Can we get a big Whoop whoop for starting January 2019 with a big bag of positive and a few bags of rubbish we collected from the Penny Lane area of Stockport.

It was great to see everyone fresh and ready for the new year, all in sparkly new tops, high vis jackets with new gadgets!

As ever we started at 6.30pm from GrandCentral Lifeleisure, this week we started slightly different, with a game of Tig!!! Added some core work and then a bit more fun with another round of tig.

After a brief catch up and number call we set off on our run. Tonights task was part of the “We LOVE Stockport” scheme, a local clean up initiative that helps encourage local people to look after there community, and be proud of the area they live.

We kept the distance low for our first week back, to tempt everyone back and encourage any new starters. The total distance was 5km at a good pace, and remember we are always a friendly crowd, and even if you want to walk some of the run we have a mixed ability group and always have a back marker.

After the fun and games and the run the crew we se into 2 teams of 4 and were given 20 minutes to see who could fill a black bin liner first, to be fair, it was equal…….we then worked as a full team to fill another bag at record speed, and thats because everyone was super keen for the fitness challenge of the hills repeats!!

It was brilliant to be back with the crew, as ever there was chat about running events, and just a great sense of community and kindness, on that note I would like to thank Anne for purchasing the litter pickers! CHEERS Anne.

As said above, were already talking of new running adventures for 2019, already we plan to sign up for the Manchester half I the spring, and ten the one in the winter, as well as some off road running and possibly Man VS Mountain??? Who’s knows, the running world is ours.

Thanks again team for a brilliant start to 2019, im already excited for what this year holds for us.

One last thing, don’t forget we have our EXTRA run session this month, its happening THIS SAT which is the 12th Jan, meeting at 11.30am at Grandcentral lifeleisure.

Until then, Happy Running,

Lisa x

Tonight 10 runners (11 listed for Lynne!!) ran a mighty good distance up some long a windy hills to get from the start location of Grand Central to the fabulous venue of St Elizabeths church in Reddish.

The weather wasn't the kindest, so we had to ramp up the kind level and spread some Christmas cheer around the church.

Once we arrived looking windswept, we were greeted by the lovely Caroline who was quick to hand out the sweeping brushes and instructions!

Once armed with the brushes, dusters and cloths we were happy.

Jobs to be done were sweeping the floors, dusting a huge amount of windowsills and beautiful windows and more, we were in our element.

We cleaned to Christmas music like little elves, and like Santa himself I gave our little gifts of cups of tea and coffee and some chocolates. All was good.

If ever your in the area, I highly recommend having a visit to the church, it really is a spectacular building, with amazing stained glass windows, and the church itself has many events, from soul nights to fitness classes.

After we competed our task, off we went running back, up and down the hills and through the wind.

This was Goodgym Stockport last run of 2018, and WHAT a year its been, its the year we started, and its been amazing so far, not only have we improved our fitness levels individually, and helped the lives of our community, we have also made friends in one another, we’ve had socials and laughs and there is plenty to come in the New year………..we are planning on running both Manchester half marathons next year, and theres already some good tasks in the pipeline!

I would like to take this time to say THANK YOU, and I really mean it, its a pleasure to lead each and everyone of you, you are inspiring and wonderful people, and I cant wait to see what amazing things we get up to in the new year as a team.

Thank you for being part of it.

Until next year, happy running! Dont forget to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself and possibly add a few little runs over the festive period.

Merry christmas, you filthy animals,

LOVE LISA X X X

Tonight 10 Goodgymers got into the festive spirit! Meeting at the usual spot of Lifeleisure Grandcentral at 6.30pm, we starting with some light mobilisation and a gentle warm up before starting to run to the wonderful location of St Matthews church to meet the wonderful Pam Robinson.

This weeks destination was pretty close so was a perfect beginners run.

At the location we were greeted my Pam and her Christmas music, there was plenty o jobs to be done, including……hoovering, carpet cleaning, polished, wiping, windowsill cleaning, to name just a few! A small break was had in the middle to re-energise with a brew and a mince pie, which was enjoyed by all.

We then set back to it like little elves making sure every pew was dusted and cleaned in time for all the festive Celebrations the church has going on.

I had a fitness session planned, but we didn’t get to complete it as we were tooooo busy with a tasks, everyone was happy that this week we were inside!

As ever, and the proof is in the photographs, Goodgym Stockport crew did a amazing job as they always do, we made a massive improvement to the church, it looks amazing.

It was wonderful to have Damien back this week, thanks a bunch dude for coming along, I hope it wasn’t just the mince pies that enticed you back!

It was also great to see tourists John, Jas and Nicola from Crewe, you did a totally wonderful job in all you did, good luck with your adventures and we will make a visit over to see you when your all set up.

Massive good luck to David doing his marathon this week, keep us posted on how you get on. Anne myself and my poor children are planning to help out at Burgage Parkrun this Sat, 9th if anyone would like to come along then feel free.

I have set a run challenge (see dodgy photo included!) of 12 runs of Christmas, the aim being to run 12 times between the 1st of Dec and the big day itself, it doest matter and speed or distance, you just need to fasten up your laces and go!

Lastly, don't forget next week is our Christmas social, so bring your baubles and Christmas spirit.

Until then, happy running,

Lisa H.

Fair-weather runner?? O dear last night might not have been the best night for you to come along as sunny stockport had its first winter down pour of ice rain just in time for our task!

But that didn't put off the Goodgym Stockport Crew, 15 of us met up at the usual location, starting with a little intro and warm up to get us pumped!

We ran a short distance to our location of the Wellspring homeless Centre Stockport. As I collected the leaflets, I left the crew to do some fitness work, which obviously they all loved?! Who doesn't like squats/star jumps and lunges?

After collecting the flyers from the lovely Dora from wellspring we distributed them out between us, and set off to Reddish to post the flyers.

As we hit Reddish, the rain hit us! It started to ice rain, but we kept on running………………….. we got through a huge amount of flyers, posting into lots of letterboxes to help promote the wellsprings winter “Rucksack” campaign.

The campaign is to promote the rucksack project on Dec 2nd. The Centre is asking people to donate a rucksack including:

1 x rucksack 1 x fleece/jumper 2 x undies 1 x sleeping bag 1 x hat/scarf/gloves 2 x socks 1 x flask 1 x tin beans/soup etc

The run last night was extremely humbling, as some of us were grumbling about the weather and the cold rain, however we got to go home and be warm when our run was finished, the point of this project is that this isn’t the case for many people in the Stockport area, so get involved people, do your bit.

We posted the flyers, but you can do the same by popping down the the Wellspring Centre:

The Wellspring, Harvey street, Stockport, SK1 1DY. 0161 4776344. www.thewellspring.co.uk

The above Rucksack donation shared between a few people really isn’t much, and today especially being halloween got me thinking of how much we spend on daft things like plastic skeletons, how about we all buy one skeleton less and get a item for the rucksack project, and encourage all you friends and family to do the same so we can all make a small difference!

On a lighter note……..Well done all of us for making it to week 10, its gone so fast, and its been so amazing and I'm looking forward to it continuing and getting more good stuff done.

Also welcome to our 4 new runners last night, Jemma, Sally, Stephen and Steven (sounds like a Ednid Blyton title) Thanks for joining us on such a wet evening and pulling your socks up.

A gentle reminder to wrap in more layers as it gets colder, and think about be able to be seen in the dark.

Last thing from me, the social has now been changed to this coming Tues (6th Nov) just a little drink and chat after next weeks run.

Happy running folks, Lisa x

16 Goodgym runners met at the usual spot of Lifeleisure Grand Central at 6.30pm to set off for the weeks task.

This week were running in a different direction to hot foot it over to Brinnington to Westmorland primary school, to fix up the raised beds and surrounding areas for the spring time, to make the area clean and safe and ready for the children to plant next year, it was wonderful space for the children, with sunflowers, fig trees, frogs and more, we were very proud to help out and set up the area in preparation for next year.

We had a quick briefing and little mobilisation workout before setting off, the nights task was 4.3km away, so one of our longer runs and so we kept the warm up brief. We set off through the sunny streets of stockport, it was lovely and light as we set off, but the sun was quickly setting, so heres another gentle reminder to say that the evenings are getting darker earlier so its a really really good idea to bring along a head/chest torch and also remember to wear some reflective gear to keep safe and seen!

As the sun set we arrived at the school where we were greeted by “Red” the caretaker who explained that we were to clear and sort the raised beds and surrounding areas. All equipment was set out and well organised ready for us to get to it.

There were 3 main beds and so the team were split into 3 teams of 5 and set to compete with each other, the teams named themselves: potatoes, the hoes and the turn it overs! Very inventive!

The idea was to be competitive and see who could finish their bed first, but if im honest it wasn’t very fair as some were more dense than others, the beds that is, not the Goodgymers!!

We were super close to completing a task when a big frog jumped out at us, and then in the same area we found a little frog and so we decided to leave a small section untouched for them.

After the task was complete we downed tools and got to run back down the hill which was a great relief.

Back at Grandcentral we had a cool down and de-brief.

This week I would like to welcome Clare and Kate, who did fab on the first Goodgym run, it was great to have you join us. Also good luck to all the runners taking part in this Sundays Manchester half marathon! Dont forget your medals for a group photo next week. Lots of mentions to say well done too! As a few people are in hot climates or have been and kept up running, either on jolly holidays or as part as a charity event, well done folks.

Also well done to people who got a place in next years London marathon, I got my usual “not wanted” email for the 8th year……nevermind!

Look out for our 10 wk social event in 3 weeks time, its also Davids 50th task anniversary so a wonderful to celebrate and also arrange a few runs for fun.

Till next week folks, where we are leaflet dropping in Cheadle, keep running,

Lisa x