17 GoodGym-er run 6km to varnish a carehome's garden chairs

This week GoodGym Barnet set a new record for attendance (not including launch night), with three brand new people joining us for our run. Massive welcome Rachel, James and Lauren who all made it down to GG Barnet for the first time – give 'em a cheer! And to Beattieand Will who finally returned!

This week a number of people hit 10 GG Barnet runs! Well done to Will, Mark, Heather and Freya. The Phoenix is giving everyone who comes along to 10 GG Barnet runs a free cinema ticket. I have the first 10 already waiting for enough of us to go and watch something awesome together! We are three people away from the first 10!

After a quick warm up along the side of the cinema, I lead the way to Dell Fields Care Home. Heather was my trusty back-marker this week. The 3km route to the carehome took us over the big bright bridge crossing the North Circular again, which Hazel and I agreed was oddly satisfying to run over.

Once we arrived at the home, we were handed some sand paper and paint brushes and set upon getting as many of the garden chairs varnished as we could in the allocated time. Everyone did an amazing job. Within 25 minutes we'd finished eight (or so) chairs – there were only two left. We ran out of paint brushes, so while most of the team worked, people took it in turns to run, side-step, duck walk and high-knee down the garden path.

We then had a quick workout out the front of the home involving some sprints, squats and rocket jumps. It unfortunately also involved Hazel ruining a very nice pair of leggings.

Freya then lead the team back to base along a different route, while I back-marked with Heather, Hazel and Phil. Half way back we split into two groups, with Damian leading the speedy group back to the Phoenix and me taking the less speedy group back. Everybody in the speedy group agreed that it certainly earned its name, with Damian ensuring the pace was kept on zoom.

Back at the Phoenix we were treated to this week's Barnet Biscuit: homemade Jaffa cakes, courtesy of Heather. I'm still blown away that these are even a thing you can make at home. Heather deserves ALL OF THE CHEERS for making these.

Next week we have a nice short run to Newstead Children's Centre in East Finchley to paint the hallways. Sign up here. It's only 1.5km each way and will be indoors – what more could you ask for?

Don't forget to bring your documents along next week if you'd like to be DBS checked – ID + Proof of Address, two of one and one of the other.

See you next week, folks!

4 runners ran 5-10.5km to clean to tidy up Sayers Croft

A small but perfectly formed group of runners made the intrepid 5k trip to Sayers Croft in Paddington Recreation Ground last night to rid the pond of gooey green stuff and water the plants.

A gentle run down there, with some nice sprinty bits up Maida Vale had heart a-thumping and sweat a-pumping in the glorious evening sunshine. Sayers Croft, nestled in Paddington Rec's 'environmental area' provides a space for wildlife and vegetation in busy North London. It's popular with school kids and sweat GoodGym-ers alike! They even left us some very detailed instructions with a map!

In our small but efficient team we set to work watering plants and scooping lovely green stuff from the pond and dumping it on the surrounding pebbles - natural compost so they say!

15 minutes of hard work later we were off - it's a long way home after all! Lucy had the team do some star jumps whilst she returned the key and off they went, skipping and high-kneeing and bum-kicking to get everybody's muscles back in gear for the trip home. Kiera hopped on the tube at Maida Vale and we raced her home - taking a beautiful detour through Regents Park, admiring the park and the architecture as we whizzed back to base.

Howard - who just this weekend completed his GoodGym goal of a ten mile run! Yay Howard! - really pushed the pace on the way home and got us back in cracking time. The particular star of the show was Isabelle who - apparently not a regular runner - absolutely smashed the entire 10.5k and looked pretty darn relaxed doing it! We'd better be seeing you again Isabelle ;)

After much talk on the route back of a particular can of cold refreshing fizziness, I couldn't help but pick one up - we sure deserved it in all that heat! A great run, task and most importantly a laugh was had by all. A Wednesday evening to remember!

Lucy J