We had two new GoodGymmers this evening, so a big welcome to Chloe and Jax. Both settled in very easily and felt like they had been part of us for a long time already.

The task was just a short trip through the other side of Chapelfield Gardens, where we went to the Hamlet Children's Centre.

Our tasks were to trim back the hedge/bush that had grown over the footpath, lay some compost in the planters and to clear up leaves. Typical of the British weather, it started to rain as we were finishing up.

With the two sweeping brushes available, it was indeed a difficult decision to make as both were of two extremes, either one fit for a borrower or the other for the BFG! Robert and Mark kindly demonstrated using the brushes for a run report photo.

However we did make good use of both as the car park was transformed with moss and weeds removed in quick typical Goodgym fashion as the team of Robert, Mark, Elizabeth, Jessica, Penny and Jonathan got straight to work with tools and gloves ready.

Thoughts were with Goodgym member Ali Mohammed who previously had helped at the Hamlet centre in 2018, and who featured coincidently in a past picture from that mission that was used to promote the task, before news of his passing had reached Goodgym members. Many members shared their memories of him on social media, of which there were many! A photo of him with the rest of the Goodgym team at that task has been included in this run report.

The build up to this task seemed to raise a few challenges as we had been asked to being our own tools so part of the mission was to transport your chosen equipment to the venue safely. I would like to apologise for not knowing the name of the lady who hosted us for this task. This important oversight did not detract how wonderfully we swept the leaves from the carpark, pulled up weeds from cracks in the pavement and cleaned the outside of the windows!! One of our Goodgymers found his way to a Hamlet centre on the other side of the city after his phone battery ran out en route to the task( your determination to attend has not gone unrecognised) The joy of Goodgym is how clearing up leaves on a cold dark Monday evening can be so enjoyable! Will miss these missions during lockdown.

As it was a very short task tonight, we all walked as a group as me and Katy are still recovering from injuries. There would still be time for some running later on though.

We welcomed 3 new GoodGymers this week so a shout out to Marcus, Bryony and Elizabeth!

The main task tonight was to do some cutting back of the overgrown hedges and weeding at The Hamlet Adults Centre. There was also a smaller task opposite at Your Own Place CIC where 3 people were painting, we were sure to do a rendition of Adeles's Hello through out the evening.

Hello from the other side

On arrival, Stephen, Elizabeth H and Bryony went with Rebecca at YOPC to do the painting while the rest of us met Jayne to assemble the team with tools to cut back the overgrown bushes ;-) hedges and do some weeding.

As usual, before the blink of an eye, the team of GoodGymers had organised themselves into the different jobs and the demolition job began. So much so that we ran out of bin bags... twice! Luckily Jayne had a good stock and kept bringing us more out.

You'll have to look at the photos to appreciate the sheer amount of foliage. The place was transformed!

Once the painters had finished they came and joined us to finish off the task.

On the way back we stopped in Chapelfield Gardens for a sprint session before finishing with some stretches at The Forum.

Thank you to Mel for helping with taking photos.

You're probably still wondering what the pun is referring to... could it be related to the giant, albeit intimidating marrow I'm holding during the stretches? Or the size of the space the foliage bags have taken up? Or just the size of the GoodGym Norwich group? You'll never know (but can probably guess) what it refers to.

Next week we're on a much longer run (6km each-way!) as we visit Barley Court Care Home, which will celebrate 10 years of GoodGym!

A long wet and windy Monday wasn't going to put off 25 GoodGymers from getting fit by doing good. Luckily the weather cleared up by the time of the run and it was quite a mild evening.

A big welcome to 3 new runners in Terri, Andrew and Helen.

Well done to Sandra on taking part in her 25th good deed!

After catching up on the weekend's running where Sam did her 50th ParkRun at 32 weeks pregnant... she is now known as Wonder Woman, we had a warm-up before heading over to The Hamlet Charity Children's Centre.

Jayne and Angela greeted us and explained the jobs that needed doing, which included: sweeping leaves out the front, cleaning the floor in the back garden, putting together a flat packed easel, washing windows & washing walls.

The sweepers managed to collect 11 bin bags full of leaves, "wow" you must be thinking. Apparently the motive was the wonderful scent of decomposing leaves.

The team on the easel definitely had a task on their hands, the term 'flat packed' will never have the same meaning.

It was a great evening with a nice variety of tasks plus Darren discovered a new favourite chair (check out the photos).

After about 45 minutes of fun, it was time for the 'not so fun' bit some might say haha as it was fitness session time. A little warm up lap was followed by a sprint lap where everyone who was there nailed a great time, keeping a good steady pace. Then we jogged back to The Forum for a little circuit session which included running up steps, squats and burpees... at this point a few more said the 'not so fun' bit ;-) but those putting together the easel got out of all this as they stayed to finish the job off and met us back at The Forum just as we doing the stretches to finish up with.

A group of us went to the pub for some food and nice social chat, great way to end the evening.

Next week we're visiting Eaton Park.

Tonight's run was the shortest for a while so it would have been rude not to take a detour to the task ;-)

A big welcome to new runners Tim and Jess.

We were visiting The Hamlet Children's Centre at the top of Grapes Hill to do some gardening tasks. A massive thanks to Grapes Hill Community Gardens for lending us some tools .

Now the reason we took a detour to the task is that Sam's (aka backrunner this week) husband made us a glorious looking Damson cake so I thought it'd be a good idea if we burnt off a few more calories, genius idea really. FYI the detour also included running up Grapes Hill.

It was one of those tasks that looked like there wasn't much to do but in fact there was loads. Mainly weeding and trimming bushes (no pun intended).

Some cleaned windows, Calum has a very fancy tool for this and them followed it up with a interesting technique when cleaning the gate poles... I won't repeat he described the so-called technique.

David kindly went home to get a broom and brush, which ended up being very useful to thank you for going to get them.

The team managed to fill lots of bags of green waste and cleared a lot in 40 minutes, especially on the road side where lots were overgrown.

Rumours started echoing through that there was an epic fitness session to finish up the night with... would I do such thing... YES I WOULD.

Alex tried to delay the inevitable by identifying another overgrown bush, apparently he likes them trimmed, again no pun intended. This bided about another 5 minutes but then it was time to head over to Chapelfield Gardens.

1st up was a running routing that involved groups of three. Two would run together a time and each loop they swap over with the runner waiting. That was done for 10 minutes.

Then to finish up was a pairs strength exercise. Person one does 10 squats, 10 push ups and 10 sit-ups. Once they completed those person two does the same and then keep changing over until both partners had completed 5 rounds. Apologies for any aching bodies over the next couple of days.

We headed back to The Forum, had a good stretch then ATE CAAAAAKKKEEEE!

Next week we're visiting Catton Grove Community Centre.