Many from Colchester Goodgym and GB bootcamp came together for a parkrun takeover.

With so many volunteers available to help, all roles were filled to ensure a safe and enjoyable parkrun for the local community.

We helped with setting up, timekeeping, barcode scanning, marshalling, cheering, packing up and any other role inbetween.

There was a great turnout with some recognisable faces running too, so naturally an extra cheer was given to anyone wearing their GG colours. Congratulations to Ella on completing her 50th parkrun today and getting a PB.

Well done to those who ran and a big thank you to all who volunteered, it takes volunteers like you taking their turn to help to keep community events like parkrun running each week.

Many community mission badges were earned today, but don't forget to get your DBS document checks completed so that you can earn more badges with local mission runs and coach running. It also means you help others by running to isolated and vulnerable older people within the community to help them with one-off tasks they are unable to do themselves or run regularly to a coach to reduce their feelings of loneliness and isolation, but the badges are a nice bonus, too! ;)

Go on, get your DBS checks done, you know you want to... think of the smiles on the faces of the people you could help .

Much love to everyone and their great efforts today,

Chrissie

12 keen GoodGymers gathered at our usual spot, eager to do some good after the disappointment of a forced week off due to the snow. With the weather markedly milder spirits were high and the team welcomed new runner Carl *who made his GoodGym debut and congratulated *Dan on his lovely new red tshirt….Tav even had his legs out!

After a quick warm up and the most successful head count ever the team headed off for a run around lower castle park, dodging huge puddles, sticks and cyclists. We stopped and did a quick round of burpes before scrambling back to our feet and continuing on our way. Once we were back on well lit paths we organised ourselves into single file and saw the return of SNAKE! Tommy found himself at the back more than once following a crafty switch but not even last nights 10 miler could slow those youthful legs down!

We headed back in to leisure world and collected the litter pick equipment before heading out to the skatepark and fields surrounding the car park. Once inside the skate park the team saw an opportunity for some more fun and frolics – *Ella, Tommy, Carl, Dan and Fay *lined themselves up for a race to the lamppost. After one false start and some pushing and shoving they were off with Tommy returning as the victor and Ella hot on his heals. After the litter pick we used the skatepark to work on our fitness with 30 second circuits and a little bit of grumbling!

Great work everyone – see you next week

If we were going to be a bit British about it, we would say that last night's run was a touch on the damp side.

We all turned up already completely sodden, with the rain showing no signs of letting up. But it takes more than that to stop a group of GoodGymers (sidenote; what is the collective noun for a group of GoodGymers? A gaggle? A mob? A flock?) We even had a lovely new face - hello to Jennifer. Let's give her a big GG welcome!

Some of us decided to eschew the layers, given that we were as wet as we could be already, and be done with it. So we needed to warm up and quick. But not without saying a huge well done to Barry (and his boys) who nailed another Park Run on Saturday. Nice one!

With Donna, Barry and Andy leading the way, we set off for a local charity we have been helping out at recently. Friends of Cathja is an amazing organisation for people in the borough with mental health problems which have been ongoing for some time. It helps people to gain confidence and the skills to move into a more active and positive way of living.

During past visits we have been helping sort out the giant back room and yard, but this week Rin must have known we'd be grateful for an indoor task, even before we turned up on the doorstep dripping - thanks Rin! Our job was to clear a corner of the shop of furniture and other bulky items, and take it into the newly painted community room. We shifted it quickly, and admired how the shop is changing. It's great to see the progress the volunteers are making, to discover all the hidden treasures, and even to perhaps be winning over Bruce. Despite his cute kerchief, Bruce takes his duties as shop guard dog very seriously.

It had still not stopped raining as we set off back to the Town Hall, but that did not stop some great running. With some us of keeping steady pace, those that wanted to push themselves as bit harder did some tough fartlek running over the two miles back. Fartlek - Swedish for speed play - means alternating hard running with easier recovery and is brilliant for building strength, endurance and practicing the art of pacing.

Typically the rain eased off just as we got back for some stretches. We had worked hard tonight, and done some good for our local community, so when a rainbow appeared just as we were saying our goodbyes, we knew we had already found the pot of gold....

Cheesy but true! For more rainbows, sign up here for next week's run.

12 Goodgymers ran 2k and volunteered at the Marcus Garvey Library Garden

Roots Manuva

Shouts out to Avni who made it to her first GGH session (with a nudge from Ollie) and out to Nekane who’s on her way to being a coach runner here in Haringey and should get some good deeds logged soon. Give em a cheer folks

The rain drizzled as we awaited the group but we had a secret weapon.. well lucky charm shall we say. Thanks Sarah the group gelled well with a good chinwag before heading off to the task.

This week we were heading over to the Marcus Garvey Library to continue helping the Friends of Tottenham Green bring the garden back to life. And as time goes on we are definitely doing so. We’ve managed to clear lots of tall weeds, undergrowth, rubbish and other green waste which is starting to reveal whats going to be a lovely place to read once we’re done.

Highlights would be our lucky charm Sarah holding off the rain, the amount of clearing that was done along with some of the huge roots that cam out of the ground and a Darth Vader impression reminiscent of Spaceballs the movie

Oh and shouts out to Louise for baking some tasty ginger biscuits... Mmmm

Fab work guys!!

Sign Up For Future Sessions Below!

Sign up for our next Wednesday night group run & task Here.

Don't forget to sign up for the Haringey team at the GoodGym Olympics

We also have a weekend missions coming.. check it out Here. You can click Here to see all the missions we have coming up. Get involved.

Don’t forget to stay in the loop over on our social media pages – Facebook / Twitter

Until next time folks - do good, stay fit & look out for the light

12 Goodgymmers run 5km to Emmaus Colchester to sort their clothing display

Colchester GoodGym Gang gathered on a mild but drizzly evening which was to lead to a satisfying mission at the Emmaus Warehouse. This evening we were joined by Kirstie for her maiden GoodGym adventure. Angela welcomed and briefed the group on the running order for our session and after our warm up routine, the ‘Tremendous Twelve’ headed out on our way through Kings Meadow.

The rain which arrived late afternoon made for a slippery run through the paths coated in Autumn leaves and dodging the puddles in the dark added to the fun. We made our way up North Hill, re-grouping by the elephants at the top, then continuing on towards Emmaus. John and Paul who both work at Emmaus during the week explained the layout of the warehouse, leading us through an Aladin’s Cave of furniture, books, pictures and more. To say it was like a scene from Cash in the Attic is an understatement and it would have been no surprise to have had David Dickenson pop up!

We climbed the stairs to the upper floor where all the clothing, shoes and accessories are stored. Our prime aim was to help create a semblance of order which would result in a clothing section which looked appealing and inviting for customers to shop. We had our work cut out when faced with many piles of items and bags of mixed clothing which needed sorting into Gents, Ladies, Kids as well as those pieces which were never ‘gonna cut the cloth’ and would be destined for the reject pile.

To tackle our mission we worked in two groups, one group doing the initial screening, the other tidying and sorting the existing hanging rails. A few of the group couldn’t resist modelling some pieces, Tav taking a shine to a blue dress and Steve was drawn to a floral shirt. Helen did well in getting a hold on the footwear area. Together we made an impact, agreeing that a return mission would be beneficial.

The return leg to Leisure World included a ‘Hump Day hill drill’ workout. Angela gave the group tips on the best technique to tackle this and Tommy and Tav enjoyed a competitive race to the top. All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable mix of running and retail medicine. What’s not to like? We covered a 5k distance overall but knowing we’d made a difference together, sent us on our way home smiling that we’d done well. Same time, same place next week GoodGymers to blitz the leaves at St Leonards. Sign up here

Run Report by Sue Foley