Sixteen awesome GoodGym folk ran 7km to help spruce up a 150 year old youth club in Westminster!

On a gloomy Wednesday evening 16 wonderful GoodGym-ers piled into what was definitely the wrong room (no apple and coca cola update - sorry!) at the University of Westminster to be briefed on a great task and decent run for the evening.

More fluoro!

With Cory away, having a well-earned post-London Marathon break, GG Westminster was in my hands and so I tried to channel some of the Cory magic by wearing odd shoes – not sure anyone noticed – more fluoro next time Pritesh!

Tonight we were running to the St Andrews Club in the heart of Westminster which is the longest running youth club in the world at 150 years old! They offer facilities from ages five to adulthood in a safe and welcoming environment.

With a few regulars knowing the route we had Howard leading us down to the club. As ever running in the streets of busy Westminster is always a challenge but Howard was a great help and ably led everyone safely down to the club.

Getting the job done

Adrian, the Deputy Club Manager, met us and led us through to the gym we were working on. With cleaning spray, wipes and cloths ready we go down to the task at hand. We were helping to clean and sanitise the gym at St Andrews to ensure that the members could use the space safely. As ever with GoodGym everyone got stuck in and we were done in no time even requesting extra tools so we could really get the space clean! 'Top' effort from Alex using his height to get to those hard to reach places!

After we had finished the task Adrian took us on a tour of the facilities, it's a really special place and there was a good vibe from everyone there and it was great to see so many people using the facilities. What we hadn't accounted for were the delicious smells coming from the open kitchen as we walked through the club, there's nothing like the smell of home-cooked pizza to get those stomach going when you've just been running and working!

Mmmm, pizza...

With the tour complete, Adrian thanked us profusely and it was time for the run back (well after Bella had picked up her leaflets ;)). Howard did a great job leading again (thank you!) and the whole group did great pounding through the 3.5k with ease. With the biblically dark clouds gathering we were pleased to get back to base, get a good stretch in and be changed and out before the heavens opened!

Make sure to sign up for next week's run here!

Great running and 'tasking' everyone!

Pritesh

At GoodGym Westminster last night 14 runners ran 8.7 - 9.7 km to clear litter and leaves from St Saviour's churchyard in Pimlico.

Unbe-leaf-able scenes an easy 5km down to St Saviours Church with some bum-kicking, high-skipping, bridge-sprinting action thrown in for good measure that got everybody smiling and all of New Bond Street looking at us like madmen and women.

We bundled into the church, greeted by a gentleman wielding two bottles of wine (we'll have those thanks!), grabbed our leaf and litter-picking apparatus and got going clearing the churchyard of unwanted bits and pieces. First prize for weirdest object was for two US mobile phone chargers - a real head-scratcher that one!

The mystery of the chargers sadly unsolved, we headed back into the quickly-chilling evening to St James Park where a few brave souls chose to sprint the long way round the park (an extra 1km!). The rest of us took in the beautiful views at a leisurely pace and did some killers squats and on the spot fast-feet until the sprinters caught us.

We headed back to base with a couple of chase the hares thrown in for good measure, and returned home a happy, sweaty bunch of goodgymers.

Well done to everyone for pushing themselves we had a whole litter fun!

On a wet n windy blustery night we Goodgymers head south to the Salvation Army bearing gifts of food and clothing.

A bag full of clothes was strategically placed in the middle of the room and even before the briefing I suggested people picked what they felt would be easiest to carry. Socks, jackets, jumpers, tee shirts, leggings, the lot.

With 8 newbies and 10 regulars smiling and raring to go I explained why what we would be doing was so important and also what else they could get involved with if they so wished. Missions, pairing, races and on the odd occasion some fooding and drinking.

We headed out and decided to take the short cut as the wind had started to make itself known but with lots of chat the two miles flew by in no time at all.

We arrived safely and left all the supplies on the table and waited for our host to begin telling us all about how the Salvation Army works. It houses men only and only takes referrals and no walk ins. They have space for 109 people and mostly work with over 50s at that location. The Salvation Army helps people find work as well as preparing those who walk through their doors for life after homelessness.

With a q and a that lasted over 15 minutes as always we must thanks Anthony, Chris, Joe and the rest of the team for their time.

We said our goodbyes, a head back at pace to GG HQ, obviously no GG Westminster run is complete with out some hill sprints, intervals and lots of smiles.

Thanks for coming, hopefully we'll see you alllllll next week...