Mrs C welcomed us into her home and said she would like some help spring cleaning her bedroom to clear it for winter. Tabitha and I flexed our muscles moving piles of clothes into enormous suitcases which we then stowed away on the top of wardrobes. The bedroom was full of so many various shaped items that it was like a giant game of Tetris working out how to fit all the objects into the space.

The three of us had lots of girly chat as we helped Mrs C sort out her HUGE collection of clothes for eBay, the car boot or for her own use. "I've kept M and S in business," said garment-loving Mrs C. She wasn't wrong there!

We spent hours working through reams of scarves, shoes and African style tops until we had (satisfyingly) cleared her bed, revealing a huge comfy bed and divan ready for Mrs C's winter sleeps.

Mrs C has told us she will now stop shopping. This remains to be seen over the Christmas period!

We were really happy to help her clear her place but in our excitement cleaning the bedroom we didn't have time to put up the curtains before our next mission. Next time!

The time was 2 O'clock on Sunday 3rd December, the scene was set, the teams were ready....the weather was cold, it was mission impossible time. That’s right, 9 teams from across London areas took part in the first ever GoodGym Mission impossible. The concept was:

• to get yourselves into a Mission Ready team,
• On Friday they sent a start location
• then come 2 o'clock on Sunday you were sent your first of two missions and the competition was on.
• You as a team had to get there whilst completing certain photo challenges like enact mission impossible, create a GG in strava, changing a light blub and finding some rubbish bigger than your foot (and depositing it responsibly)
  
• Come to the pub after to have a few jars and see who were the mission impossible victors

I am delighted to announce it was very much a mission successful, each team completed their missions and most joined us in the pub after with some fantastic photos to match. The competition was fierce however the team that managed not only to create a cracking GG in strava but also completed all the challenges were Houndslow finest the (Tom) Cruising around, doin' good (Remy, Andy and Michelle). They took the main prize of the mission impossible crown (and are dead set about defending it next time). A special shout out needs to go to Team Jim Hunkins from Lambeth for recreating a fantastic mission impossible picture.

Shout out to Neil Macey who managed to combine this with his 100th good dead

And if by fate mission impossible 3 was showing on ITV later that evening.

A big thanks for everyone who took part, it was cracking seeing all your faces in the pub, I had a really good time helping out and a massive thanks to Nina for sorting out all the missions and logistics.

Looking forward to the next one,

Dum dum dananan dum dum danana

Tom

So, I took over the monthly socials in September 2014, it was a great night and we celebrated Becky Greenwood reaching 100 good deeds as well as the other heroes of the month. I think about ten people came... fast forward nearly three years and yes the format has grown, but not only are we rocking exclusive venues but, a stupendous EIGHTY of you came out! I genuinely cannot thank you all enough, it brings me so much joy to see everyone coming together, and the fact you're still bothering to listen to me three years later... Anyway, before i get way way too gushy on to the report:

Heroes

• So last month we decided that we were all gonna work really hard and top spot fell to three awesome GoodGym-ers. Round of applause for Egg Cameron of GG York, David Guest of GG Bristol and Sam Needham of GG Sheffield with 16 good deeds in July. London...must do better ;)

• For the rest of the heroes have a look here till 31st August or have a look at the pic above!

• July saw 13 more people earn their black tshirt having done 50 good deeds and three more joined the exclusive 'GG gives you wings' club with 100 good deeds - congrats to John Shirley of Camden, Melanie Kramers of Tower Hamlets and Pete van Tongeren of Redbridge - give them a cheer!

• The first of the area heroes...for most new runners in July, with a whopping 30 goes to GG Norwich congratulations, only a month into existence and you're topping the leaderboards!

• It's the second month of our new feature and things are hotting up already! Another draw for July between some of GG's heavyweights… with 190 attendances it's GG Bristol and GG Wandsworth Great stuff - who is gonna be the first area to hit 200 in a month?

News

• Races! We have over 60 people taking part in our second trip to Race the Train in Tywyn, Wales. It's gonna be a great trip - technically not too late to enter as you can enter on the day - so keep an eye out on social media! #GGxTrain

• Upcoming we have the New Forest Races, September 10th, which you can very much still sign up for - all the details here! The last of the 'Big Six' on October 8th, the Oxford Half Marathon - details here, if you want early bird entry at £40 then make sure you sign up before August 22nd, it goes up to £45 after!

• Euro Trip! No, the gaudy C4 extravaganza is not back but GGxBucharest is here. The European trip is decided and the best Anglo-French pairing since we decided to build that there Channel Tunnel, Paul and Axel will be keeping you updated on details for that. Ensure you're getting those details by signing up here!

• Make sure you check out the race section of the website for details of all races and check out the Race Team if you want to get a singlet, a discount and get involved in the cross country!

• Media! GoodGym Birmingham are all over your telly boxes at the moment having made an appearance on BBC Midlands Today and ITV's Central News with their fantastic work. Ivo, the founder of GoodGym, also appeared on Radio 4's #FourThought with a wonderful piece on how GoodGym started - I'd recommend a listen no matter how long you've been with GoodGym.

• Finally, we are ever expanding so please spread the news that we are now operating in Barnsley on a Tuesday, Leicester also on a Tuesday and will be opening in Ipswich on Monday 4th September.

Boring Bit

• This month we talked about the GoodGym Shindig which is basically GoodGym's away day but with GG Central, trainers, run leaders and taskforces coming along. We were in the Peak District this year to talk all things GoodGym. Topics covered ranged from diversity to communications, how to grow the numbers doing coach runs to how to keep up variety on group runs! We want to hear what you have to say and at the end of the day if it doesn't work for you it likely won't work for newcomers which leads me to...please please keep on at your trainers with regard to Taskforce, it's your first step to being more involved with GoodGym. As ever, please do also contact me if you want to know more and finally check out more on the shindig, including some notes and actions here.

Guest Speaker

• A huge huge, thanks to Fay Sibley who braved the massive crowd and told us about her amazing story of combining the Land's End to John O'Groats bike ride with GoodGym-ing. Please do donate if you can here!

now for the big one... yes… the…

INTERNATIONAL PUN OF THE MONTH!!!

the winner with a resounding 42 of 103 votes from the night and online...

"Don't chair wish your girlfriend could sand like me" from GG Cardiff; just three months after their launch! Massive congratulations!

...and with that I prove that I can't keep these damn things short! Thanks for sticking with me, it just goes for me to say a massive massive thank you to you all again. EIGHTY of you! Amazing :D Thanks to all of you that came for the first time, i know it's not easy. Big shout out to Beth from GG Worthing, top effort to make it! And, finally, thanks to all of you that clearly did follow the hashtag and prayed for sun! What a night!

Next month we go on tour again and the wonderful people of GG Barnet are hosting - all the details are here but in short, 7th September, 6.30pm The Old White Lion, N2 0NW.

Dates for your diary going forward are 5th October (Angel), 9th November (GG Newham) and December will be out of my hands but we’ll have the "GG-mas Party" which I'll keep you posted on anyway!

That's all from me but get in touch with questions, suggestions and anything else!

Cheers,

Pritesh (pritesh@goodgym.org - 07887802793 - @pritski)

p.s. Please do follow me on twitter, if you can, for many GG related updates and also join the 'Unofficial' Facebook Group here (remember to state your area) for more info on races, training runs, socials and other news from the GG community.

p.p.s. Big thank you to Frances and John for additional photos