After the previous GoodGym Tuesday Foodbank task, which was meant to be painting the sofa, had to be changed due to the rain - a bonus Thursday task was arranged to get the job done. The pressure was on to make sure we didn’t leave the back of the sofa half painted as the Foodbank Annual Volunteer Party was coming up in four days time!

With a great playlist recommendation from Cara, skilful paint pouring from Andrew, and after a lovely group photo was taken by Imy’s work colleague Terence, we were ready to start. Everyone got to work painting away, chatting about a range of topics, from how Cosmeston has brought out the competitive side of Dylan (no glasses), to the impressive number of Sharika songs that we were listening to. Although we all enjoyed being motivated by the Spotify Y2K hits, and were fuelled by some slightly stale Spider-Man cake, so the two hours passed in no time and we got the job done!

All that was left was to do balance a phone in a trolley to take a self-timed after group photo (as Terence had sadly gone home!) and we were on our way. Photos of the finished paint job were sent to the Foodbank staff group chat and everyone was very impressed with the work of the five Goodgymers.

Also as you can see from the photo with the decorations, it looked great at the volunteer party!

Task credits/awards: Attention to detail (Jonny), Paint pouring (Andrew & Jonny), Security aka door locking (Andrew), Quality Playlist Suggestion (Cara), Snacks and photography (Imy), Most improved (Dylan), Report title pun credit (Andrew), Group photo credit (Terence)

An unfortunate start to our Tuesday task as the sky opened and poured like a big ol' leaky tap. But still, a good 12 goodgymers arrived, not put off by some rain, and ready to celebrate on our birthday week.

The run, was a good simple straight run with very little stopping. Our task organiser, our very own Imy, had thankfully come up with alternative plans for bad weather. Once we arrived, the group were taken in and put too work, whilst Michael remained outside waiting to welcome our cyclists.

Our tasks for the evening were sorting the donations, dating them with marker pens and placing them into the correct baskets, and as the rain had passed, three of the team went outside to help to weed and tidy the volunteer area ready for their party in a few weeks time (we may also have a return community task to tackle the painting that was put off due to the rain).

We stayed a little longer than usual to get as much done as possible, and because it's our birthday week......that's right, we are 7 and you are all HEROES.

Imy had plenty of volunteers taking part with her engagement activity, and lots to talk about for the run back. Now it's time to celebrate goodgym Cardiff way with a night at the open mic night.

15 goodgymers, 2 routes, 28kg of donations, 11 crates of sorting. What a Tuesday!

Tonights task was at the Foodbank warehouse in Cardiff, a little bit further away than our usual routes. We offered out two routes, one as usual from outside the wonderful Sport Wales which would be 7km in total, and a shorter option from the City Centre equaling 5km in total.

Group 1 - led by Michael met at 18:15 ready to head out right on time (18:30) in order to get to the task. Nathan, Adam, Llion, Marie, Nadine, Gemma, Dylan and Michael made their way that extra distance and on top of that bringing donations for the foodbank too.

Group 2 - led by Darren had an extra bit of time for their meet and didn't leave until 18:35 so made use of this time with a foodbank workout. Su, Martin, Andrew, Imy, Dylan and Darren got physical with their tins!

Group 1 & 2 soon met up and finally got to the task on time, once there we met up with Michelle and the group were all together. We went into the foodbank and received a quick tour of the building. We put our donations out and had them weighed before heading over for our next good deed of sorting. We were put at our tables where we were to pick up a crate, write the best before date on the items in marker and then pop them into the correct storage crate. It was a little like a backward supermarket sweep...

As we had run out of tables, 5 remaining goodgymers were over in the storage area putting items into date order.

Half an hour later and we were ready to head back, we had stayed a little later as it was a very worthwhile task. We had also found our newest mascot,

Milky Joe

Now for a social in the City as we join up with some additional goodgymers for the celebration of a successful citizenship application.

Get signed up for next week here

This evening 19 runners met for GoodGym, eager and excited to be combining their running with doing good in the community

Runners all gathered at Yr Hen Llyfrgell for one final time (we will be changing our meeting point from next week, so make sure you follow the GoodGym Facebook Page to be kept up to date). We were also joined this evening by someone who had never run with GoodGym before, WELCOME SOPHIE! It's always nice to see new faces running with us.

This week we were helping out two tasks, the Cardiff Foodbank and Womens Connect First

Team 1: Running to Cardiff Foodbank we had, Sophie, Emma, Emma, Stuart, Aimee, Charlotte, Andie, Keira, Rosie, Jess and Mikey, led by Ben Team 2: Running to Women Connect First we had, Martin, Welsh Dave, Adam, Gweni, Lydia and Lucy, led by Darren (or Razzle Dazzle as he likes to be known).

Both teams set off in opposite directions at a rate of knots, waving to one another as they parted ways! The run there for each team was quick, with good running form on display.

Arriving at the tasks

Share welcomed everyone to Cardiff Foodbank. She told them a little bit about the Foodbank and about what they do to help the community.

At the Women Connect First allotment runners were greeted by Menaka, she told them a bit about the charity and about the task the runners would be doing that evening.

At the Foodbank runners were cracking on with the task, armed with hammers they were breaking pallet after pallet. Stuart said "It's hammertime" and proceeded to dance! Mikey was in his element, taking the opportunity to use a sledgehammer to break pallets. Sophie looked like a pro, smashing the pallets with all her strength - the pallets didn't stand a chance! Emma was also fierce, using all her upper body strength - she made the task look easy! Everyone was releasing their frustration in this task.

Whilst at the allotment, Lucy and Adam were filling wheelbarrows with compost which they then proceeded to wheel down to the plantation beds. Adam ate a watermelon! Yes, it's true! Martin, Lydia, Dave and Gweni were all weeding the plantation beds. Everyone then joined forces and moved dried up grass which was piled up a few weeks earlier into wheelbarrows and moved into onto the new compost heap. With Darren doing a countdown, the challenge was on to completely move one of the piles. Wheely good work everyone!

Now it's time to run back!

After having 35 minutes of volunteering fun it was time to head back. Share thanked runners for their efforts at the Foodbank and Menaka thanked all of the runners at the allotment - It really was a successful evening and we wish we could do it all again. ONLY 7 sleeps until the GoodGym run next week folks!

Everyone then headed to the Glassworks for drinkypoos!

Click here to sign up to next weeks run - We need you there!