Tonight 31 runners ran around 3 km to paint, water, weed, dig, plant and celebrate!

It’s been 3 glorious good deed filled years since GoodGym Croydon launched and headed off to Croydon Arena in South Norwood. For this special day I decided to be a little bit less ambitious about the length of the run and head off to one of our favourite task venues – Park Hill Rec Community Garden. As it was our special birthday we asked Councillor Lousia Woodley, who had launched us 3 years ago, to come along and send us on our way. Councillor Oliver Lewis also joined us for the send off and headed up to the garden with us for some hard graft. It may have been the thought of the amazing cake that did it!

It was a beautiful sunny evening – just as it should be for a birthday – so after waving goodbye to Louisa we headed off to Park Hill to meet Catherine and Erica who had a list of jobs for us including mural painting, weeding, digging, planting and watering. I think they were a little surprised by the sheer numbers but quickly made use of the enthusiasm and work rate of 31 Goodgymers. Catherine, Erica and Josi had also kindly bought us some bedding plants for our section of the Peace Garden so we will be back to check how they are flourishing.

The time flew by and before we knew it the drinks, snacks and THE CAKE were brought out. Huge thanks go to Rachel for her amazing creation – looked too good to eat but we managed and didn’t leave a crumb. Some runners, not going to name them, even managed 2 slices! There should have been a fitness session however we decided to spend a bit more time in the garden and painting and cake eating and strangely enough nobody objected!

There have been some thefts recently at the Community Garden so earlier in the week we had a collection for some B&Q vouchers so the lovely Friends Group could replace the plants that were taken.

We also welcomed three new runners tonight, Oliver, Karen and Sara - hope you all enjoyed yourselves and see you back again soon.

To finish off our celebrations some of us headed off to the Porter and Sorter for a quick drink or burger and had a great time plotting our next races including the Dino Dash in June and also helping out GoodGym Bromley with the South Norwood takeover at the end of the month. There are also lots of GoodGymers heading off to the London 10K on the 27th of May so if you are going sign-up here and don't forget to wear your t-shirt. Conroy also told the group about the GoodGym Olympics coming up soon and the challenge of writing a Croydon anthem – let’s see what we can do!

Finally, a big thanks to Conroy for letting me take over tonight - I'll be asking for the 4th birthday run too if that's okay!

Next week’s run will be off to a the Peppermint Centre so don’t forget to sign up!

After a marvellous ending to 2018 with GG Croydon I went into our first group run of 2019 with a spring in my step and feeling really proud about what we were about to embark on for 2019.

We welcomed Maeve our on her first putting with GoodGym and also welcomed back Steph.

It’s January and all GoodGym areas are buzzing not only are we getting new signups but it’s also that time of the year where the heat is on for as many good deeds and KMs as possible in a month.

That said over in Croydon we’ve got a buzz too yes we are excited about the January challenge, but we have 3 members of our group who will be joining the 50s club soon. No not their age but the 50 good deeds crew. Sadly for one person who was certain to reach that target by the end of the month our resident litter picker (Ingrid), she was unable to join us due to fracturing her arm, however she did pop by the start location to inform me she wouldn’t be joining us and show off her new fashion accessory. Wishing you a speedy recovery Ingrid.

Last night we delivered leaflets on behalf of Croydon Healthy Homes regarding advice about saving energy and reducing fuel bills whilst keeping homes warm. We also took the opportunity to promote GoodGym to the residents on Oval and Cedar Road. Quite fittingly we finished distributing all our leaflets on Oval Road, with time to spare we decided to do a loop of the oval with Elle and Maeve keeping records. There were three options, 1 lap, 2 laps or 3 laps if they fancied the challenge.

Congratulation to Fiona (check out her starva) who is now wearing the crown for the fastest woman on the oval segment with a time of 1 min 26 secs. Well done!

Well done to all for your efforts in making our first group run of 2019 one to remember. By the way last night there were 15 of us which is now a new record for me, onward and upward bring your friends, families, colleagues, neighbours and strangers to the next group run 2019 GoodGym Croydon is moving from strength to strength and they are going to want to be apart of it.

South Norwood Parkrun take over 26 January 2018 opportunity to gain an extra good deed, sign up!

Croydon Half Marathon cheer station 31 March 2019 sign up to be there to give that special Goodgym Cheer, sweets, water and fruits to the runners taking part.

Next week we are back to school sign up here its going to be fun learning.

November Rain

With the rain falling all day yesterday I must admit at one point I thought I would have been the only one turning up for the task. To my delight when I got to Solutions Stanka had already arrived, then the others all came one by one.

Blame it on the rain

There were 8 of us signed up to last nights task, while awaiting the arrival of the group I received a message from one of the sign ups, informing me he had the symptoms of the start of a cold so he wouldn't be coming along given the weather conditions.

7 brave runners ran to Tunstall nursery to help tidy up their out door area. The playground was covered in leaves, armed with mini brooms we set about sweeping up the leaves into piles with the rain the rain beating down on our backs. Sweeping up the wet leaves was no easy feat but we managed to clear the playground of majority of the leaves making a huge difference to how it was when we first arrived.

Task completed we headed back to Solutions where we did some speed drills on the way back, little did they know that was my way of getting out of the rain as soon as possible.

Next week is giving Tuesday and we will be heading back to Foundation4Life to help them sound proof their studio sign up here

As mentioned on the run 1 December GoodGym London Christmas Party will you be representing Croydon? Looking for inspiration for your costume?

Day: Tuesday 6 November 2018

Location: Solutions Gym, Croydon Occasion: GoodGym Group Run

Runners present: Andy, Vicki, Ingrid, Ian, Nicola

Today 6 runners, ran 5.6km to St Augustine's to help clean the walls of the hallway.

Our planned warm up had to be scrapped and a swift improvised one had to be put in place as the cones that I had put out for our warm up began running away from us in the wind, to the amusement of the group as I chased them. I think thats natures way of telling me to warm up too instead of giving out the orders!

Today's group was not it's usual size but it was just right as six of us alongside Sue and Bill crammed into the hallway of the church washing the walls. Looking at the walls and the water in the containers you could see the difference instantly. Throughout cleaning Bill kept us updated with the various things happening in and around Croydon in the run up to Christmas, Croydon Churches Floating Shelter. Being a church member of any faith is not required; compassion and a willingness to help, listen and talk to the guests is all the qualifications you need. With our job completed and us all standing and admiring our handy work, Sue rewarded us with some delicious seasonal biscuits.

Having chalked up another good deed and one step further away from the naughty list be bid our good byes to Sue and Bill and headed back to Solutions, as we ran back the size of the group got smaller and even smaller as those who did not want to stray too far away from home branched off as they got to their respective junctions.

As we ran through the Queen's Gardens I suggested we stop and take a breather, obviously I had an ulterior motive! I guess Ingrid and Ian must have been thinking I was being nice today there would not be a fitness session as there were only 3 of us. Wrong, there is always a fitness session! We did our session and a few stretches then started running again back to solutions.

Do have any unwanted clothes that you can donate to someone in need? Why not bag them up and drop them off at St Augustine's. They are collecting clothes for the homeless and less fortunate as part of the Churches of Croydon drive in the run up to Christmas.

Next week we are off to a new task, sign up here.

• Last GoodGym monthly social of the year Thursday 8 November, 18.30 - late at The Star of Bethnal Green, E2, 6LG
• Saturday 1 December 2018, GoodGym London Christmas Party 2018
• Have your say on what day we have our Xmas meal at Little Bay

Last night 8 runners ran 5.6km, to St Augustines's church to finish off the work we have been doing there over the summer. They had a skip to be filled with all the bushes and brambles we cut down which was now dry and ready to be removed. We welcomed Sarah who was joining us on the first GoodGym outing, wondering what was in store.

After going through the domestics we headed over to the car park in Southern House where we did our warm up before heading off to South Croydon to meet our hosts Sue and Bill.

We arrived at the church as planned, Sue, Bill and their team had began filling the skip but there was still a big pile of brambles to be added before it could be removed. Instructions taken armed with gloves, head torches and a portable flood light we began tackling the pile. After a few trips back and forth to the skip with hands full of brambles, we had lighten the load on the tarpaulin. With our forces combined we began to drag the tarpaulin over to the skip which was quite easy "more hands light work", until we reached the gate!

Bramblegate

Determined to get it all onto the skip we began lifting of the brambles until we were able to get the tarpaulin through the gate. Once we got it through the gate we made light work of the remainder, with a group lift and flipped it all onto the skip. Mission accomplished, as we packed away our tools along came Sue with her bag of goodies. Sue have always been very kind to us on each visit she ensures that after all the work we put in we are refueled for the return leg of our run. Refueling aside Sue is always pleased with the work we do and her smile always shows it. We'll be back on 6 November where we have an indoor task, come and experience Sue's smile for yourself!

We said our good byes and headed back to base where we had our fitness session and parted company.

Accolades corner

Welcome Sarah on completing her first GoodGym out may it be the first of many, it was nice having you along.

Completing her 5th deeds was Amanda not long before hitting double digits. Last night we learned some interesting facts about Amanda, which I wont share here so if you were not present and want to know come along to the next group run she may share it with you.

Audrey 10 deeds and counting, congratulations. See Audrey's celebration in one of the photos enjoying her time with us she couldn't contain the excitement, she ran with her arms in the air and didn't care.

Be sure to give the ladies some cheers and encouragement!!

Fancy being being marshall for the day?

Matt over at total motion events is looking for volunteers at their event on 24 Novebmer, The Broadgate Tower Run Up 2018, if you would like to help out on the day please let me know and I will put your name forward. You may even get the chance to participate too. This event will also play host to the London leg of the prestigious Vertical World Circuit (VWC) welcoming the best stair climbers in the World to tackle the 877 steps over 35 floors of Broadgate Tower in the heart of The City of London.

Next week is Run and Talk week and we are heading over to Tunstall Nursery School, it would be good to have you along with us for a run and a chat, and given the theme there will be no telling off or request to be silent. Sign up here

Until next week keep running and doing good.