12 enthusiastic Westminster GoodGymers ran 5k to C4W homeless shelter to make 18 beds for the evenings residents.

On a drizzly West End evening we welcomed 5 GoodGym Newbies to the fold!! Julia, Pardis, Shona, Lee-Ann and Collette all put in Herculean efforts on their Goodgym debuts!!

With the busy Oxford Street foot traffic out in force we deviated to the Westminster back streets looking for some space to work up some speed! Rather naughtily we were crossing borough boarders this evening to help out GoodGym Camden who had rather a lot on this evening.

Rounding onto Tottenham Court Road we found a hidden gem of a facility! After a bit of entrance confusion we headed down to the where the homeless shelter is set up for the evening. 18 beds to be made so we cracked on! There were some very coordinated linen arrangements as well as a few Duvet battles. FYI side entrance duvets are not as straight forward as you would think! They require a team to fit them!!

After 25 minutes of boxed off corners and elegant colour arrangements we had completed the task!! With much thanks from the Shelter organisers we dashed off in pursuit of a fitness fix.

A short run to the beautiful Russell Square we got going with a Static Squat off! everyone in a circle digging deep in their leg strength reserves until they could hold it no more!

A little jog recovery to flush out the lactic build up before we got back to round to and Grab a Cone the best of 5 game was not for the fair hearted with victory for the sharpest, bravest and fiercest!!

After a short jog recovery we finished off the session alternating some strength and conditioning with the highly controversial and at times pretty emotional Hats and Bowls. Some big effort fighting for every last turn of the cone and some monster Star jumps and Burpees action rounded off a great fitness effort!! All that was left to do was run the 3k back to base!

Some Urban Static stretches on Oxford Street topped off a Top evenings Goodgym Fun!

Thanks for coming along would love to see you all again next week when we trot out to Victoria to help another Homeless Charity [sign up here] (

Some cones

Joel

14 Chilly GoodGymers ran 8k to Victoria to help a small local homeless charity sort out a shed full of clothing donations to be handed out as clothing packs at the evenings Soup kitchen.

On a bright, clear and very cold evening we gathered at the New Balance flagship store we welcomed first timers Sarah, Charlie and Nina!! Graham grabbed the chance to trial the new New Balance IQ running watch for the evening before we set out on the busy central London streets.

Needing to get up to pace quickly to keep warm we weaved a slick route South. Taking in a few slights and plenty of sounds we swiftly covered the 4k route to Ebury Estate to meet Mike who runs the project.

After some quick instructions we headed to the shed to find clothing donations piled high and squeezed in. We devised a plan to get each type of clothing into separate boxes also sorting for gender.

We got to work and with some slick team work we were sorting the clothes as a speedy rate. We have a couple of pauses to admire some of the designs and with the cold setting in we even borrowed a coat or 2 to keep warm!

After 30 minutes of sorting we were left with the most difficult job of all, closing the shed back up with all the nicely sorted clothing perfectly stacked. A bit of a nudge and a slam of the doors and we were away! Thanking Mike and looking forward to seeing him in March we headed back towards the bright lights of Oxford Street with a mini detour through Green Park and the never ending hill!!

Done ninja road crossing and we were back with 90 minutes of epic Good doing action under our belt!

Look forward to seeing you all again next week for some more Fitness fun! Sign up here

Silky smooth sorting

Joel

7 runners went 4km and gave hope to a local charity's garden

Oh the rain!!!! We thought it was going to be a soggy one but good karma came our way and we had the only dry evening of the week, phew!

This week we had a shorter run, dashing over to the bright lights of Lansdowne to St Swithuns road where there is a fantastic housing charity, Hope Housing. An unassuming row of houses that offer homes to the homeless as well as support to get back into work/community life. Such an amazing service and we were so happy to be asked to help!

Our task was making their HUGE garden pretty again after the winter. The gang worked so hard, clearing veggie patches and turning over the soil for more planting in the spring.

Added bonus was finding food for dinner....potatoes, carrots and a few onions popped out of the ground as we worked. Stew anyone?!

Really hoping Hope Housing like our work when they see it in the day light today - felt like a big transformation: before and after Goodgymers. Always satisfying!

Once we'd packed up at the task we had a short run back downhill all the way. Warming down, we did pun brainstrorming - a lot of talk about carrots, winkie face!

Thanks all of you. See you next week!!

30 runners hit the streets of London from New Balance's flagship store to run 5km and help clear some workshops for young people in central London.

In the bright lights of our new location a crowd of runners emerged from the throngs of Oxford street shoppers.
We had a massive crew of first timers and a good gang of Westminster regulars.

"amazing opportunity for young people"

Our task for tonight was to help Makerversity clear out their cupboard to make way for more making space for young creative businesses. The dark vaults of Somerset House now vacted by HMRC are home to a thriving community of designers and makers. Every 3 months they support two new young creative people to get their first studio and workshop space free of charge - it's an amazing opportunity for young people to get started in Central London.

"7pm cutoff"

Our gang split in two: one lead by Barnet run leader Damien - taking a longer, posher, faster route down Bond Street and passed he Ritz, while Ivo's group went as the crow flies - through London's busiest streets including the very monica for busy-ness - Piccadilly Circus.

We battled through the crowds (and waited fro many a green man) and made it to the location just before our security-enforced 7pm cutoff. Both groups arriving within minutes of 7pm.

We got to work quickly - one trip for each person was enough to fill a skip with the designated unneeded materials. In no more than 6.5 minutes the job was done.

"planks, squats and dead bugs"

A quick task meant more time for exercising under-exercised muscles. The steps from the Mall to Pall Mall were the back drop for planks, squats and dead bugs. Everyone completed 2 sprints and all three exercises.

The groups made it back at 7.45pm. A rapid, efficient and speedy start to our runs from our new home on Oxford street.

See you next time.

Massive thanks to Damian, Nina, Gillian and Millie for their help guiding us around town tonight and wishing a speedy recovery to Joel - our new trainer for Westminster.

Until next week, safe running.