Tonight 18 Goodgymers ran 5.4km, and 3 of our regulars who are injured and returning from injuries made their own way to the Peppermint Centre to assist Pam with the community community garden.

We welcomed Tim to his first group run.>

Congratulations to Nicola for her recent title of No.1 female parkrun tourist in the world her record currently stands at 351, everyweek going forward she will be making history as she will be breaking her record.

Today's task was to help weed the raised beds and spread wood chip to stop the areas around the raised beds from being over taken by weeds.

When we arrived at the task Andy and Ellie had already arrived and had assisted Pam with unloading the tools from her car and began cutting the grass.

Pam explained to us what she wanted us to do and we split up into small groups taking on the various task that Pam had to be done.

Pam had brought a bit roll of membrane to lay on the floor for us to put the wood chip on however she forgot to take the scissors to cut the membrane and there was also no knives available. They tried using the secateurs but had no joy not until they found a hand saw in Pam's car booth and began sawing away at the membrane. While some sawed the others made trips to the big pile of wood chip filling up the wheel barrow and buckets. In between trips to the wood chip pile some even had time to slope off for a game of ping pong, I won't name them but there may be photographic evidence of the culprits.

We all chipped together

Those weeding the raised beds was not only pulling up weeds they found some beet roots and turnips which Pam encouraged them to reap. There are always vegetables ready to reap whenever we visit the peppermint centre. Look at them in the pictures.

All chipped in, as we, mowed, weed and sawed, shoveled, forked and sprinkled

After all the shoveling and weeding I thought they would have been "BEET" but on the run back Ian running along with a beet root in his his proudly exclaimed:

We'll not be BEET! Just BEET IT!

Next week we have a new task lined up in Thornton Heath sign up here, the run will be 5km in total.

Today 17 runner ran 3km, to Park Hill for our very own take on the GoodGym Olympics. I must admit I was really worried when the heavens opened and the rain didn't seem as if it was going to stop. But the GoodGym Gods must have been looking down on us because not only did the rain stopped but the ground was not muddy and the plan I had for today's activities was able to go ahead.

Warm Croydon welcome on a wet day to Kelsey for coming along to her first GoodGym session may this be the start of many.

Welcome back Michelle (our international member) who always ensures that once she's back on English soil, always ensures she joins us for a group run or two before heading back to the UAE.

When we arrive at Park Hill the group was split up into 3 teams Red Ros, Michelle, Ian and Kelsey Orange Steph, Emma, Pete and Louise Blue Paul, Ingrid, Hannah and Zara. Some events required participation from individual members of the teams or two, while while some required the full team either way they were all in.

Events

• Dodge ball eliminator
• Out and Back collecting balls
• 4x50 Bean bag balance relay
• Adapted sack race
• 4x50 Relay
• Bean bag toss
• Wheel barrow race
• 3 legged race
• Egg and spoon race
• 4x0.37km relay

Congratulations to the Orange team on winning overall despite the impressive start by the red who were up 20 points by the 4th event but as most of us know distance running is not a sprint unless you're Mo.

At the time of going to Press there has been no confirmed positive drugs test although there are questions surrounding Ros' win of the last event, where video replay is still not clear in identifying if there were a double switch, some eye witnesses (Paul and Peter) are saying there was, while others refuses to comment.

Due to other commitments sadly Croydon's representations at this year's official GoodGym Olympics will not be as huge as we would have loved for it to be but looking at the performances today I am sure we would be up there with the other areas as medal contenders.

Thank you to my assistants/adjudicators Andy, Sarah, Nicola and Paul (who just could resist being a sub for some of the events) for their assistance in making the games a success.

In true GoodGym fashion following the events majority of the group headed down to the Ludaquist where Sarah had reserved an area for our after party.

Be sure to sign up to next weeks group run we are heading to St Paul's church, come and hear all about what happened at the actual GoodGym Olympics.

Remember to check out the upcoming races and events

Tonight 14 runners donned their running gear to run 6.5km to St Augustines' Church, tonight's was was to paint the steps leading into the church.

We welcomed Jennifer to her first group run, what a way to kick off your GoodGym journey by joining us on one of our longer runs. Don't worry not all runs are as long as tonights some weeks they are within walking distance.

Following our welcome, intro and congratulatory speech we headed to the car park at Southern house for our warm up and head count, formalities over we headed out on our run.

We arrived at St Augustines' at about 7:30 where Bill had been patiently awaiting our arrival. He had the paint and brushes poised for us to go, as we got closer I noticed he started counting when he got to eight, I informed him there were more runners coming up the path at which point he said we had more runners than brushes.

Once everyone arrived Bill explained what he wanted us to do and showed us the steps to be painted, he had already done the prep by laying the decoration tape. After sharing out the seven brushes and paint, he went off to look for some more brushes. While he went searching for brushes I took the others to show them the transformation of what we started on our first and second run to St Augustines' to what it is now, ground force would be proud. (check out the run reports for pics)

When we returned Bill had found some more Brushes but he was still two short, that was not a problem as Dom and Ingrid opted to do some liter picking in the grounds of the church while the others painted themselves into corners.

Following completion of our tasks Bill provided us with some light refreshments.

With time to spare we took to the grass for our fitness session where the group did the following before heading back to Solutions for the return leg of our run.

• 3x 30 secs planks

• 3x 30 secs mountain climbers/toe taps

• 3x 30 secs squat thrust

• 30 secs V sits/crunch ankle reaches

On our run back we even had a chance to challenge ourselves up the hill on mint walk, well done to those who went for the x2 challenge, Strava segment coming soon.

We arrived back at solutions for our cool down stretches, then popped inside for the lovely lemon drizzle and blueberry cake baked by Rachel, I had told her to take us some after reading her twitter post intending to use it in celebrating Ian's 50th good deeds which he completed with our neighbours over in Southwark but he was there with us tonight. Not to worry Ian the cake was lovely. We will be celebrating next time we see you.

Good fun tonight and delicious cake! See you soon my fellow painters, cleaners, peelers and ballerinas!

Next week we are heading to Park Hill to help out in the walled garden 3km run in total sign up!

GoodGym aid station at Asics London 10K

17 runners turned out tonight to help friends of Addiscombe at the Railway Park garden, we had three newbies joining us tonight Ben, Louise and Julian, our regulars made them feel at home and bombarded them with all things goodgym so much so Ben has already signed up for Morden Hall Park - Trust10 Trail Run don't just read and awwww click on their names and give them some cheers!

It's always fun watching the new runners integrating with the group and how each member of the group steals at least a minute of their time by talking to them and making the feel welcomed.

Following our introduction we went outside for our warm up, before setting off to the railway park gardens where we were met by Richard, who seemed quite surprised by the number of the group that had turned up to help.

Not wanting to waste anytime Richard quickly went through the list of task he had for us to complete, watering the trees in the Orchard, cutting back the overhanging buddleias, watering the community garden, digging earth from the soil heap and sieving it to remove the stones.

Instructions given the group divided into small teams for the watering and digging the earth but there were a lot of overhanging buddleias so that was a bigger group, there were some cutting while others carried the cuttings to the designated rubbish heap. After those who had been watering completed their task they too also helped with the mamouth task of cutting back the buddleias.

Well done to Julian and Ben who filled up a massive bag or earth they had dug up and sieved, unfortunately they did not uncover any gold nuggets or hidden gems but they had a good time taking turns in digging and sieving, they sure worked on their twist an squats.

This week's achievements corner

Julian, Louise and Ben on completing the 1st Good Deed

Erin on completing her 15th good deeds

Rachel on completing her 25th good deeds

Happy 49th to Mr Tucker

Well done Paul on completing not only the volunteer role but also for doing 4 stages of the London City relay and he's not finished as yet. Why not join him on a stage?

Congratulations Nicola on achieving your highest parkrun finish (7th) while on your jaunt to Canada!

Thank you, to Sarah for organising our July Social be sure to sign up.

Upcoming races

3 August 2019 The GoodGym Olympics will you be out representing Croydon!

Next week we are heading to St Augustine's sign up here, the run will be about 6km but remember you do have the option of either running to or from the task and completing all or part of the journey by public transport.

Additional Photos taken by Karim