Tonight was the first GoodGym Run club session. This will be a monthly session involving a structured running session generally involving some form of interval training followed by a litter pick.

Eve and Morwenna did the running session, led by Jonny who was on his bike.

Eve and Morwenna ran down to Millenium Point as a warm up and then it was straight into a fartlek session. This is a swedish term meaning 'to play with speed'. This basically means it's unstructured interval training. The session was 2 x 8 minute fartlek blocks with a 2 minute rest between sets. The efforts ranged from fast 20 second sprints, up to a more sustained 1 minute effort. The efforts were interspersed with 'easy running' recoveries. Both Morwenna and Eve pushed hard and were especially nippy on the 20 second efforts, catching Jonny by surprise at one point as he led the way on his bike.

Once done the 'warm down' was an uphill slog back to 1000 Trades.

Back at base we met Miriam who'd come for the litter pick. We collected our equipment and off we went to do our 'do good' bit. We found a pineapple skin, hence the pun I couldn't think of!

Once done we had a picture before heading back to 1000 Trades, were Morwenna, Eve and Miriam stopped for a drink and Jonny used the last of the light to bike home.

Tonight in the heatwave Jonny and Eve joined Josie to clear more leaves from the Jewellery Quarter Cemetery.

We cleared a load leaves, with our green plastic hands, putting them in big sacks and then putting them into compost.

Jonny cycled to the session and Eve ran there and back from home, running around 5k in total.

Next month we'll be back again for another JQ cemetery task :)

Another brilliant evening at St. Martin's Church, this time helping sort out the donations cupboard. With lots of generosity in the local community, the shelves, crates and racks benefit from regular organising, so we were glad to be of help!

It was great to welcome Veronika for her first task, waving down Eve on her run past, and finding some lovely storage for Christina's bike! Meanwhile Amy, Veronika and I represented the walkers of Goodgym on this warm night.

We sorted through the donations in a room down the hallway from their cupboard, with all sorts from hats and gloves, lots of socks, plenty of shoes, clothing and toiletries! Also a shoutout to Amy's homeware section, making sure any bedding, blankets etc. were nicely organised!

With some speedy labelling and clever stacking (especially the shoes!), we filled that cupboard back up with donations sorted by themes and sizes. The folding and lifting got our biceps going and the cupboard Tetris kept our brain juices flowing! Super fulfilling task and we are looking forward to next time.

A typically hectic morning setting up the Stirchley Community Market with bright sunshine from the sky and our volunteers! Amy, Laura, Morwenna, Eve, Christina, Josie and Sofeen came together to put up bunting and balloons and build the outdoor stalls. Josie did some litter picking around the library community garden finding two big packs of lamb! The task was to make the venue look like a birthday had thrown up on it and GoodGym came through 💪🏼 🎉

Big thanks to everyone who came to help set up and down - there’s always plenty to do but your impact is definitely felt and appreciated!

We had a great turn out at GG Brum tonight back at St Thomas Nursery School.

Jonny biked with Morwenna running and Christina also on her bike. The rest of the group walked, with Eve and James fresh from their Birmingham Half Marathon exploits!

The task was weeding and creosoting, hence the pun. We got some nice weeding before and after pictures and we got the 'story seat' and the greenhouse creosoted, so it was a great task done :)