With a spring in their step, eight eager athletes ran to Living Well to sort through donations at the food bank.

Thanks this week go to Ian for our very apt title pun and also for being tonight's back-marker, keeping us all together.

How lovely to welcome a first-timer tonight, a big, warm welcome to Jen, who chose a lovely evening to dip her toes in the GoodGym Bromley water (or long-life milk, chunky vegetable soup or pasta sauce?!).

(new) T-shirt Tuesday

Regular runner Bradley wasn't with us last week, a rare occurrence, as he has been with us every week (pretty much) since he joined back in February. He has also been along to our neighbours in Lewisham on a regular basis, so it's no surprise that he is already celebrating reaching his 50th good deed. He actually ticked off this milestone at a mission, which is always pretty special. Congratulations Bradley, now you are also mission-verified, it won't be long before we see you with wings on your back!

Tonight's task was arranged as a result of phone call, asking if we might be able to help last minute, as the food bank was in desperate need of a good sort. In the school holidays, there are many families who depend on free school meals and find themselves struggling, using the food bank to ease the pressure. This demand has led recently to an empty food bank and a call-out for donations. Last week, Rowena and her team of volunteers were inundated and the container was full, an amazing position to be in, but one that creates a need for some strong helping hands.

Can we sort it? Yes, we can!

When we arrived, we were met by Rowena and Jane, who had opened the container, ready, and had set out tables for us to work on outside (how lovely, we usually have to carry all the crates into the church!). We all had a look at the full container and quickly set-to, pulling out bags and sorting the contents into crates of beans(z), soup, meat, fish, sauces, pasta, rice, biscuits and so on. One of the things we like about this task is that it presents us with a cognitive workout as well, lots of pondering over which category a packet of noodles or a tin of curry falls into!

With the tables now full and the bags still coming, there was a moment where I looked around, looked at my watch and truly wondered if we could get this done. I needn't have worried, of course we could!

With our limited time in mind, we started putting the full crates back in the container. These will be gradually pulled out to restock the cupboard inside the church, so need to be handy to reach. Using our best squatting action and some pairs work, we lifted and shifted everything in no time and were very soon telling Bradley to get out of the container, before we barricaded him in with biscuits and rice. We did it! One of the reasons we love visiting Living Well (apart from knowing the impact we can have in a short space of time) is the fact that we can see a task through from start to finish, it gives us a real sense of achievement.

Saying goodbye and looking forward to our next visit during October half-term, we headed to the nearby park for a quick fitness session (as if all that lifting wasn't enough). In pairs, we alternated between shuttle runs and squats, push-ups or planks. Everyone flew through this, so we had enough time left to work our oblique abs too, excellent work, no jelly bellies here!

Next week we will run to Cator Park, where we will be working on some pruning and clearing, always a fun task in a lovely space. Expect a run of around 5km in total and plenty of nattering :)

A nifty nine covered around 4km of running (including a very big hill!) and got busy with the most complicated shed ever.

(Thank you to Bradley and Vic for sharing some photos).

We didn't have any newcomers joining us this week (maybe we need to introduce a 'bring-a-friend' week...?), but it was lovely to welcome Vic, who cycled a very long way on the promise of shed action. Vic normally hangs out with our neighbours at GoodGym Lewisham, but fancied a bit of tourism. Welcome!

On such a gorgeous evening, it was very tempting to stay in the pub garden and enjoy a refreshing drink, but that's not why we came! Off we went to Crystal Palace Park, where we played a game of It Squat, then a bit of round and round, up and down thingie...but it was really rather warm anyway, so off we headed, in the knowledge that this run would include a very big hill. I'm sure that hill has got steeper since we last ran up it, but we found our way to the top and were only a short way from our destination, at the Upper Norwood Library Hub. We found ourselves straight away in the Library of Things which, as you can see from the photos, is a treasure trove of useful items, to be borrowed as and when you need them (Tom, who is organising our GoodGym Olympic Games this week, borrowed a sander from here, to smooth the edges of the GG medals!). We were really pleased to be provided with ice-cold water, perfect after our uphill run in the heat, thank you!

A shed-load of fun!

Refreshed and ready to get stuck in (I had a sneak-preview of the instructions and realised we really did need to get on!), we headed outside to the car park at the rear of the building. Here, we found the ready-built base and a part-built shed. In my head, I had pictured wooden panels, which you could slot together, making an instant shed - ta-daaaah! How wrong was I?! For a while we all stood and stared, not really knowing where to start. Nate though, being level-headed and methodical, picked up the instructions and made a start. With help from Bradley and Rachael, he built one of the strips that supports the roof panels (we think). While the rest of us waited to move onto the next section, we did a quick litter-pick around the car park, not wishing to waste our valuable time. Once the shed-building got going, there were three teams working on lengths of roof struts, while others counted out nuts and bolts and others kept everything orderly. Tim took lots of photos of the instructions, so that we could spend some time outside the task to get to know our way round them...I think we have all been spoilt with Ikea and Lego instructions, which really are a doddle!

The nuts and bolts of it

Just as we worked everything out and got a system going, it was time to leave(!). We decided that we really do want to see this project through and will arrange a community mission one weekend to make it happen (you definitely need longer than half an hour for this one). Handing back the instructions and saying goodbye, it was time for us to run downhill, back through the park. Now, there has been a lot of talk of the GG Olympic Games but, as we are aware that lots of people can't make it (we have groups all over the country now), there is another opportunity to join in the fun, through the Nationwide Race. This is a 1km race, that you can do anywhere you like, any time between now and Thursday June 28th. What's really great about it is that you don't have to be speedy (though there are prizes for this), because you can win on elevation, creativity (create some Strava art?), take a great photo of the view you see, or you might be lucky in being drawn out of the hat to win the raffle. Every winner receives a medal in the post, how lovely is that? To give everyone a chance to join in, we visited our 'Time Trial' area and those who wanted to (Stuart, Louise, Vic and Tim) ran the kilometer or so as fast as they could - really strong running from everyone!

Next week we will return to Forest Hill Station to water the no doubt very thirsty plants on the station platform. This will be a run of around 5km and a great task that you can view from the train. Sign up here to join us.

A super seven ran around 5km through the streets (and trails) of Penge to help attack some weeds at Cator Park.

It was a relaxed start to the evening, with a sit and a catch up on the benches in the garden, enjoying the home-grown strawberries that Tim (in his black 50 t-shirt, very nice!) had brought along to share. Our start point (a pub) doesn't make it easy to jump up and run, but jump we did, out onto the pavement, entertaining the traffic, as we do at about this time on a Tuesday.

No newcomers this week, but how lovely to welcome back Torie who, since we last saw her, has got married and been on her honeymoon! Congratulations Torie!

Let's take the scenic route

Now, our group run routes are usually very well researched and planned (I even wander down roads on Streetview sometimes, just to be clear), but I didn't think I needed to plan this one, feeling very sure that Cator Park was, in fact, on Cator Road. So sure was I that I even started veering off into what turned out to be the entrance to a school, when Tim piped up that the park was a little further on. Oops! Thanks to his extensive local knowledge and sense of direction, we enjoyed a scenic trail run, making our outward leg up to 3km. Great work everyone!

Crossing the park, we could see some people gathered around the shrubbery, pulling up weeds, so made our way over to join them. We were greeted by Millie, from the Friends of Cator and Alexandra Parks, who introduced us to everyone and showed us what they had planned. We were all a little distracted at this point, by the beautifully laid out new tools and the friendly dogs who were saying hello. We've never had a dog at a task before, so this was an added extra. We were to focus our attention on an area of shrubbery, some of which was hidden completely by some rambling hops, brambles and other random weeds. Gloves on, we set-to, very quickly revealing what was concealed underneath.

All tooled up

This kind of task quick quickly amasses a lot of 'off-cuts', which I noticed were spreading across the cycle path. What a treat then, to have some professional picker-uppers (modelled in the photos by Louise) to help shift things over and out of the way! It wasn't long before we had to down tools and gather for our group photo (not before we had all shown some love to the most adorable spaniel puppy who had made an appearance), admiring our handiwork along the way.

It feels great at this time of year, to be able to use the parks for our fitness session. The light evenings and dry grass making it all so much easier! We worked through a timed circuits session, adding extra exercises each time round, until everyone was worked to pretty much exhaustion (though amazingly, still with enough energy to manage some planks as well, smashing!).

Taking the more - ahem - direct route back, we rounded off with a quick stretch and a mention for next week's task, another brand new one, this time at the Crystal Palace Museum Garden and orchard, sign up here to join us. After all that hard work we had quite a thirst on, so headed back into the Bridge House for some food and drink, perfect.

See you next week x

A lovely eleven ran 4km to Baxters Field, where we painted the railings along the edge of the park.

As is usual about this time, we found ourselves saying 'Well done!' to Bradley, who this weekend ran two 10k races, yes two (well, it was a long weekend, so why not?)! He's got it bad. In fact, he and Conroy came to our session via the running track...in that heat! Well done to the rest of us for making it out, water bottles in hand, taking it slowly, like sensible people ;) We had a little chat about last week's social, which was great, how lovely to see each other over a drink and all looking so clean and well-presented! I've noticed a surge in cheers since then, following our conversation about how rubbish the cheering levels are in Bromley.

This weekend, our very own Stuart is off to Bucharest with the GoodGym Race Team, to run a half-marathon. We talked a little about the team and the benefits of joining in, which include support from fellow members, fun races, a fancy vest and guaranteed #RedThunder. You don't have to be part of the Race Team to join in though, everyone is welcome to go along to races and supporters are just as welcome as runners. Good luck Stuart, we look forward to hearing all about it!

Going back to the cheers...this week we were joined by Rachael, who was here for her very first group run, having been recruited by Louise (good work Louise!). You will, of course, want to show Rachael some love by clicking on her name and giving her a right old cheer, welcome!

To the task. Up hill.

This week we were off to a brand new task, thanks to Tim putting us in touch in with the task owner. Baxters Field is a lovely little park, hidden away off Kirkdale and is largely taken care of by a group of 'friends', people who use the park and decided it needed some regular TLC. They have worked hard to plant saplings, to lay paths, install a picnic bench and now, with a bit of help from us, paint the railings that run along the edge of the park. Getting here was a challenge in itself, with the road rising up and up, until we all cheered, hands in the air, as we turned off to enter the green space.

We were met by Philippa, who herself ran the London Marathon a couple of weeks ago. We were shown the railings, the pots of thick black paint and were handed paint brushes by Conroy, who was clearly eager to make a start! We each took a section and got going, chatting as we worked. As always, lots of talk of running, coach visits, missions and, this week, Bank Holiday activities (the beach, London Zoo, B&Q...). Time flew, but so did our brushes and, stepping back, we could see just how much had been achieved in such a short space of time - excellent work! Thank you Philippa for making us feel so welcome, with cold drinks and sweet treats to keep us happy (and give us a little boost for the return run). There is plenty more for us to do, so I'm sure we will be back soon.

Race to the cones

Finding a space on the grass, we did a very quick fitness session, involving cones and cores (sorry it was brief, we were too busy snacking!). What a treat to enjoy the reward of a downhill return run, a sweep around to our start point and a nice deep stretch. Next week we will visit another new task, this time at Forest Hill Station, where we will tend to the planters, sign up here to join in.

Happy running and see you soon!

Tonight, twelve twinkle-toed athletes ran 5km and delivered flyers for Bloom Bakery.

There was a lot of talk about missions and coach running this evening, after GoodGym appeared on the BBC News last week. You can see the clip here, showing Vivian visiting her coach Dennis and two other runners helping a man in his home, where his garden needed a bit of attention. Well done to Ian, who has been taking on a few missions recently and is signed up to another tomorrow evening. Well done also to our resident speed demon, Bradley, who ran his socks off towards another PB at the weekend, smashing his 10k time and going sub-40!! Many of us can only dream of such times!

Come flyer with me

Tonight's task was a little bit different, with a run over to Mayow Park, remembering our Christmas tree run along the way, 'Oooh, look, that's where we found that tree in the pot!' Our run this time felt considerably lighter! At the park, we met Amy, from Bloom Bakery and she told us all about the fantastic work they do in helping people back into employment, through training courses and also involvement in their catering company. Our task for the evening was to distribute these flyers and generally spread the word.

Up, down, up, down, up...

Saying goodbye to Amy (thank you for meeting us!), we continued through this lovely park, pausing on the grass for a little fitness session (yes, a bit different this week!). In a circle, we worked hard at a series of squats, pausing, holding, bobbing up and down, all in time to the music. It was fun, but gruelling (and we realised that Bradley might be fast, but we could probably have him in a squat-off).

Outside the park, we found some flats, which were to be the first recipients of our flyers. In a line, our runners took it in turns to post flyers, creating a steady flow of red t-shirted traffic along the street. We continued in this way, looping around a small estate and realising we were right by the train station (it was a little disorientating!). It was now time for local member, Tim, to point out some residential hotspots that might benefit from our delivery, so we looped back towards the park and targeted a few more flats. Tim also showed us a flower bed he has been working on, adding plants from his own garden and allotment, to bring it to life. I will look forward to checking out their progress as I cycle by!

Taking a tour around the streets of Sydenham and Penge, we wound up near our start point, having distributed a fair few flyers (with Emma and Tim having pledged to deliver a few more on their own roads - thank you). Here, we stretched and talked about a race that's happening this Sunday in Crystal Palace Park and, of course, this Thursday's GoodGym Monthly Social - sign up! Come along! While you're there, why not sign up to next week's run too, over to Baxter Fields, where we will be painting some railings?

See you there!