18 GoodGym-ers ran 4km to help a children's centre this week

We broke GG Barnet records yet again this week with 18 people showing up to run – the most people to date (not including launch night)!

Big shout out to Graham, Lara and Eleanor who all joined us for the first time this week! Be sure to click their names and give them a cheer!

After a quick intro inside the cinema, we went outside to warm up the side road. It's always important to warm up properly to make sure our muscles and joints are ready for the task ahead. It was a nice easy run this week to Newstead, a nearby children's centre, to paint the hall. We ran 1.4km there, with Hazel our trusty backmarker.

Teje was there to meet us, armed with all the painting essentials and a box of biscuits! The team blitzed the first coat of paint in the hall in 15 minutes, leaving plenty of time for our fitness session in the back room. Today the focus was on agility, strength and conditioning, starting with some duck walks and knee tag games and finishing with some press-ups, crunches and jumpning squats. There were obviously also some burpees, because everybody loves burpees.

Thanks to Hazel for taking lots of pictures during the workout!

We then said our goodbyes and ran back to base, splitting off into two groups and taking a slightly longer (2.5km) route back. Damian and Mark lead the speedy lot back while I lead the less speedy group. Paul was my trusty back-marker on the way back, with Eleanor and Freya navigating the back roads of Finchley for me.

The run back was pretty much all up hill, so kudos to everybody for doing so brilliantly.

The Barnet Biscuit of the week: Freya's homemade gingerbread polar bears

We also had the biscuits from Newstead AND a box of chocolate fingers that my gran gave to Hazel on Sunday after a mission to clean her greenhouse.

We have two missions in Barnet this weekend. If you're already DBS checked you can sign up: Help deliver fliers for the Safer Neighbourhoods Team in High Barnet on Saturday (who have promised biscuits to any volunteers – unprompted) and clear the way for Ms D's carers on Sunday also in High Barnet.

If you're not DBS checked yet, just bring some ID and proof of address (two of one and one of the other) along to next week's run. We'll be flyering for a local christmas fair. We'll also be going to the pub afterwards for some food.

The following week will be the last GG Barnet of the year – running to set up SANTA'S GROTTO. And the Phoenix will be providing Mince Pies and wine for us when we return to the cinema.

See you next week!

On a balmy summer evening when most would be forgiven for heading to the nearest pub garden, 13 GoodGym runners ran 7km to help battle the bind weed threatening to strangle an allotment in Stepney.

In a change from the scheduled programming, the evening’s actives were led by James (of soon to be launching Redbridge fame) and Ken (of recently launched Chelmsford). It could have all gone horribly wrong (not really) had it not been for Anna, Patrick and Bryon who, with way over 100 tasks each, are some of the most experienced GoodGym-ers out there.

After a short run down to Stepney and some hunting for the secret allotment, the team set to work. The sun was out and the guns were out as the bind weed was ripped from the fencing around the allotment and vegetable beds. In 30 minutes the plot went from wild jungle to plantable garden and Andy, owner of the allotment, commented that he had never seen such an amazing turn around in such a short time. Boom!

With the hard work done it was time to have some fun. After a short run to Stepney Green Park the team split in to two groups for a bit of relay madness. A 500m tarmac path runs around the outside of the path and the race was to see which team could complete 6 laps in the fastest time. With the sun out the park was busy and runners had to negotiate dogs, slightly inebriated locals and the small hill. Somewhere along the way we lost count of who was winning, so with everyone feeling the burn we decided to make the whole group a winner and head back to base for some light stretching and some water.

Great work everyone. Here’s the night in numbers. 13 GoodGym members, 7kms run, 6m of fence cleared, 5 bags of mulch spread, 2 teams racing each other and 1 brilliant evening. Normal service resumes next week with the lovely Tom back at the helm and the monthly trip to Stepney City Farm.

Miss it, miss out!

22 runners paint, dig and squash bugs for Lambeth, then run up some hills

It rained on Tuesday. A lot. Massive kudos to all those who made it down to the Lambeth run, where the rain stopped and the sun came out for a lovely evening session.

We celebrated all that was great about Race the Horse over the weekend, then split into two groups. Both had about a 2 mile round trip. One towards Loughborough Junction and one to Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses.

The Loughborough Junction lot did a solid job painting railings for Southwell Road Resident's Garden. Over at the greenhouses, we split into four teams. One turned over compost. Another wheelbarrowed woodchip across the site. Group 3 dug very thick clay mud out and the last group SQUASHED BUGS.

That's right, we killed greenfly in the name of community horticulture.

Taking advantage of Brockwell Park, we then ran a pyramid hill session. Nine 30 second runs up the hill at increasing speed, with number 5 being the big one, then slowing it back down again for the last 4.

How much do you hate me? Katie asked Leisha at the top of the hill. I LOVE YOU, said Leisha

That conversation is FACTUAL. People really do like running up and down hills. Who knew?

Then it was back to base as the last of the sun went down. Perfect.