GoodGym Barnet: Sprinting Through Spring for Lyttelton Park!

Despite an April forecast that couldn’t make up its mind — one minute torrential downpour, the next bursts of spring sunshine — luck was on our side this Tuesday evening. The skies held off just long enough for our GoodGym mission to go ahead rain-free, giving us the perfect excuse to lace up, head out, and do some good.

We gathered, as ever, at the Phoenix Cinema, where the evening kicked off with a celebration: George’s 50th good deed! (Well, technically his 51st — but who’s counting?) A big shoutout to George for reaching this milestone. Your commitment is legendary!

There was also a warm welcome to new runner Sonya joining us for her very first GoodGym mission — we hope it’s the first of many. And it was lovely to see Jackie and Sally back with us again after a bit of a break — it felt like the crew was reuniting in full spring spirit.

We squeezed into the cinema vestibule for a quick briefing — the usual safety chat, a bit of numbering up, and some fun exchanges about the weirdest jobs we’ve ever had (which definitely sparked some laughter and kept the chat flowing well into the run).

Our mission: to help the Friends of Lyttelton Playing Fields spread the word about their brilliant plans for an accessible, all-weather 1km path in the park — complete with rewilding spaces and better access for all. Our job? Delivering 600 leaflets to encourage locals to take part in the public consultation.

We warmed up with a gentle run to meet Dominic, our contact from the Friends group — although he was running a little late (in true GoodGym fashion, we turned that into an opportunity for some bonus warm-up exercises). Once leaflets were in hand, we hit the streets.

Brim Hill was our battleground — split into teams of three, we worked both sides of the road, ducking down side streets and hitting letterboxes with near-professional efficiency. Leaflets flew, steps racked up, and the evening unfolded in that golden way only spring evenings can — streets lined with blossoming cherry trees, birdsong in the air, and a sunset that made the whole run feel like something from a film set.

With the job done ahead of time, we turned the journey back into a mini training session — sprint drills along the way, followed by a gentle warm-down as we made our way back to Phoenix.

And, of course, no mission is complete without the post-run social. A well-earned drink at the local pub gave us time to chat, laugh, and reflect on the evening’s work.

There’s something magical about springtime volunteering: the sense of community, the rhythm of your feet on the pavement, and the knowledge that every leaflet dropped might help make Lyttelton Park just a little greener, more accessible, and more loved.

Why not join us next time? The sunsets are free, the laughs are plenty, and you might just find yourself doing your 50th good deed before you know it.