Wow - what a great turn out! Despite rain and thunder showers during the afternoon, which even made our task owner wonder if the task would be possible, our wonderful GoodGym runners were not deterred and turned out to do a good deed for the community and were rewarded by a lovely dry, sunny evening. This week we were welcoming Afiza and Simon on their first Goodgym runs - great to have you join us!

We also took the opportunity to congratulate Pete, Colin and Clare who had all reached their 10th Good Deed - well done you three!

After a catch up on the week's races and socials we went outside for a quick warm up. I love doing the routine where I shout out a number which has a corresponding action attached to it whilst everyone is meant to be running round in a circle. This usually manages to confuse a few people and ended up with the group running in opposite directions at the same time! We then set off on a nice steady pace past the bandstand in Chapelfield gardens for a roughly 3.5km run heading for the bandstand in Eaton Park where we met with the rest of our GoodGym group for the evening and the task owner Stuart. Thank you Lizzie for being back runner.

We are regulars now at Eaton Park so Stuart was ready to meet us with instructions and equipment for the tasks he wanted us to do this evening: weeding the three large rose beds near the Park entrance, weeding and tidying around the lily pond and boating lake and doing a general litter pick of the Park. As usual everyone sorted themselves out into groups for tackling these and got stuck in. Despite the time seeming to fly by loads got done and we had a quick chance for a group photo before heading back to the Forum where I was pleased to share biscuits and beans.

Next week Hitch is back from his hols to lead us (hurrah!) and we will be gardening at the Grapes Hill Community Garden. Yes that does means Hitch + a Hill!

Well it's hard to imagine doing a Group Run in Norwich without our Run Leader Hitch being at the helm but even he's allowed to take holiday now and then (as long as he doesn't get too carried away) so instead the lovely Goodgymers had to cope with me being Run Leader for the evening! It was the first time I've had to lead a whole session so I found myself feeling a bit nervous beforehand, not wanting to mess up for everyone. I even made myself a crib sheet so I wouldn't forget any bits of the intro!

As there were no new runners this week, we went straight into marking milestones. Well done to Elliot for achieving his 10th Good deed.

We then took a moment to congratulate those taking part in races at the weekend. Several Goodgymers had battled the grotty weather the previous day to run the Norwich Half Marathon and David did a muddy run somewhere I keep forgetting which involved wearing a pink tutu! That man does like to dress up :)

A special shout out also goes to those Goodgymers who did a Community Mission volunteering at the Norwich Half in the pouring rain!

I then made sure I went through Hitch's Risk Assessment for the task - his instruction 'Don't wave your tools around!' brought much amusement, especially as we know that he always likes to keep his well tucked in when out with us!

We then went outside for a quick warm up session before heading off to the task. Bill kindly volunteered to be back runner.

After a 3km run to the Catton Grove Community Centre, we were met at the task by Linda who was well organised with all the equipment we might need to carry out the various tasks required and which involved litter picking, cutting back overgrown greenery, weeding the flower beds as well as the grooves in the brick weave paving. As usual the Goodgymers quickly got stuck into the tasks needed and after 30 minutes there was a massive mound of greenery and several bags of rubbish to show for it.

We then headed back to the Forum, stopping briefly for a photoshoot. No doubt everyone was relieved that there wasn't enough time to do any extra fitness session!

Hopefully normal service will be resumed next week, which will incidentally be Hitch's 100th Good Deed. We're looking forward to the celebrations!

Hmmm you must be thinking what on earth did GoodGym Norwich get up to this evening...

... well continue to read and you'll find out.

It was our last Group Run of 2018 and what an unbelievable year it has been, I can't wait for the exciting community groups and projects we'll help out in 2019.

Laurence was making his 1st GoodGym appearance so a big welcome!

Tonight's task was to visit The Feed to make mince pies (now you get the pun yeah?) which they are selling at an event tomorrow.

Katy and Calum led the runners so myself and fellow cold/cough victim Sandra could walk... get your violins out for us.

Lucy greeted us there and explained the process. Each runner washed their hands and then off to their stations they went, which included greasing trays, making pastry shapes, DEEP filling the pies with mince meat, putting the lids on (look out for the photo of the GoodGym mince pies), preparing the boxes, loading the boxes with mince pies, dusting them with icing sugar, putting allergen details in the boxes and labelling them also. You never probably thought there was such a process to it

After the mince pies were put in the oven, most of the gang were left taskless, what could they possibly do? Light Bulb Moment - they could go and run up Gas Hill and back again... so off they went with sheer excitement and 15 mins later they returned with beaming smiles on their faces.

At this point the mince pies were cooking thick and fast (not related to the pun). We managed to get more boxed up and after having a taster of them (I have to say they were bl00dy delicious!) we headed back to The Forum and Katy led the stretches.

Thanks again for an awesome 2018.

For those of you I won't see at the Community Mission on Wednesday, have a Merry Christmas and see you in 2019.

There were 2 tasks tonight. I was leading the group of runners to the Norwich Foodbank and Catherine was taking the walking group to the Norwich Soup Movement - both to sort through Xmas donations for people in need.

A big welcome to Ruby and Simon who were completing their 1st GoodGym experience.

Well done to Claire who was completing her 10th good deed!

After we all warmed up together (which included everyones favourite BEAR CRAWLS) I took 26 of the group with me and the other 8 went with Catherine.

My group had a 3km run each-way and upon arrival Keith was ready to go through what he wanted us to do. He split us into 3 groups and it really lifts the spirit when you see how much donations they have received. Group 1 were sorting through Xmas food and separating them into different crates - children's sweets, selection boxes, tubs of sweets, cakes, biscuits and stuffing mix. Group 2 were weighing and sorting out new donations that had come in. Group 3 were sorting through tinned vegetables such as peas, sweetcorn etc.

We only had 30 minutes but the team smashed through all the donations - this was aided by me putting the Xmas CD on in the background as extra motivation hohoho.

Once the donations were sorted in categories, the last 5 minutes were spent filling the gift bags with food items - this was quite and emotional experience because each GoodGymer was now responsible for the food that a family will receive for Xmas and each of us said we felt pride in thinking we have just made someones Xmas.

As well as the fantastic good we've done I think it also needs mentioning what a good job Keith and his team do with the Norwich FoodBank and all the kind people that make donations to it... if only these types of stories could make the media headlines every day.

On the way back we finished the run with Grapes Hill and super fast Brad completed the quickest Grapes Hill on Strava this year!

So now it's over to Catherine with how the walking group got on - please now read the below in the voice of a lady and not my deep rough voice haha.

After a strode down to meet Chip at the Norwich Soup Movement, she was full of apologies for the state of her unit as she'd been inundated with donations of various items for the homeless, which was excellent news for the GoodGymers who quickly got to work dismantling boxes, sorting clothes and the mountain of donations.

Bill offered to put together a new clothes rail (you should have seen the shock on Katy's face when we got back to The Forum - more DIY tasks coming up at home for Bill haha) so we could hang everything and we quickly cleared the pile.

With 10 minutes to spare, most of the group sorted through food donations in the kitchen area whilst Catherine and Abbie built a new but very puzzling shelving unit.

To finish up we took all the rubbish out to the skip, leaving a very happy Chip. We said our farewells and began the brisk walk back laden with sachets of spice mixes and and custard.

We met the other group back at The Forum, had a stretch and swapped our stories from the evening.

I said last month I wanted to do some tasks throughout December that would impact those in need over Xmas and this was definitely one of those.

Next week is our last task before Xmas as we are making mince pies at The Feed.