You'd be forgiven for looking through our photos tonight and thinking all we did was mess about and play in Exhibition Park. There was some of that between all of the standard GoodGym Newcastle awesomeness

There was a big group to welcome four- yes FOUR- new runners to the family! Welcome Jack, Tom, Tom and Raff. You are now fully fledged GoodGym members who have completed group run greatness!

Tonight's group run was a bit of everything: silly warm up games, GoodGym leaflet drop on the way followed by a huge litter pick and fitness session in Exhibition Park! The big challenge was to complete an alphabet of litter. And no Dan, I'm not accepting FETUS for F because you found an egg, or X for Extra Chewing gum. Some interesting litter was uncovered including two bike frames, a seat, part of a fridge and general bottles, cans and crisp packets left over from another scorching weekend in the park. Some people (hello Paul, Amy and Carol-Anne) took some time out to hang around on the many climbing frames on offer as the task came to a close.

What everyone wants when its 26 degrees on an open space occupied by cows is to complete a 1K time trial so we popped over to the Town Moor to do just that. The cows were very accommodating and happy to mooooove out of the way while we warmed up with our (my) favourite drills.

At the sound of the whistle the runners were off! Storming across the moooooor in some blistering times as they tried to outdo one an udder on the way back to the finish. Kudos to Andy who was first in 3:12 and Sarah, first lady in 3:47.

It was back to pastures old (sorry, I will stop this now) for a good stretch and high fives on another excellent evening of doing good things, getting fit and loving our city.

Well done everyone, I might see you at the community mission Or at our next Group Run

Happy Running! Anji x

For a moment today I actually thought we were going to get our first ever rainy GoodGym Newcastle group run! Imagine that! It didn't happen though and it was another sticky hot run for week 13.. unlucky for some (those who didn't come)

We played some new warm up games to welcome newbies Sophie and Peter and welcome back Will who has had a new baby hiatus from GoodGym. The games warmed up our legs, got heart rates pumping and made everyone laugh, then it was off to Byker (not Grove)

The task tonight was a challenge. Deliver 250 donation bags for Scope in a target time of 15 minutes, running far and wide from our Heaton Road task start point without everyone doing the same street. The biggest challenge actually came in trying to work out how many bags we would need each to make it fair.

12 minutes passed and everyone was back! Injured Dan even joined us to say hi (on his way to buy wine) (in terrible shorts) and turned down the fitness session option. We hot-footed to Armstrong Park and found an awesome grassed area to do our first ever Indian File run aka Tempo Surge, with runners running in arms-length line and taking turns to sprint to the front. Everyone was amazing and encouraged each other through the workout.

Awesome team work making the dream work

I'm not going to say we guessed the way back but, well, we did and it was very cool. Back at base it was time to say bye to Anna who has been an ace part of GoodGym from the beginning, as she heads off to Boro on placement. Please come back and visit us Anna!

Hope to see everyone back next week for a plogging task in Exhibition Park where we will also be doing our first ever time trial

Happy running! Anji x

Dan has peaked. He got to use a wheelbarrow tonight.

SUCH a great task tonight at Elswick Park to tidy up for the fabulous West End Women and Girls. You can read all about the wonderful stuff they do here Emma and Johurun were so pleased to have our help tonight to weed and tidy the paths around the park which so many people don't even realise exists!

There were no newbies tonight but I was really impressed to have Carol Anne and Emma along despite completing the Great North 10K yesterday. They only groaned once during the stretches tonight too! Well done you two. It was a super-physical task tonight with loads of weeding, clearing and much scraping of spades. Katy was like a super hero collecting everyone's rubbish on the way before they even had the chance to say "black sacks" and the jobs were all completed within 30 minutes.

We had exclusive use of the football pitch for our fitness session afterwards with everyone vying for the title of Teacher's Pet with their multi-skilled approach to the numbers game where much skipping, side stepping and general merriment was on display. We also learned that Kate has brilliant balance, even when I tried to put her off. A football area called for a football related photo and I was proud to show off my artistic flair with my England supporting signs which I am sure everyone is astounded at.

Next week is a return to Byker for the second mega donation bag drop for Scope where the challenge will be on.

Don't miss next week. If England win, bring your hangovers. It's coming home.