A mighty 24 runners beat the drizzle AND a hills based fitness session, in their quest to help out a community transport service.

It was our first time at South Central Community Transport based in Toxteth, a great organisation that provides transport to members of the community at times of need as well as putting on an array of activities for elderly people in the area.

The run there was all downhill and even the threat of an impending thunderstorm didn't bother our brave team. We arrived in record time and after a quick intro from Lynn, we jumped straight in. The task was to valet 6 minibuses inside and out. Lynn didn't imagine we'd have time to do all of them (me neither!) but this big team worked relentlessly and finished with plenty of time to spare for a hills-based fitness session - their favourite!

It was newbies galore this week and we were lucky to have the company of Ali, Carolyn, Kathrine and Keira - you were all brilliant and we'd love to run with you again soon.

It was also lovely to welcome back some familiar faces who we lost to injury weeks or even months ago. Great to see you back and fighting fit Adam and Christina!

The biggest shout out goes to Mat who entered the 100 club this week. Amazing work fella!

With the vast majority of the work done, we left George and Katie happily power blasting the soap off the remaining minibuses while the rest of the team headed to some of my favourite hills. After completing five minutes of drills to work on our form, we headed to everyone's beloved Strava segment, 'Upper Parly - Hope Street Hill Sprint'. And by heck, the team hit it hard!

Don't forget you can share your Strava success and connect with the GG crew all week round by joining our Strava Group here.

I was super proud of everyone tonight, both at the task and during the fitness session - you smashed it!

I'll be doing it all again next week, will you?

P.S. Kudos to Katie for the title pun :)

Wooohooo, we're back for Good(Gym)! 22 runners ran over 5km to redecorate Kenningston Adult Community Centre.

After 2 weeks off, it was great to be back to reconnect with familiar faces as well as to meet plenty of newbies. This was our second biggest Group Run to date, only beaten by our launch run, and it was fab to have such a big and enthusiastic team on board.

There was heaps of news to share before we started the warm-up and you can find info about the Liverpool Half Marathon, including the Saturday Community Mission, right here.

JANUARY CHALLENGE UPDATE We set ourselves the target of 130 good deed and 600km. You can see our progress and how we rate against the other GG branches here. Guess what? We just went top of our group leader board, but we can't rest on our laurels. Sign-up for your next Group Run here and make sure your Strava is linked to your GG account.

Back to the task.... We were warmly greeted at Kensington Community Learning Centre and given plastic pinnies, tins of paint, brushes and rollers. We had to play the game of "how many GoodGymers can you fit in a room" since the space was a little tight, but as usual, this mighty team made it work. After 30 minutes hard work, some of the team felt they could do more, so a Community Mission has been organised to go back and finish the job on Thursday evening.

This week's shout outs go to our enthusiastic newbies Sophie, Chris, Grace, Jessica and Jamie. We'd love you to run with us again soon. Also mega thanks to fab back-markers John and Christine. Plus a big-up to Rachael for pulling the plaster off!

A huge well done to everyone. It isn't easy to get back to it after a long break filled with cheese and mince pies, especially on a dark and windy night. You're all boss!

Until next week, happy running (track on Strava!!!) Char <3

P.S. I know the title pun is RUBBISH. Please help me next time :(

Skipping soggy Bank Holiday BBQs to deliver on good deeds instead, our magnificent 8 ran just over 4km to help out a children's centre in L8.

GoodGym stops for no-one; neither gail force winds nor bank holiday Mondays! A run at a decent pace saw our team arrive to the Greenhouse Project in good time. Based in an area that suffers from some of the highest rates of poverty in England, the project supports disadvantage children through after school clubs and nurseries, with some amazing results.

Faced with two classrooms that needed cleaning and painting before the start of the new school term, we split into 2 groups to try and cover more ground. But after ten minutes it became clear that we could get close to completing one room only if we all worked together. A fabulous production line of painters armed with brushes, rollers and masking tape ensued, and we almost got the room finished in the 40 minutes we spent on the task.

Shout outs this week go to GoodGym tourists Ernie and Chloe who were visiting us from GG Islington - come see us again soon. And a special mention for Karen who in her enthusiasm for covering the walls, also managed to cover herself in cream paint!

We took a different route back to base and an overly enthusiastic game of "Follow the leader" nearly ended in disaster. Luckily this fab team I'm blessed with pulled together and look after our injured skipper. If plenty of ice is applied to the swelling, the prognosis is good. Phew!

Brilliant work team - well done for being true bank holiday heroes :)

Next week we're back with Friends of Everton Park. You know the drill by now, it is a mostly flat and gentle run and a task that both look after us and always feels worthwhile, so get signing up and bring a friend too!

See you next time, Char <3

P.S. Kudos to John for the title pun!

This week our tip-top twelve runners tidied up the garden of the Liverpool Irish Centre.

We were stoked to host the soon to launch GoodGym Stockport Trainer Lisa this week, who took over leading the warm-up, fitness session and cool down. She did a great job and our new neighbour branch looks set to be fantastic.

After Lisa's warm-up, the team made record quick time - even with the traffic lights and running up hill! - in getting to the project (yes, it might possibly be something to do with the fact that I totally miscalculated the distance of the run, but let's not get hung up on technicalities!). We were warmly welcomed to the Liverpool Irish Centre by Clodaugh and stepping through the gates, we were surprised to see a beautiful secret garden that sits in stark contrast to the main road and urban landscape of its surroundings. There wasn't a whole lot of gardening to do as it is clearly a well tended and loved part of the centre, but Clodaugh put the team to work shifting pallets, which will soon be upcycled into new planters. Classic GG weeding and sweeping action also took place.

Shout out to Nicky who came to the session as part of her staycation and is usually a regular at GG Kingston. Also to newbie Amy who easily kept pace and fitted in brilliantly with the rest of the team. It was great to have you both join us.

With the task complete in good time, Lisa lead a super active fitness session in the centre's car park (make them work Lisa!) leaving the team breathlessly exclaiming that they'll never complain about how hard I work them ever again (and I'll believe that when I see it).

The way home was downhill and being the best part of an otherwise gray and rainy day, it was a most lovely run with the city basking in the late evening sunlight. Tony - who graced us with his presence between a string of holidays - became the unofficial run leader, taking us the alternative, more scenic route back through the university. And the run was rounded off with Lisa leading the cool down.

GoodGym Stockport's launch run is on Tuesday 28 August. If anyone from GG Lpool is interested in going, drop me a line and I'll try sort out a car share. Good luck Lisa!

Well done to everyone for another brilliant week.

Next week we have yet another new task when we join Central Youth Centre to help keep the area around their building looking neat and tidy, benefitting the centre and local residents alike. It is a newbie friendly 2km from Hope Street so bring gloves AND a friend. Sign-up here please.

Until then, happy running, Char <3

Our nifty nine (quietly) tidied up the front drive and back garden at brilliant cancer support centre Sunflowers.

There was a little bit of drama on this week's Group Run when I lost part of the group! This is the first (and hopefully last) time this has ever happened. But while the speedy crew were busy sprinting the Princes Park Parkrun home straight, my steady-eddie group managed to take a short cut and bypass the rest of the team. All's well that ends well, and they actually beat the rest of the group to the task. And sure no worries, I deffo needed that extra 1.5km run as I went back and forth looking for my lost sheep ;)

At Sunflowers Cancer Care Centre we were met by Bobby who put the team to work on weeding and tidying tasks. As there was a meditation class taking place inside, this was our quietest task ever! Although we couldn't stay for as long as we'd have liked, the team worked hard and certainly left the place looking tidier than when we'd arrived.

Thankfully the return run was less eventful and we enjoyed the sun soaked views of Liverpool's impressive Anglican cathedral as we ran back towards the city.

This week's shout out goes to Sara who has quickly become a regular AND recruited two others (yay for Yan and Jess) to join our #RedThunder crew.

Well done on another excellent week everyone!

Next time we have another new task - we'll be at the Liverpool Irish Centre for some more gardening action. Sign-up here and don't forget to bring your gloves.

Until then, happy running, Char <3

Our fantastic 14 stepped up to a weeding and clearing task on a humid evening at Everton Park.

This week we returned to one of our favourite tasks, helping our friends, the Friends of Everton Park. Six weeks ago the team managed to clear half a stairway of litter and weeds. So this week was "Stairway to Everton: GoodGym Strikes Back".

With a run of just over 2km, and with every traffic light in Liverpool turning green for us, we made quick work of getting to the park. Greeted by Ahmed, John and Ian from Friends of Everton Park with much appreciated bottles of water for everyone and a pile of tools, after rehydrating, the team soon set to work. And they really worked like champions this week! The transformation was incredible.

After 30 minutes of solid work with hoes, spades, litter-pickers and brushes, the overgrown and shabby looking stairway was left looking pristine. Amazing work team!

A big shout out to newbies Jessica and Yan who grafted hard and easily kept pace with the rest of the team. We hope you'll run with us again soon. Also to George, from whom I stole some of the run report title ;)

After the task, being too hot and sticky to do any more cardio, our fitness session was made up of a few floor exercises to develop balance and core strength. We did have a quick run to the top of the park to check out the marvelous view (complete with a dramatic sunset) before heading back to base.

Next week we have a brand new task and at just 2km in each direction it is ideal for beginners and returners. We'll be helping out in the garden of the Methodist Youth Centre in L8. Make sure you join us, sign-up today!

Until then, keeeeeeep running! Char <3