9 GG Brent fitties were fast and furious as they pushed down pavements and paraded their way through tonights leaflet task for Brent's good causes. YAY!!

Now all I can say to start this run report tonight is - What Debs wants Debs gets and when our bride to be requested a track session, how could I refuse!! So armed with our source of good-deeding info sharing leaflets for - The NHS, Granville community food kitchen and some home grown repping for us GG BRENT as well, we got to stepping and paper chased our way through the ends, all the way to Willesden Sports Centre. BOOM!

Oh and thank you mother nature for blessing us with a rain free evening. Really and truly, this will be the first track attack session in a while that hasn't been a wash out! phewwwwww!!!!

So after our community spree which included face to face, library drops and postal passion, we arrived at our home for the eve & let me tell you, these guys were raring to go. Seriously energised and ready for some fabulous fitness fun and games in the form of drills, skills and a lot a lot of HIIT training - THATS High intensity interval training to you and me ;) POW POW!

After some mobilising and skills work, in the form of walking lunges , crab walks and various hop, skip and jumps (No that wasn't into the sandpit although Tabitha would have loved that!!) it was set to work on running 200m sprints, timed and repeated to track pace!

Can I just say at this point, OMG what a set of times, for each and every one!! All achieved even in the midst of some worried faces and moments of self doubt, particularly ironic was the cries from Jo But I'm not a sprinter hummmm really?? As she smashed in under 40 seconds each time!!! Bolt eat your heart out please!

Everyone gave it their all and worked their socks off for the whole session. Huffing, puffing, panting, recovering then going again and again. Special shouts go to Pushpa aka 'mum' who shaved 15 seconds off her first time in round three, living up to her name as she "Pushpa'd" to the max!! Think she was holding out on us and is a cheeky lil speedster at heart!!

After the main event, we finished off the session and the last of the legs with step jumps x 10 for three rounds and with that all jelly legged and understandably exhausted, we jogged the cool down back to base.

Another great evening doing good in Brent, with a HIIT-Fit focus for our resident badass athletes, that really packed a punch!

See you next time fit fam!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

An amazing 8 braved the weather to run 5k all the way from Willesden to Wembley and can...Someone call the 'Plum-ererrr, we got flushed out!!

It was a wet and wild time down at Wembley community orchard for our tasking this week!! Thinking we'd been super clever and managed to dodge the downpour we arrived at our lovely hosts with 40mins to gift, after powering down the route in 35mins flat!! Oh yes, expect.... it was not all flat oh no... the route had us beasting off not one but TWO epic hills, through Dollis Hill and Neasden!! POW POW

Yes...We were a great little wolf pack, running in formation with 2 beautiful blokes in the 6 strong fruity female fold. Although we nearly didn't have our gallant gents in the mix - a last minute moment of doubt and email exchange between Dinesh and myself, had me persuading our lovely lad to absolutely come down no matter what the rains say!! Oh and Joe just made it aswell, by the skin of his teeth, no less....."I had to stop for doughnuts on the way home" he confessed! But thankfully the sugar-rush got him to the start line, just on time so he could patisserie-pate.

Upon arrival we were met by the wonderful team down at the site, who explained away the giant pile of mulch which needed shovelling into wheelbarrows and running across the fields to be arranged beneath the bases of the apple trees!! Easy enough... we thought.... Then, the heavens opened and what was a running session turned into a swimming one, as we battled the heaviest downpour I've ever experienced at an outdoor Goodgym task!! Eeekkkkk!!!!

But no fear, the rain made the team Water-Rapid and the barrows filled up fast with mulch getting delivered to its new homes, as promised!!

As always this crazy crew never fail to make me laugh and feel so proud: Jo, Eliza, Tabitha, Debs, Karen, Joe and Dinesh all laughing and joking the whole time, despite being totally drenched!!! Helping and supporting each other and just making the most fun out of what could have been a totally 'wash-out'! I love this crew!! Even when he was absolutely soaked, we had Dinesh sharing his water-proof jacket with the ladies!! What team spirit..... Although I think he was trying to make up for 'women driver' shout when poor Jo's wheelbarrow collapsed!!

After 40mins of shovelling and delivering I had to unfortunately call end on the task, despite the team not wanting to stop and me literally having to wrestle spaced from hands!!! Tabitha and Joe!!! Lol

But to our delight Stephanie and Daniella, our hosts had arranged a table of home grown goodies for our efforts!! Plums, blackberrys and the good old well known fruit - the biscuit fruit which Eliza tucked into straight away!!

After fond farewells and we will certainly be back!! We turned on our heels and ran the 1 mile jaunt up to Wembley Park Station. Time for some Training as we got to work on pull ups on the tube and Tabitha amazingly demonstrating her circus skills and backwards flip on the bars!!!! Wow!!!

Back home and hugs all round, what doesn't make you wetter makes you stronger!!! And my goodness did we bond in the rain and make the most of this wet and wild night!! Crew Love

So we'll see you next time familia!!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

It was another incredible effort, when 20 Goodgymers from Brent, pounded pavements, crossed boroughs and gave back some more time in memory of four weeks since the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire in West London.

On an incredibly hot and muggy evening in July, we came, we grouped and we began, what turned out to be an epic journey over to Latymer Road Church, to meet up with sister Ruth to see how we could help one more time.

Joining the group this week was many a familiar face and to my delight Dinesh and Simon who had returned for more! Also in the mix were some newbies too, in the shape of; Alex, Amy's little brother.... Keeping in the theme of Brent's family affair and Pete, who upon my arrival was sipping on his vital fuel and pre-workout drink ready to rock the roads... Okay, this may have been a half a pint but it seemed to work as he was quick on his feet, swiftly gaining the nickname -Pistol Pete.

As the team set to work on the first leg of the tour, it becomes clear quite early on that we had some pace splits among our epic crew. Therefore the faster team were sent off ahead with sister sledge at the helm. Unfortunately in their rapid response, 2 were caught short and nearly lost their way - Alex and Amy! But luckily with some quick thinking from big sis Amy and a lot of urban orienteering they found their way back and regrouped upon arrival. Phew!!

After Group two had sped into the evening, we agreed to meet at the Church, which is exactly what we did! Me leading the back-packers and of course having my usual chats and love-in with Pushpa AKA mum! But it wasn't long before we were nipping at the heels of the first pack and meeting with Sadhana at the location, who had joined us straight there.

Met with a much less crowed and quieter site this time around, we took the time to soak up the true gravity of the situation on Latymer Road and read the messages on the walls. This truly brought home, how many lives have been not only lost, but affected by this awful tragedy and just our attendance alone felt like we were supporting the acknowledgement of this unbelievably sad and unnecessary event, one which we hope will never happen again in our lifetimes in London.

After a much needed moment of silence and contemplation, the larger than life character that is Sister Ruth arrived and with not much time left on the clock, she asked two things of us - 1) To help clear some of the older flowers away, making room for the many new ones coming each day and 2) Sing. Of course we obliged both requests and wished whole heartedly that we had more time to help and perhaps had more tunes in our voices, as we weren't up to her high standards sadly.

Even though, we knew we were finishing a late one this eve, the time we had for the tasking was unfortunately at an end and with that, the teams split once more. Some got the tube, some the bus and a handful of adventurers chose to run the last laps with me.

Now there has been many a long run at GG Brent since our inception, but this by far was the most challenging run I've ever personally partaken in! Hot, muggy, sweaty and hilly, but let me tell you, this incredibly courageous crew did not complain. Okay okay - Maybe Dinesh was vowing never to return, but he said that last week too and hey presto here he was once more! pow pow

These warriors, smashed the last of the miles coming into home base with a massive 10k under their belts for good measure!! And with copious amounts of water guzzled, the final few rehydrated and assessed the epic challenges that we had overcome. It felt big, it felt important and we felt like a true team!

Next week the run won't be as far only a few short miles in fact, however I have no doubt that the efforts and energy will match this week, because of course this is GG Brent, a true and wonderful team and everything that comes with it.

See you next time.

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

Today in solemn contemplation and hearts filled with empathy and love, 13 Goodgym runners from Brent, ran through postcodes and 2 neighbour boroughs, to give what we could and pay respect to the community, survivors and victims of Grenfell Tower.

It was a humbling sight to behold when my eyes fell upon the group I call my GG family who showed up in droves to run 5k to Grenfell. Running to pay respect and give what we could in donations and volunteering.

Lighting our route was the most beautiful of setting suns, which made us smile although our hearts were heavy and with a mission to Avenues Youth Centre on our minds, the run, despite the heat was swift if not a little sweaty.

Arriving at Avenues we were greeted so warmly by the manager Carol and even though this time their volunteer needs were already met, we did make some amazing contacts and perhaps arrange for one or two of our crew to support their future fundraising in the way of running the London marathon..... I just have to figure out how to convince the team to do it.

So turning on our heels again and catching the last of the glows of sun as it set over the beautiful canal, we head towards Latimer Road and the main memorial sight for Grenfell.

Now I am not littering this run report with catchy puns and tom foolery because this was so not what this run was about. We were in solidarity, in mourning and in partnership with every other human being who was and have been there, making the effort, yesterday, today and tomorrow!

In fact, just speaking with the community we understood that they would continue to need massive support for the next few weeks, if not more, especially when the media attentions will surely begin to ease off and they don't want people to forget the need that will be there. So people must continue to reach out for many weeks and months to come.

So with this in mind, we linked up with Sister Ruth, the incredible community leader who was taking charge of organisations, from the church on Latimer Road. We pledged to be back, both as individuals and as a team, because this may not be our borough, but this is our London and we must erase borough lines and postcodes, to show unity, love and understanding. To give back to this significant and life altering community cause and demonstrate we will not stand for how these people have been treated. It must be talked about, it mustn't be forgotten and it cannot happen again!

Our final goodbye was in a song, shared with some of the other mourners and Sister Ruth. We sang together Amazing Grace and as we sang, we lit our candles and said personal and quiet prayers, for all who had been lost and for all those suffering now from this terrible tragedy.

I urge you if you haven't, please go there, because no news article or TV broadcast can convey the true heartbreak of this community in mourning.

Together we stand.

Six runners met on a fabulous Monday summer evening for a short run to the local former Willesden Green police station-cum- future community hub and all-round creative space, followed by a jaunt up to Gladstone Park for a breath-taking relay race!

A smaller group than usual, but no less full of good vibes and energy, Claire was happy to welcome second-timers Jo and Emily, Joe with an 'e', and Brent regulars Liz, Tabitha and Deborah, vying for the 50 good deed black t-shirt, who will be the first...?

We set off down to the High Street with a spring in our step to the task that awaited us - yes that's right, moving old mattresses ready for collection, and stacking up a batch of new ones. There was no sleeping on this job though, we shifted those mattresses quicker than you could say 40 winks and even had time for a cuppa tea.

Meanwhile, out front, Deborah, Tabitha and Jo had set about sprucing up the surroundings, litter picking, weeding and ... oh dear... standing in poo (ever heard of bag it & bin it Brent dog owners?!?). Not one to be a party poo-per (groaaaan!), Tabitha didn't let that take the smile off her face (well, only temporarily!).

With tools packed up and gloves returned, we said our goodbyes and thank you's for the hospitali-tea and ran off towards Gladtstone Park for a tempo relay race, the six were paired up and ran round the bottom of the park in different directions till they met somewhere near the middle, high-fived and changed direction to race back to the start point - competition was fierce and there was only a measley 17 seconds between the first and last finishers, impressive work! We regrouped for a well-deserved stretch out on the grass before heading back to the Queensbury.

Well done everyone! You make Brent Brighter!!!