What a year we have had!

8 Goodgym golden stars met tonight, under the frosty Christmas mist to run a mission delivering flyers to the Bridge Hall area of Stockport, other wise known as the Triangle, for St Matthews church.

We met at Produce Hall for the last time of 2019, round the jolly Christmas tree and full of cheer ready to end the year!

After a little chat and nater we set our devices, tied our laces and hit the pavements to run to Bridge hall, tonight we had 500 flyers to post to the community, and we also had a little goodgym celebration to get back to after the run, so we were were not messin on this mission.

Off we ran, we split into teams and posted as many flyers as possible within the time allocated, we didn't quiet get to the 500 but we do do a fair bit, we managed the entire estate, and while on the estate we bumped into an array of Christmas characters and houses filled with lights, and delight.

Once we had posted as many Christmas leaflets as we could it was time to head back to Stockport market, this time to party and celebrate the wonderful year we have had.

Once back we did a few stretches, mainly to prepare our arms for lifting delicious food and drinks....

I would like to take this time to say A HUGE THANK YOU, to each and every one of you, you are amazing, you make me feel so happy every Tuesday.

Im so proud if all we have achieved in 2019, we have had some super times, from painting all the colours of the rainbow and ourselves, wheelbarrowing slate, running for miles, litter picking, cleaning, leafleting but mainly the smiles.

Its wonderful to hear peoples adventures and stories every week, from the events where people have bumped into each other to the training people get through, every single one of you are AMAZING and I am proud to know you all, you bring joy to my heart, and inspire me daily. Im looking forward to the new projects, tasks, missions and runs for the year ahead.

Have a totally magical Christmas and i really look forward to 2019 and the adventures we will all do. Much love Goodgym crew...........

7 of us met last night to go see the wonderful Pam at St Matthews, this is probably our most visited task, shes a busy lady that helps the community in so many ways that its always great to give something back. Last night task was to help Pam paint her office! in Melon punch!! wooooo. Which was extra special as it was something personal and special for her.

We met at the Produce Hall, usual time of 6.30pm on the market Place, and after a lil warm up we set off to St Matthews based in Edgeley. The task was 2km away from our meeting point and it was freeeeezin, but we soon warmed up with our run, this week there was lots of chat about inspiration and future running plans, between us we have goals of trail runs,5km, 10km, half marathon and marathons! brilliant to have such a diverse group of challenges ahead, now all we need to do is book them in and get the training in. Between us we have had a fab week of running and running inspiration, ranging from watching running films to running half marathons up massive hills. I love our little community, i love the friendships we have made, the chat between us all, our own little community. Thanks for being part of it, see you all for the next one!!

***Also little add, super sorry for such a late run report, the tinternet hasnt been working reet today!

So last night was chilly and hilly! The distance didn’t matter, it was all about the effort on those hills…..

5 runners met to go back to St Matthews to paint the fences that we prepped the week before, however the weather wasn’t looking the best and Pam forgot to buy the paint! But that was fine as there was still plenty for us to do before the grand opening of the community centre which is next Tuesday, the 8th from 10-8pm, check out the Facebook page at St Matthews Church House and check out all the wonderful things they have going on.

We set off from Grand central Lifeleisure with a little step warm up with a gradual increase of pace on the steps, then a little leg warm up on the flat section, and when everyones hearts and legs were warm it was time to hit the hill!

Since the last few runs haven’t been very long in distance it was time to add a little challenge! Don’t get me wrong, at Goodgym we like to accept a good challenge, however you can always go at your own pace, sit a bit of session out or run for your life! We are adaptable and inclusive so no one ever feels left behind. The challenge was to get up a rather large hill as fast as possible, and then repeat the process again and again, each time trying to beat your time or at least not get slower, as ever everyones effort blew me away, there was strong running going on up those hills (currently singing Kate bush in my head right now…..)

As soon as the hills were done we decided to gently walk to St Matthews, once we got there we were greeted again by the lovely Pam who had done a whole wall mounted list of jobs for us, including, blue tac cleaning, cupboard wiping, book moving, toy sorting, cleaning, baby changing making……..the lot! After our jobs we had a lovely brew and some homemade fig and banana loaf, which is the only thing I can actually bake, it seemed to go down well. We then sat and chatted with Pam, If you have met Pam you will know she is a beautiful person, and puts so much love and energy into everything she does, last night she was telling us about lots of community projects she has in her mind for the future, she told us sorts of her never ending fund searching, not just for her own projects but to constantly help others too, we should all be slightly more Pam to be honest, the world would be a better place!

Thank you runners, and thank you Pam, your all wonderful humans.

Next week we are running to Stockport market where we will be crocheting, fear not! This time I will be starting off the little blankets, posting a video before hand, doing a live demonstration and you also get to take your blankets home to complete, but if its not your fancy, again don’t worry I can take them and complete them to drop to the neonatal unit along with the little hats we knitted. And if your not interested at all in the crocheting then thats ok, as there will be plenty of running, including sprints, hills and a bit of core work, so next week going to be a good one….. Looking forward to see you all, happy running

It was a short run for Stockport Goodgym last night, so we could have walked, once session per month is aimed at being able to walk so that more people can get involved with us, at Goodgym we like to include all abilities, and can accommodate any fitness level, if you want to run further or faster we can adapt, if your new to running then do not worry, we have back markers, everyone is friendly and theres always the options of a walk session.

So back to last night, the task was to prep for painting next week, we were back at the lovely St Matthews church to meet the fabulous Pam Robinson who does so much wonderful stuff for the local community that it always feels so good going to help out, that and she makes a good brew and always provides biscuits too!

The task was to sand/ wire brush the fences that surround the church house so we can paint next week ready for the opening of the house. The church itself is already used for various activities and events for the community, and the house is aiming to be a great extention of this. There are many seperate rooms that will be used for training courses, small group classes, therapy rooms and much more, Pam is very excited about the potential of these rooms and the positive impact it will have on the community. She has already set up a Facebook page for St Matthews house, and the church has its own website: www.edgeleyandcheadleheath.org.uk

Pam is a wonderful part of the community, and if you have any ideas or projects in which you could help or would like to hire one of the rooms then I would recommend getting in touch.

We were there a while sanding down and prepping the fences and so this week there was no time for a fitness session, we also had tummys full of tea and biscuits too so it was best all round!

Next week we are back at St Matthews to paint the fences, so make sure you remember your head torches and cover up if you dont want to get covered in paint!

Thanks everyone for coming along to help out, have a fab week running, be careful on the pavements as the slippy leaves are begining to fall..........

7 good gym runners ran the small distance of 3km total to St Matthews church in Edgeley. We have been here a few times before to help out in the garden, to distribute leaflets for a community event and our last visit was for a Christmas clean up.

Last night we went for a general tidy and clean. As ever we were met by the* wonderful Pam Robinson*, who inspires me every time we chat, her enthusiasm and love for the community is amazing, and so in turn the church is used for many great local community projects, the church itself holds baby/ toddler groups, support groups, community projects and much more...... They also hold community open days which last time included various charities, help/care centres, small bussinesses and people from the community coming together, not only was this a great way for the community to get together and find out what was happening locally, it was a great social event and was a great way for the small businesses and local projects to join forces and see what they do together to make Stockport itself a more positive and vibrant place with more opportunities for its residents.

We had a wonderful night, for once the weather was perfect for running. We had a slightly longer warm up this week as we waited for a runner to turn up, with the task being so close we could do this, we then ran 1.5km to St Matthews where we were met by Pam, with a brew and biscuits! She also dished out a list of jobs, a carpet cleaner, feather duster, polish and sweeping brushes!

Everyone teamed together to get the church looking and smelling fresh and clean. Well done runners, you did great.

Once the list was very nearly complete (just the carpet to do!) we set outside for a run/circuit session to work off the biscuits, the fitness fun comprimised of press ups, star jumps, plank holds, static sumo squats and more, the biscuit energy was 100% worked off.

Well done to everyone that came along and worked hard, and thanks again to the wonderful Pam for her brew skills! And also thank you for showing me the new church house which looks fab! A new exciting space enabling St Matthews to host more community projects and events, it looks brilliant, Theres a few rooms that need a lick of paint, so we will need to get out paintbrushes out…….

Have a great week running folks, don’t forget that Trafford Launches next wed 21st, and we celebrate turning 1 the week after Tues 27th.****

Happy running, Lisa x x

10 lovely runners joined us tonight at Goodgym central at the usual time of 6.30pm at Grandcentral Lifeleisure . We ran 4km (with added 2 x 5 min training run) to one of our regular hot spots of St Matthews Church to do a surprise clean up and litter pick for the lovely Pam Robinson, she provides the community with so much that it was a joy to help out at the church, we cleared lots of beer cans and chocolate bar wrappers so someone in the area likes a drink and has a sweet tooth! We also found a lamp!! That I very nearly took it home to add to my garden orniment of the 5mph sign.......I didn't though, I left it. We then jogged to the park across the road and downed gloves to start our 1st 5 min interval session, for 1 length of the path the runners jogged then once at the end they had to sprint and continue that loop for 5 minutes counting how many they managed to get in, and what I didn't mention was that they needed that information as we were going to do the whole thing again, but the challenge was to get more lengths completed in round 2, and everyone did! YAY, not only our Goodgym Stockport runners fabulous, they are also FAST! wooooo, and clearly competitive with themselves.

After the 2 training sessions we did a final light jog around the pond to catch our breath and pick up any final bits of litter, at one point I thought Mathhew, our tourist from Liverpool was going to fall in! luckily he didn't, and heres to hoping we see him again next week, a very special week for him as it will be his 50th good deed, so if your lucky I might bring cake?!

A massive well done to everyone continuing to train throughtout last week in the snow and ice, very brave. A special well done to Jeannie who got the miles in for her 1st marathon challenge in April, good stuff lady, keep up the good work.

Until next time folks, Happy running,

Lisa x