An impressive turnout tonight in very cold conditions!

We started by celebrating some phenomenal running at the weekend with Michal doing some Bob Graham training, then Ed and Rich escaping from Meridan and covering 75 and 121 km respectively!

Max then led the group out to Holgate allotments and Rich led a walking group.

Once we arrived Helen provided us with a barrow full of tools and we quickly got to work clearing a plot ready to be let. Despite the cold the ground was soft and we soon had the area clear.

After a quick photo we headed off to do some sprints to warm up. Everytime Ed shouted whistle, we ran faster. He decided this was better than blowing a whistle so rival whistles couldn't interfere with proceedings.

We then headed back to base where we sung happy birthday to Paul Kelly and were treated to some of Jenna's fruity flapjack.

Remember, remember! The 4th of November, it's the Monday night Group Run slot!

Tonight we headed off to the Groves to help shift a load of bricks, as well as dig out some weeds and re-plant a few bushes. It was a smaller gathering than usual at the Priory Street Centre as a fair few GGers were getting a pre-task good deed in already, but we still had a decent crowd and welcomed back Anne who was returning for her 2nd group run. Give her a big cheer 🎉

Before setting off to the task we warmed up by celebrating the 24th anniversary of the premier of the film 'Dances with Wolves' and naming which animal we would like to dance with and why. There were some very interesting choices including a zebra, a platypus and Siegfried and Roy's white tiger (rather you than me, Graham!). Then it was off to the task ably backmarked by Abigail and Laura.

The other group had already made a good start and helped get the test of us up to speed on what needed doing. So we split off into those shifting bricks and those clearing weeds. Taskowner Tracy also got Ed on hand with a spade to dig out a few bushes that needed to either be shifted elsewhere or just removed entirely. This meant that I'm bot entirely sure what all the various groups were getting up to but excellent progress was obviously made as we managed to complete the task early, meaning we had more time for fitness (aren't we lucky!)

Vicky had created tonight's fireworks-ish themed sesh with people getting into pairs and completing exercises written on a down on a ticket (fit-tix?). The team with the most tickets at the end of the sesh would be declared the winner and tonight's prize went to Mitch and Charlotte who had completed a remarkable 32 tickets! Although anyone who has previously witnessed the speed of Charlotte's burpees won't be surprised in the slightest.

We then made our way back to base and said our goodbyes

Tonight's session was due to be taking place at Ashton Park but we got so much completed in the rain during our last visit that there would be nothing left for us to do. So Kristina from the council rearranged it for us to head to West Bank Park for our wintery staple of leaf clearing.

But before all that there was some serious cheering to do with Steve returning for his first group run since completing the Kielder Marathon, Stef having done his first race of the year at the Hadrian's Wall Half, and the Marvellous Mitch completing his 500th(!) good deed. Give them all a big cheer 🎉

Nikki led a walking group out to the task whilst the rest of the gang warmed up by naming the things that help with our wellbeing in honour of last Thursday's World Mental Health Day. We had some great suggestions including crafting, being silly with friends, spending time in nature and of course, GoodGym! We then set off to the task with Ed leading the way and Laura backmarking.

At the task, Kristina showed us the ropes and set some of the group off with dippers for planting bulbs in the fenced off area. The rest of the group grabbed brooms, shovels and blowers and got to work on shifting as many leaves as possible from the paved areas, before they become too wet and slippery later into the winter.

It's not unusual for our tasks to pique the interest of local youths and tonight was no different. However it's not often we can say that Nikki blowing them seemed to keep them happy. With the leaf blower, of course

The planting gang soon completed their task and so joined up with the leaf gatherers and made great progress both inside and outside of the park. Vicky had also arranged for Kristina to complete some litter picker training with us, so as the task was nearing completion smaller groups would go and receive some training as well as getting their very own litter picker. Who says GoodGym doesn't give you anything!

Then it was time for Vicky's fitness session which involved an exhausting volume of exercises to be completed on the minute every minute, ranging from star jumps through to burpees.

Once we were all suitably shattered it was time to head back and complete some stretches before heading off to the pub to celebrate Mitch's epic 500 🥳

On possibly one of the wettest group runs we've had at GG York, a dedicated and hardy bunch of GG Yorkies showed up for a rapid tree guard and hedge trimming session at Ashton Park. Tonight we welcomed Vicfrom GG Lewisham who was doing a spot of tourism and also welcomed back Emma who was making her return to GoodGym after a lengthy spell out. Give them both a big cheer 🎉

Vicky led out the party pace group whilst the rest of us were numbering off by naming the things that we find unforgivable, including leaving beer in the bottom of a glass, pineapple on pizza and being late to GoodGym!

The two groups arrived at Ashton Park within a minute of each other and were greeted by Kristina from City of York Council who gave us the lowdown on tonight's task and had also very kindly agreed to continue with the session despite the horrendous weather (you're a star, Kristina!)

Two thirds of the group picked up where we left off last time we were at Ashton Park by using a variety of tools to remove the remaining tree guards, whilst the other third armed themselves with sheers and got to work on an overgrown bush.

We'd agreed to shorten tonight's task to 30mins so it was a race against the clock to make sure we finished on time. Each section of the guard that was removed was greeted with a loud cheer and as the stumps also came out we were able to add to our collection of 'GGers with logs' photographs.

Meanwhile the bush trimmers made excellent progress and soon came over to help remove the final bits of tree guard and gather in all of the tools. But by this time we were all very much looking like drowned rats and the prospect of an early finish and some warm, dry clothes was too tempting. So after a quick dash back base we said our Goodbyes headed for home

As a side note, well done to Pete and all those who donated clothes for Ukraine👏