After a few stormy ones, a relatively quiet weekend seemed like a positive sign.... however someone somewhere appears to have done a rain dance, since from the end of the afternoon there was non-stop percipitation. Combine the poor weather with transport issues, holiday trips & caring for sick kids and it was down to a core of 4 Goodgymmers braving the elements.

Snacking on treats from Linda & world traveller Stefania , handed over on Saturdays community mission we discussed the options ahead of us:

1. James' task suggestion - digging over some tree pits on nearby cycle/foot path
2. Come up with an alternative task
3. Skip any outdoor tasks and run, exploring & discussing possible future tasks

Perhaps not a big shock, the vote was a clear win for #3, so dressed for the weather we set off. Checking up on James' task to plan for a future visit, drop by a regular plogging site recently highlighted in local news for how nice it looks with new planting (no GG credit given..... yet) and checked out some other options inspired by run reports from other areas the 5+ km went past almost without noticing.

Special mention for James C for fixing the traffic light at the station (yes he did, seemingly effortless!), Sophie for deciding last minute to come out & join in notwithstanding the weather and John for running through a stitch (too many pre-run flapjacks?)

Fingers crossed the weather is a little kinder next week - see you then?

P.S... we saved some Twix for next time

P.P.S... although he isn't fussed about it... do give James C a cheer for reaching 50 tasks at the weekend!!

P.P.P.S... Kathryn did the Roding Valley HM on Sunday!!

On a blustery winter night, seven of Goodgym Redbridge's finest runners cleaned up after storm Dennis and Ciara and ran 6km in the process.

It's fair to say the last few weeks have been pretty tough on runners. The winds have blown. It feels like every run has been in the rain and the short days have made things even tougher. It's also been hard on buildings and woodland, with Wanstead House Community Centre - our weekly meeting point - losing some roof tiles and the surrounding trees shedding more than just leaves.

At the request of Anna, the assistant manager at Wanstead House, the team set about tidying up the storm damage. With Sophie joining the group for the first time this year (welcome back Sophie) and the usual brilliant team ready to go, tools were grabbed and the work began.

Over the past four years, GG Redbridge has worked hard to make the Community Centre a nice play for locals to go. We've painted fences and metal gates, cleaned out gutters, cut back ivy and overgrown bushes and helped the place look better than ever.

45 minutes after the task was started, the place looked immaculate. Leaves and pine needles had been swept, wind blown litter had been collected and branches had been removed from flowerbeds. It didnt take long but it made a huge difference.

With the task done, all that left was a nice 6km run along our favourite winter run route - up the high street and round Eagle Pond. Nice work guys and girls.

On a foggy autumn night, six of Goodgym's most committed runners met to wash charity shop windows and ran 8km in the process.

With a few regulars away on holiday this week, it was a smaller crew assembled at Wanstead House Community Centre to do good and get fit in the process. Four of the six even did a Community Mission the previous day with Wanstead Community Gardeners, so bravo to Peter, John, Linda and Beth.

Keeping the windows sparkling clean is a never ending task for high street charity shops and can become a significant expense during the course of a year. Hearing about our help at Barnados and St Francis Hospice, the local Oxfam shop was keen to get in on the act too.

Armed with squeegies, sponges and old newspaper the team soon set to work on the two windows and within 15 minutes the windows were sparkling clean - although the inside smears are something of a frustration.

All that left was some easy Monday miles to set us off for the week. At John's request we head out onto the streets of Wanstead and Snaresbrook - rather than an interval session on George Green - but with a twist, we ran our usual winter loop in reverse. It's amazing how a regular loop can look completely different when ran the opposite direct and it can be a great way to add interest to a run which may have become a bit too regular.

With the group racing round the 5km loop, we were soon back at base with just enough time for some easy stretching before heading home for some well deserved dinner. Great job team!

Why not join us next week for some more autumnal fun as we get fit and do good in the Borough.

On the week that GoodGym celebrates 10 years of doing good in the community, nine runners met in Redbridge to water a community garden and did the legendary 'Nutter Lane Relay'.

It's crazy to think how far Goodgym has come from those humble beginnings in Tower Hamlets. We are now in 54 areas all across the UK, from Barnet to York and back again. We've been making communities better places to live, helping to make people less isolated and lonely and getting hot, sweaty and fitter in the process. May there be many more years and even more areas in our future.

With last Thursday's City Hall 10th Birthday celebrations still echoing in our ears, the group met at Wanstead House Community Centre to do what we do best - get fit and make Wanstead a better place. The weather forecast for the next week is suggesting an 'Indian Summer' and so after a quick conversation with local gardening legend Marian, it was agreed that the team would water the flower beds on George Green and outside Wanstead Station.

We are super proud of the work we have done with Wanstead Community Gardeners over the past three years. We've moved huge bags of soil, dug up roots, cut back trees and event created a guerilla garden in a space of unloved land in Snaresbrook. Keeping the plants water and looking great is a small role but one that keeps the town centre looking tip top throughout the year.

With the task done in double quick time, the group headed onto the streets of Wanstead for a warm up run before heading to Nutter Lane for the Nutter Lane Relay - the fitness session which we did for the first ever run for GG Rebridge over three years ago. In this tough workout, runners find a partner and while one runs over the bridge crossing the A12, the other does a different core strength drill. Once the runner has returned they high-5 their partner and swap over. It's a tough session and works both cardio and core strength.

A big shout out to the whole team for taking on a tough session and reminding me why we call it the Nutter Lane Relay - and it's not just because it's on Nutter Lane.

In celebration of Goodgym's 10th birthday there are literally tens of community missions across London and the even further afield. You can find out what's going on this week by following this link.