Wow!

I didn't think GoodGym Leeds could get any better, but it just did today! An amazing 27 runners joined our starter session, including 14 first-timers! You guys are already legends!

This run was all about encouraging some new runners who maybe can't usually make it on a Wednesday evening, find some of the distances a little daunting, or who just wanted to give it a go when they could actually see what they were doing! Hopefully you all got a taste of what GoodGym is all about and we'll be welcoming you back for more!

We started the session with a bit of a fun warm-up called "Aron says". It's essentially Simon says but with a bit more movement and jumping around, and while it took a while to get going the group cracked it in the end. The main thing was that everyone was happy and smiling before we set out on our runs and walks!

Aron took the running group with Helen backmarking to make sure nobody was left behind. We headed a slightly more scenic route as we took advantage of the light to venture onto Woodhouse Ridge. Liz took the walking group and took the most direct route so she even managed to beat us there!

Once we'd all found each other and reconvened at Bedford Fields, Ian ran us through the list of jobs. We were tasked with:

• Consolidating 2-3 piles of wood chip into one big pile.
• Removing old wood chip/soil from a path so we could lay down new wood chip.
• Clearing weeds/brambles/everything else from a section of verge, and putting the cuttings into a dead hedge.

The team quickly split into groups, grabbing the necessary tools and taking instructions from Ian and the other volunteers at Bedford Fields. Everybody got straight to it, with a few of them realising that shovelling in particular is pretty heavy work! Jackets came off as people quickly started to work up a sweat.

Some of the more experienced members of the group were coming to terms with doing a GoodGym activity in the daylight for the first time, and weren't quite sure what to make of it!

"It's a little bit more intimidating doing it in the daylight, you can actually see whether you've done a good job!"

Carol continued her tradition of ending up using one of the least appropriate tools for the task, by trying to clear soil off a two foot wide path using only a trowel! The rest of the group were using shovels and spades, but apparently Carol is so keen to make sure everyone else has a tool she's often left without! So selfless!

Meanwhile, over at the verge clearing, regulars Helen and Anne were getting to grips with brand new tools! As far as we could work out, they were mini scythes used for hand-held cutting of plants. It's a new one to our to our collection anyway. (**edit: apparently this is a sickle. I think I should have known this by now)

The wood chip shifters definitely had the hardest task as it was seriously tough going! However, even when given the option to switch they were having none of it.

"We're just suckers for punishment! We can't give up now, we want to finish it!" Naomi, first timer who was really relishing the challenge!

The verge-clearing crew were also finding it strangely enjoyable, with Joe spending most of his time posing for photos (whether the camera was on him or not) and another GoodGymer finding their own sense of satisfaction in finding space in the dead hedge.

"It's quite fun, it's like a game of Tetris!"

With the piles of woodchip almost completely gone, and the path cleared, there was just enough time to get some new woodchip on the path. Everyone was redistributed to a new role, wheelbarrows were filled, and the most energetic amongst the group ran the wheelbarrows the short distance to the path. With time running out, the last few wheelbarrows were raced into position for a final bit of smoothing out. Phew! We would hate to leave the job unfinished!

After a quick pic under the pagoda, we trotted over to the park, where Aron had a cheeky little fitness session planned. We split into 5 teams, and using the four sides of the monument, we had the following stations:

• Step-ups
• Sit-down squats
• Wall/step press ups
• Tricep dips

The fifth team had a short out and back run which set the time that the rest of the teams would be working for. While there was a suspicion that some groups were running extra slow to make it harder for everyone else, we had a great little workout and really worked up a sweat! Great job everyone!

With that, we were all done for the day, and had a gentle jog back to base, where we had a lovely stretch, and few of us hung around for a sociable drink.

It was absolutely fabulous to welcome so many new faces to GoodGym today, and we really hope you'll be able to make it back again soon.

Thanks for another fab group run, you guys are ace!

It feels good to be back in the swing of things, with an amazing 23 runners braving the cold and windy conditions to join our run to help out Growing Better.

We welcomed Callum on his first ever group run, so he definitely deserves a massive cheer. Monika and George were completing their 10th Good Deeds so they deserve a big cheer too! We also celebrated reaching 150 members which is unbelievable in such a short space of time! That's a whole lot of people ready to get out there and do good in Leeds!

We warmed up with a quick round of 'Aron says' before heading out on the run. Liz took up backmarking duties, with Katie leading the way, and Aron and Adam looking after the middle of the group.

After enjoying our first ever dry run to Growing Better, we got straight on with the tasks at hand. They were:

• Sawing some pallets in half to create a barrier around the allotment
• Digging a trench and fixing pallets into position
• Planting saplings on the bank

Everyone grabbed their tools, and while the sawing crew got on with cutting up pallets, everyone else made their way across the soggy field, which luckily didn't claim any fallers this time! Aron was busy showing off the new lights which hopefully you all agree make a massive difference.

We had a super friendly little helper tonight by the name of Flavia who helped point the floodlight where it was needed, and handed out saplings.

" She really wanted to see you guys in action, she didn't believe it was true!" Dorota, task owner

Some of the group were having trouble working out exactly what we needed to do, and there was some discussion about how carefully the saplings needed to be planted:

"Do we put them in perpendicular to the bank or do they need to be upright?" " I think the trees just work it out for themselves..."

I guess we'll have to wait and see if the trees do indeed work it out for themselves, but it's really great to be planting a whole load of new trees, even if it felt like we barely made a dent in their stock of over a thousand! The trees should really help to take up some of the water from the area, which in time will make the field less boggy, and help the allotment too.

Over at the allotment, the gang were discovering that all that digging and fixing the pallets into place can be pretty hard work!

"This is like a proper core workout!" Julie, Leeds GoodGymer

We've had several attempts at fencing off the allotment, and each time we go back it's amazing to see that it's all still in place, and looking pretty secure! Even this awful weather we've been having hasn't made a dent in the fencing. Dorota is convinced this is going to be really important for helping to keep the weeds out of the allotment, and to stop brambles from encroaching on the space.

With a big pile of pallets cut in half and moved, some more fencing fixed in place, and a huge number of tree planted, our time was up, and we made our way back up the hill, and finished back at the Book Club with a quick stretch.

You'll all be happy to know that we're not heading down to Kirkstall next week, which means we don't have to run back up THAT big hill. Unfortunately this is Leeds, so heading the other way means we will have another big hill to contend with! It's all part of learning to love the hills!

Thanks again for another wonderful evening, you're all great. See you at parkrun for volunteering on Saturday, if not see you next week!

GoodGym Leeds is back! After a short break that felt like absolutely ages (I missed you guys!) we're back to doing good and having a great time while we're at it.

It was a great crowd tonight for our first run of 2020, with 32 runners! We also welcomed a HUGE 7 newbies which was amazing. Sam, David, Rob, Romina, Shannen, Victoria and Karl all got stuck in and did a great job, so they definitely deserve a massive cheer!

There was loads of news to share tonight, with Jenny and Liz reaching their tenth good deeds! Well done guys! We also welcomed Helen to taskforce after she joined over the Christmas break. Taskforce is now a super strong group of six and they can help out with all sorts to make GoodGym in Leeds even better. As always, if you have any ideas for how we could be doing things better, feel free to drop me an email.

Tonight's task was to head back to the fabulous Unit 11 for Kirkstall Valley Development Trust. We had a quick warm up before heading down the hill. Heather and Katie were marshalling the back to make sure nobody was left behind.

On the run down it was lovely to be back amongst happy smiling faces, and it was even better to see all the new runners getting involved and chatting. One new runner was a little concerned about our route:

"I live in Kirkstall so the run down is fine, but I know that it means we're going to have to come back up again on the way back!" New runner Romina

After a bit of looping around to keep the group together, and some terrible traffic light decisions, we eventually reached Unit 11, where Adele was waiting for us with our task. We had to fill some small holes in the walls where they weren't too big, then one wall was being painted white (leaving the fabulous painted map well alone), while another wall was to be painted a lovely green. There were also some baubles left up from the Christmas decorations which needed to be brought down.

We quickly realised there weren't quite enough rollers and paintbrushes to keep everyone busy, so we split the group into two, and decided that one group would do a fitness session while the others painted, before swapping over halfway through. While the painters got on with their tasks I took the group through a tough but simple routine to work on their strength, balance and flexibility.

• Calf raises
• Single leg hops
• Knee raises
• Single leg touch, hop, reverse lunge, hop
• Jumping Squats
• Meet and retreat run

While the meet and retreat might need a little work (or a better explanation from me!) everyone got stuck in and there were a few complaints of tired legs on the way back so you were definitely working hard!

By the time both groups had done their fitness session, the work inside was done! The walls had been painted, , the edges tidied up, and the baubles all gone. The watching crowd were suitably impressed:

"We've just been sat here watching how amazing you all are!" Adele, task owner.

Our painting and fitness session also attracted the attention of a new recruit who signed up on the spot, so hopefully we'll see her next week!

We set out on the run back with a slight burn in our legs for some of us, but that didn't stop the speedy group, led by Tom, from powering up the hill. Everyone else went at their own pace, with Carol sweeping up the rear, before we all reconvened for a stretch back at base.

Thanks for making our return in 2020 so fabulous, you've all been great! I'd also like to say a special thanks to our Taskforce who are really stepping up to help with the running of the group, it makes my job so much easier!

See you all next week!