Despite the slightly lower numbers for tonight's group run we had lots to celebrate. First we welcomed Emily to her first Goodgym session, despite her only arriving in York a week ago. We celebrated Abigail and Claire both achieving 200 good deeds. We celebrated Rebecca being crowned August's Goodgymer of the month, having completed lots of Goodgym tasks in her first few months since joining, including some Goodgym tourism. We also congratulated Emma on completing the Vale of York half marathon and Liv and Mia on completing the Great North Run. (We also thought there may also have been a few other York Goodgymers doing a race at the weekend and having a few drinks along the way.) Finally we celebrated World Ampersand Day by going round and naming our favourite food and drink pairings worthy of the & symbol. After all the congratulations we headed to the task at Holgate Community Garden. We did two main jobs, cutting a circle of grass and weeds away around the trees and tidying the beds nearest the road. Abigail, Leanne and Jenna joined in once they had finished staging a teddy birth for Abigail. As her due date is in three days we were hoping that we didn't have a real birth to contend with. Claire and Laura Bennett went down to the Holgate Allotments and brought back two barrows of bark chip for putting on top of the soil circles around the trees. Imran and Jenna did a great job clearing all the brambles on the beds. We managed to complete both tasks before doing some training related fitness, including squats while we were stopped for leaves on the line, lunges for shovelling coal, creating tunnel arches for the other team's train to go through and then finishing with all aboard the train for a photo and some delicious chocolate and courgette cake from Claire before running back to base.

GoodGymmers arrived at the monthly clothes swap in varying degrees of smelliness (mostly depending on whether or not they’d done parkrun beforehand or not…)

We were quickly set to work after a brief explanation of our role to first timers and location of name badges. It soon became apparent that it was going to be a bumper swapping session, with people queuing to get in throughout the session. Maybe the back to school vibes of early September prompted lots of wardrobe refreshment.

Anyway, back to the task at hand. There were all the usual questions, from “What colour is this?” to the classic “What actually is this?” to keep us entertained. Mikael and Nicky even got to use the long pole for the window display items, which was very exciting. Although there was plenty to keep us busy, there was also time for tea and biscuits, which is always appreciated.

The swap stayed busy until it was time to tidy up. Some of us who stayed until the end were gifted a bonus turn at the raffle and won a (single) handmade cutlery wrap. Any use to anyone?!

On the way out, Jenna (who runs the clothes swap) introduced us to Anna who’s starting a similar clothes swap in the South Bank area and looking for volunteering. So clothes swappers of York may get to see GoodGymmers at two different courses swap a month in future!

Thanks everyone, I know Jenna and her team really appreciated the extra pairs of hands for this particularly busy clothes swap.

Another bumper turnout for a mammoth task! Tonight we headed to West Offices all of 450 metres away! After naming and numbering off and discussing past injuries Ed took a slightly longer route whilst Vicky led a short run group and Abigail led some walkers.

When we arrived Ian met us armed with maps and a long list of jobs. There was deadheading to do, planters to weed and large areas to clear. Ian said he had lots of bags for us to fill but in true gg style these didn't last long so we had to make a big heap against the wall!

By 7.30 we'd make huge progress so stopped for a game of musical cones. There was some fierce competition but Lyndsay finally took the crown!

Thanks team for another productive evening!

Another bumper turnout tonight to help rake grass at Millennium fields.

We started by naming and numbering off, welcoming new members back again, and saying a big warm welcome to Lionel who has returned after a break.

Mitch led the group out with Abigail, James and Abi leading a walking group.

When we arrived we were given several jobs - rake up the grass, pile it into bags or onto tarps, drag to the compost and make some sort of compost/grass lasagne. A select few also had a go at sything!

We managed to clear all the grass in the time and finished off with a quick game of whistleblower.

It was then back to base when a group then headed off for some well earned liquid refreshment!

Cinder Track parkrun

slow up run, fast down run

Bacon Butty yumminess

Bus - very lateness

Robin Hoods Bay clifftop walk - many steps

Whitby Brewery

Mini Cheddar cascade - much sad making

Beers - very happiness