On Tuesday evening, GoodGym Barnet volunteers Beattie,Theo,Ed and Richard headed back to Long Lane Pasture, the site of our group run, for a session filled with teamwork, headtorches, and a whole lot of woodchip.

Richard took the lead as run leader, guiding the group safely along the darker parts of the route. Beattie welcomed everyone with her trademark warmth, while Theodore and Edward kept the group together as back markers, ensuring no one was left behind.

🌱 Meeting Donald & Getting Stuck In We met with Donald, one of the dedicated task owners from the Long Lane Pasture.

Donald had prepared three large sacks of woodchip, ready to be moved up a hill and spread along a 60cm‑wide earth pathway. Armed with shovels, buckets, gloves, and headtorches, the team got straight to work. The group formed a smooth rhythm — scooping, carrying, tipping, and raking — gradually transforming the track into a refreshed path that will benefit visitors and protect the site’s biodiversity.

Huge appreciation to everyone who came out — Beattie, Theodore, Edward and Richard keeping the group safe and together.

Long Lane Pasture looked better already by the time we left, and Donald was delighted with the progress. A brilliant evening of community, graft, and GoodGym spirit.

Gardening for the Record Books

Last night’s group run took us to Shepherds Hill Gardens, where we helped Pat and the Friends group look after this lovely local park.

We gathered outside the Phoenix Cinema for our warm-up and chatted about our favourite Guinness World Records. We started with Ethel Caterham, who recently became the first British person to reach 117 and is currently the world’s oldest living person. She still has a little way to go to match France’s Jeanne Calment, who lived to an extraordinary 122 years and 164 days.

Other records included Usain Bolt’s remarkable 100m time of 9.58 seconds. Richard, who has a good head for UK temperatures, correctly recalled our highest recorded temperature: 40.3°C at Coningsby in Lincolnshire in July 2022.

It was all very topical as GoodGym Barnet set off in slightly above-average temperatures at a significantly faster pace than usual with the vein hope we might all live a little longer!

We took a slight detour through Highgate Wood, making the most of one of our last opportunities this year to run through it before the earlier seasonal closing times. It was beautiful running beneath the cool, green shade of the trees.

We kept up a good pace and eventually reached Shepherds Hill Gardens, where we met fellow GoodGym members Nicole, Fanny Sonya and Lucy. Together, we assisted Pat by clearing around the benches, cutting back ivy and tidying an area further down the park where somebody had started a fire.

As usual, Pat rewarded everyone with some lovely refreshments: fresh mint tea, fizzy water, fruit juice and delectable chocolate biscuits.

After a welcome drink and chat, it was time to head back through the warm evening.

Thanks to everyone who came along, enjoyed a good run and helped care for this valuable community green space.

Ten Years of GoodGym Barnet – Back Where It All Began

Ten years ago GoodGym Barnet held its first group run to Long Lane Pasture. Yesterday we went back to where it all began with old friends, new faces and over 30 people joining us to celebrate a decade of doing good in our community.

A big group set off from the Phoenix Cinema after our traditional warm-up but this time we also went around the group remembering some of our favourite GoodGym moments from the last ten years. Gardening, clearing graffiti from the Phoenix, Halloween runs in fancy dress, Tiny Forests, litter picks and countless community missions. It was a lovely reminder of just how varied GoodGym has been.

We ran through the back streets of East Finchley, keeping everyone together with the occasional stop for squats, exercises and a few questionable drop kicks!

At Long Lane Pasture we met Donald, other volunteers, councillors and GoodGymers who had made their own way there. Donald told us a little about this wonderful nature reserve, saved from development and now looked after by volunteers.

After gathering around the Green Flag for a photo, we squeezed in some gentle yoga breathing and mobility before getting down to business , clearing litter from the footpath alongside the reserve.

Then came the important birthday business: cake and beer!

Huge thanks to Donald and everyone at Long Lane Pasture for hosting us and providing plenty of cake, Richard for the vegan cake, Athletic Brewing for the beers and Theo for some additional refreshments with a little more kick!

There was another milestone worth celebrating too: congratulations to Subham on reaching over a 100 good deeds. What better evening to do it.

Most importantly, it was wonderful seeing people who have been part of GoodGym Barnet at different times over the last decade. Some we see every week, others we haven’t seen for years. You’re always welcome back even if it’s only once a year!

One message we received afterwards perhaps summed the evening up best:

“The energy is infectious. You have created a wonderful community, and Barnet is richer for having you in it.”

But GoodGym isn’t really about what we have created. It’s about supporting people like Donald and the volunteers at Long Lane Pasture, and all those people across Barnet who quietly take responsibility for our green spaces, charities and community organisations.

Sometimes a couple of hours of our time gets a job done. Just as importantly, hopefully it reminds those people that they aren’t doing it alone and that what they do is noticed and valued.

And it does something for us too. Getting outside, being active and doing something useful alongside other people is pretty good medicine for life.

We might only make a small difference each time but a small difference is considerably better than no difference at all.

After ten years, we’re still running, walking and cycling into our community, getting our hands dirty and seeing where we can help.

Here’s to the next few years and hopefully plenty more familiar and new faces joining us along the way. ❤️

Happy 10th birthday GoodGym Barnet!

Six Goodgymmers rocked up for a third go at the overgrowth along the East End Road fence of Stephens House and Gardens. Five of us jogged from the Phoenix, and met up with Warwick, Allison and Richard, already hard at work. Theo soon rocked up ready to roll, so we got stuck in, cutting back the bushes, sweeping the brickwork and brushing the pavements.

We bagged things up and carried the full rubble sacks around to the compost pile. On the way back, there was a brief opportunity for some monkeying on the monkey bars, but then back to it, until we had finished the whole of the last part of the fence! Not to worry though, there are other fences in need of some vegetation maintenance.

Meanwhile, tonight's icebreaker asked what was the most recent work of art to have moved you to laughter or tears. From the Weight of Being exhibition at Two Temple Place earlier this year, to Laurie Lee novels and zombie drama - even a facebook video meme (yes it's art!) - we had plenty of food for discussion as we worked. Then, with three of our team living only a few minutes away, just three of us jogged back to the Phoenix to collect bags and be on our merry ways home, feeling fitter and very satisfied with our good deeds.

NB: CONGRATULATIONS SUBHAM!

I completely missed it, so adding this special note! Well done to Subham, as this was his 100th good deed! What a champ!

Last night we headed back to Coldfall Wood for our GoodGym group run somewhere we hadn’t visited for quite a while. After gathering, as usual, outside the Phoenix Cinema, we eased ourselves in with a gentle warm-up. It was certainly warm, but the humidity was what everyone really noticed.

Our discussion topic on the run out was favourite comedy songs. It turned out to be more challenging than expected, with quite a few people struggling to think of one. Maybe we’ve uncovered a whole new discussion theme! One suggestion was Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. I’ll happily provide the full playlist another time if there’s enough demand.

After the short run to the woods, we were welcomed by Linda, who reminded us that Coldfall Wood is an ancient woodland dating back to the 16th century. Our task was to repair the dead hedges, helping to discourage people from wandering through sensitive areas and damaging the new growth.

There were a few unusual jobs along the way, including wrestling a large fallen section of tree out from another tree. Someone must have thought it was amusing to wedge it there! Members of the Friends of Coldfall Wood group were working alongside us, and one of them kindly brought figs to share, which were absolutely delicious.

We carried on repairing the dead hedges wherever they needed attention before it was time to make our way back. It was a simple task, but hopefully one that will make a real difference. It’s probably something that needs regular attention, and we’re always happy to support the Friends group in looking after this wonderful ancient woodland.

After the run back, we gathered outside the Phoenix for a well-earned chat before heading home.

And finally… if you’ve made it this far, you’ll be pleased to know we also had a good laugh about a couple of broken legs and a mop in the mouth. If you’ve read this and have no idea what I’m talking about… never mind! first person to DM me with the words broken legs and a mop in the mouth. I’ll buy you a drink! (as I am curious to know if anybody does read this)