Namaste, Wandsworth.

Last night we had a super zen session featuring a special one off yoga session.

It started, as it always does, in our well-loved Battersea Arts Centre, where we did one of our favourite things - cheer all the lovely new faces joining us for the first time. So please give a massive Wandsworth welcome once again to the excellent Rachel, Lorien, Charlotte, Anca, Leonie and Phil.

We also tipped our hats to Jack, Helen, (Jo) [https://www.goodgym.org/runners/joanna-aa3da551-638e-4194-823a-cd5d1da2b03a] and Matthew who all represented team GoodGym at Fulham park run on Saturday. A huge well done to Hannah who showed the very hilly Wimbledon half who's boss.

We also did a shout out for anybody who is keen to get involved in the Tooting Park Run TAKEOVER this Saturday - GoodGym is going to be all over Tooting common running the show this weekend and we need you. Sign up here to put yourself down for pacing or volunteering. They'll be a lovely breakfast social picnic afterwards, so join us for pretty much the best way to kick off the weekend.

After all that cheering, we headed outside to crack on with tonight's run, but not before doing some lovely warming up and hearing about what makes people cry. Because it can't all be butterflies and rainbows all the time, you know. The good job is that most people cry happy tears, brought on by puppies, runners getting medals in the Olympics, onions, The Notebook, adverts, goodbyes, and Ryan Gosling.

Our run down to the task tonight was a fairly short (and downhill) one, so we happily made it down there in record time. Our job tonight was to shift a load of furniture for the charity Spacemax - an organisation which helps families living in overcrowded properties maximise the area they have. It was a teensy bit chaotic as we attempted to clear a huge corridor of furniture outside, but in no time at all the area was clear and while we waited for the team to regroup, we knocked out a quick legs blast.

After all that shifting, we were ready to be centred again, so after a quick jog to Battersea Park, qualified yoga teacher Lorien kicked off our serene yoga session. We slipped off our trainers and socks and sat down on the cool grass, while Lorien took us through a series of stretches and moves to help us as runners. We saluted the sun, we downed our dog, and we king pigeoned. After 20 minutes we were truly zenned, and ready to tackle the run back to our starting point. It was amazing what a difference the session made, with many of us feeling bouncier and more limber for the return leg. A huge thanks to Yogi Lorien!

We split into two groups for the run back, with Sophie leading the speedy team on an alternate route that finished off with our favourite hill. All that was left was a few relaxed stretches and a good old pat on the back.

Next week we have another special guest who is going to give us some invaluable pointers about technique - don't miss out on this one-off session.

If that isn't enough good news, we also have a GoodGym social this coming Thursday for the whole of GoodGym - come along to meet lovely GGers, see who won pun of the month, and to have a jolly good knees up.

Happy Golden Run Anniversary, Wandsworth! Over the past year we have run together to make the borough 50 times better, which is pretty amazing. It is a nice little warm up for next week when we will be celebrating our very first birthday. Join us for a special celebratory run, some fun little surprises, and a picnic after the run. So grab your party hat and sign up here.

So many congratulations this week - you've been busy, team. First a huge well done to the lovely Sophie who has motored through the good deeds, and shares her 50th good deed with Wandsworth's 50th run. That is some very pleasing symmetry. Way to go, Sophie!

Another huge well done to Sally who had a cracking run at the Richmond Half on Sunday (and still turned up to run on Monday!) and came in as 5th woman in a huge field. Wow.

During our warm up session outside we asked which one food we would choose to eat for the rest of our lives. I suspect some of you would last longer than others, with answers ranging from cheese to malteasers. Peanut butter came in as one of the top answers, plus various forms of curry. This picnic next week is shaping up to be a belter.

We only had a short run to our task tonight, so we set off at a nice lick and arrived at the Omnibus theatre. This lovely place receives absolutely no guaranteed funding or statutory support, and box office proceeds only cover a fraction of its income. They rely on donations and volunteers to keep the doors open and to provide creative opportunities for the whole community, so we're always happy to lend a hand.

Tonight's job was to clear a newly acquired section of land at the back of the building which was very overgrown. It has a lovely apple tree right in the centre and the aim is to turn it into a garden plot where botanical gin will be grown to sell at the Omnibus bar. Gang, I think it's only right we come back and check out the finished product after our efforts. Who's in?

Annoyingly, someone (cough, me) forgot to take a before shot, so there's no photographic evidence of our work. Shame, because as Ben said, 'this is probably the best example of swarm of locust efficiency'. Still, we got a nice after shot - check out the pics attached.

Job done, we took ourselves off to the common to do a fitness session which involved dividing up into teams of five. There was a bag of exercises to complete, and whoever had collected the most slips of paper at the end won. How one team, who shall remain nameless, got three freebie passes, is unclear, but the ultimate winners came in with a massive 11 sets of exercises complete. As a reward they got to choose a game. They selected, um, a core blast.

After a series of exercises that strengthened our abs, we set off back to the BAC, with Jo, Luke and Matthew making a dash for the end. All that was left to do to mark the end of our 50th run was a few stretches and a drink at the bar to celebrate Sophie's landmark good deed.

Have a great week, Wandsworth, and see you next week for our birthday party!

23 TERRIFIC @GGSHEFF runners ran 6km to help CADS continue their renovations of the Abbeydale Picture House.

#GGBBQ

After an amazing premier #GGBBQ at the weekend thanks to the small but mighty Kim Longbon our crew reunited at our spiritual home of the Showroom Cinema to try and reminisce of the shenanigans that took place on the Sat just gone. Beer pong was played, dead arm hangs and face scrapes were had, eyebrows were singed, legs were stretched, eyes watered and many a laugh was had! We look forward to the report from Kim and to the next #GGBBQ2 being hosted by Sensational Sam in Aug - watch the Watts App group for more info and on the parties section of the website!

The run!

Taking a slightly longer route this week to the APH to mix it up we ran as a oner with newly qualified Leader in Running & Fitness (LiRF) Smooth Stephen as our back marker. We ran to the Picture house and met an additional 4 runners at the venue.

After a brief brief and a quick drink we got straight to work with the tasks in hand which this week was mainly lifting and shifting and painting tables ready for them to be used in the new working space. We took the task owners by surprise finishing the task ahead of time with so many people on hand this week with such a strong work ethic!

Challenge time

It was too nice to exercise inside this week so we heading staight to a local park to try out the Cultured Carys 2min straight arm hang challenge of Cliffhanger fame! A real group effort was made with everyone logging a time to beat for the future and some great team bonding and cheering happening. Top marks to Lovely Lilli who smashed the challenge, holding for over 3 mins! Must have been a monkey in a previous life!

The return leg

After a quick 60m sprint we ran back to our base with an uphill sprint at the end followed by stretching and a debrief which this week included the introduction of #pinupchallenge with everyone taking away some GG leaflets to pin up in their places of work or other places they frequent to get more people getting fit and doing good. Don't forget to post your photos on the WattsApp group with the #pinupchallenge.

Next week we are off to Heeley City Farm so...

Don't delay, sign up today!