Every one enjoys a slow start every now and again and, in the spirit of leisurely beginnings, Goodgym Brighton's second group run of 2021 was short but impactful. Having met at Victoria Gardens, the team hop skipped and, in some cases, cycled a stones throw away to the Gardener on Garden Street.

The Gardener is is the latest venue set up by the Real Junk Project a community cafe that helps to combat food waste by repurposing food before it goes to landfill, cooking it and serving it up on a pay as you feel basis open to everyone.

the Goodgym team were put to task clearing, wiping down and reorganizing shelves, sweeping floors, cleaning fridges and wiping surfaces. The Gardener operates a pay it forward type scheme for meals and coffees where you can choose to donate a meal to someone who may be less unable to pay, and some choose to volunteer their time as payment for their meal or to support the Real Junk Food mission.

Many hands made light work of the task and the team headed back to Victoria Gardens for five fast interval laps around the track (avoiding the cycle path). Some runners had races over the weekend so the group run was modified for those recovering from tough miles on the South Downs.

A great group task to stuck into for the first few back!

Finally! After sixteen months and a couple of false starts The Pack is Back!

We welcomed Jason & SSusan for their first ever group run! They both joined us in the last 16 months and although they have clocked up an impressive 24 and 28 good deeds neither had ever done a group run!

Rosiewho has been Goodgymming since 2014 mostly up in London, also joined us for her first group run Brighton style. Welcome Rosie!

As part of the welcome speech we normally celebrate any achievements and successes by our members since the last group run so with 16 months worth of material we had quite a lot to mention! Well done to Abi for running 15km in one go ( and good luck for 16km at the weekend!), to Roy who ran the Virtual London Marathon in a very impressive time, but perhaps most impressive is Michelle who can now cycle all the way tot he top of Southover Street without stopping. Go and give it a try to see how tough it is!

So after a reasonably gentle fitness session to ease you back in we ran a hot 2km run to our task at the Bates Estate where we met Cllrs Zoe & Martin who explained that whilst the council cut the grass around the estate they don’t have the time to keep pathways and staircases clear. So our main task was to clear a very overgrown stairway of brambles and weeds. It was a tough job but after 45 minutes of snipping, pulling, sweeping and bagging the stairway is now significantly clearer and residents can use it without fear of bramble scratches and trips.

And as if the excitement of group runs restarting this week wasn't enough don't forget parkrun also restarts on Saturday and we have a Sunday Community Mission at Junior parkrun to help out with as well.

Enjoy the rest of the sunshine and see you next week!

14 epic individuals last night came together to run six kilometres and help out with some well received housekeeping at St Luke’s Church in Hackney.

Our journey started once again on London Fields with a quick and fierce leg blasting warm up of squats and lunges to an orchestra of groans as winter running gear was gradually shed - indicating that the warm-up was working!

Our host Keli, standing in for Betsy who is sadly couldn’t join us (get well soon Betsy), divided the group into two: one half tackling some outdoor work while the rest concentrated their efforts on moving furniture, hanging some lights and generally preparing the inside of the church for the forthcoming Light Party. 30 minutes of lifting, carrying, sticking and digging later, the tasks were all squared away and off we went for a three mile run south to the corner of Victoria Park and back up along Broadway Market to base.

That would have taken her hours all on her own!

We love to see new faces in Hackney and this week was no exception with no less than five new-comers - mostly brought along by friends (or family). Way to spread the word team! I think our recruits were impressed by what 15 individuals in their PE kit can achieve in a small amount of time, work which would have taken Keil hours on her own.

I’m really pleased also to see several of our new recruits interested in getting DBS checked so that they can go on missions to help out elderly or isolated people in their homes, and perhaps even visiting a Good Gym coach regularly. As the cold weather and long nights draw in for winter a visit from a smiling Good Gymer will make all the more difference to our lovely coaches.

I’ll look forward to seeing you all next week and don’t forget your head torches. x

As we said goodbye to September, GG Hackney were also wishing a fond farewell to Coach Ellie from Brent, as they hosted her for one last fling with the East.

After a bitter-sweet housekeeping, an energetic team of eight adventurers took to the streets to conquer the creeping cold and complete the mud shifting task for the Narrow Street partnership.

With a swift shuffle to Wilton Estate to collect the tools with Debbie, the team split into 3 sub crews and at varying speeds weaved their ways through the back streets up to the meet point to begin.

The people of Mare Street didn't quite know what to make of the red shirted army of spade yielding warriors as we hot foot it through the crowds. Luckily though, Ellie's safety briefing beforehand saved any casualties befalling the night... "don't hit anyone coz we'll get sued" Right you are then!!

Arriving on task the team worked furiously stuffing bin bags with soil from the old flower beds and stacking those bags into pile upon pile. The combination of lifting and squatting, worked up a sweat, got the blood pumping and kept spirits high, despite the holy bags and outpouring of the already collected mud!! Our hard work only to be undone and completed again twice over!!!! Aghhhgghhh

Despite the set backs, the time crept away and the crew wrapped up the final throws with a total of 12 full bin bags and 5 empty troughs!! Good work.

As quick as we'd arrived again we were on the move, with a weaving and bobbing manoeuvre extravaganza and last wheelbarrow push up to Wilton for the final drop.

Upon Steph's request and to the..... Ahem... Delight?!?? Of the rest, the night ended with a masterclass in squats and a team who were schooled in "engaging their glutes" and conditioning their hammys. Becoming experts in no time (despite the odd accidental twerk) coach Ellie was proud and set the homework to continue the good work started and invited them to GG Brent to keep it up!

Stretching to finish and a collective team brain scratcher to come up with the pun....I'm.still waiting for team entries LOL The night was at a close for another week.

Until we meet again Hackney Crew, you've been a delight and a breath of fresh air, to this westy out of water. See you again soon!!

FEEL GOOD. DO GOOD. INSPIRE