommendations, including taking small steps, keeping a record or journal, having a support network, "colouring our plate" for food, and keeping a good sleeping routine. All this while enjoying refreshments and tasty pizza at Sandbar (some were more colourful than others) and discussing a potential Mam Tor litter pick in the spring... watch this space 💪

Welcome to Scott for the first time this evening! Best of luck in the Media City Half Marathon this weekend 🏃‍♂️

This evening was our monthly foodbank run, to donate spare items to Manchester South-Central foodbank to go towards food parcels. With half term next week, there is often an increased demand, so we tried to squeeze a donation in. Some items donated included:

• Tinned tuna 🐟
• Tinned spaghetti 🍝
• Tinned veg 🥕🥒🥔
• UHT milk 🥛
• Rice 🍚
• Rice pudding
• Pasta sauce 🍝
• Tinned soup 🍲

We covered ~4.8 km in total, making our way through Hulme to the donation point at the big ASDA. On the way back, we had a quick tour via Man Met University and a loop near Manchester Central Convention Centre.

Hazel and Ben were up bright and early to volunteer at parkrun.

Hazel marshalled at Bramhall Park event number 823. 381 people took part with 42 volunteers enabling the event to take place.

Ben delivered the first timers welcome and marshalled at Fletcher Moss event number 283 where 403 runners and walkers completed the muddy course. 26 volunteers helped out in total.

Welcome to Hannah for your first GoodGym Manchester session! Great to meet you and hope to see you again soon.

This evening was our monthly Monday evening litterpick 🚮 with a stroll towards some of the green spaces in Ardwick to clear up any rubbish 🗑

With Vimto Park relatively clear, we found lots of bottles and cans on the A6 path opposite the Marriott Hotel. We also found

• a broken umbrella 🌂
• laughing gas canisters
• a pair of glasses without lenses
• a baby's dummy

After admiring a well made dead hedge, we made our way back through a residential area, circling back towards the city centre. On the way we found some interesting underwear and sleep mask, plus a collection of plastic forks 🍴

In all, there were 7 full refuse sacks filled, all reported to Keep MCR Tidy for collection. Job well done on a chilly evening.

MCR Parks and Slow Run Club MCR put on a great initiative at Platt Fields Park to encourage running and a safe space for those running in the darker winter months.

Ben was marshalling at point 4, a key junction for those completing their 3.3 km loops. There were 10 waves in all, with lots of lights, smiles, and thankful runners 🏃🏼‍♀️

Keeping people safe and encouraging exercise is a great way to help, and facilitating during the event was a great experience, even with the Manchester rain 🌧

Ben spent the morning doing the course check at Fletcher Moss parkrun event number 282. Last week's fallen tree 🌳 had been cleared by the council and there were minimal puddles so perfect for a parkrun morning.

Juno and I then helped set up, lugging the trailer from the container to help RD Peter out. We then headed off, with a task in Ardwick coming up.

449 runners and walkers completed the 5 km course, with numbers getting more normal after an early January peak. 25 volunteers helped out 🦺