Tonight's group session was a gentle push around East Finchley, fundraising for a local school. The Archer Academy's Raise the Roof Campaign aims to build a new performing arts studio for their lower school students to rehearse in. It's an ambitious project and one our Goodgymmers wholeheartedly support!

Lucinda, Anthony and George set out into a light drizzle, with our usual warm up outside the Phoenix and then a gentle trek through side streets. We leapfrogged up Fortis Green to the 'shires', chatting as we went. Our ambitious plan to clear the small-looking stack of flyers in half an hour soon gave way to the very thin paper they were printed on. Like nuclear fission, they seemed to multiply in our pockets!

We covered a fair few streets before making our way back to the Phoenix, a thin stash remaining, where we were welcomed by the staff with gratitude. They'd promised to deliver loads themselves, so the small pile will sit for cinema goers to pick up.

If you can help the Archer Academy's campaign, please do!

A fantastic turn out for our group run to Martin Primary School - 9 Goodgymmers and some new faces!

Joining us for the first time was Ahmad, who - amazingly! - has already done his Taskforce training. Also great to welcome Rosie and Gabrielle (Gabonnet), both on their first group session with us in Barnet, but not their first sessions. And so, our mighty pack warmed up outside the Phoenix, then set off for Martin Primary School, some walking with Rachel leading on the way there and Theodore on the way back, and the rest of us running.

There, met by John the groundskeeper, we took up shovels, rakes and barrows to help mulch the paths from the gate into the forest school. In highly organised teams, we set to refreshing the paths for learners old and young to be able to access the kitchen, orchard and parachute-canopied living classroom in the middle of the forest patch. With so many of us, the work was done in record time, so we jogged back to the Phoenix for a warm down and stretch, with some extra squats thrown in while we waited for the walkers to catch us up.

All round, a solid session, and mulch fun was had by all!

GoodGym Barnet: Helping a Forest School in East Finchley

On a crisp January evening, five dedicated GoodGym members gathered at the Phoenix Cinema for a group run with a mission: helping a forest school in East Finchley. Despite some last-minute dropouts, this hardy team of volunteers was ready to make a difference.

As we assembled, we shared stories of our favourite childhood books, setting a light-hearted tone before the evening’s work. A special mention to Susanna , who joined her first nighttime group run after attending our weekend intro session—she took it all in her stride.

We started with a gentle jog down East Finchley High Street to warm up, stopping midway for some dynamic exercises, including three-step punches, kick-ups, stick strides, and twists. With our heart rates up, we continued to the school, ready for the task ahead.

The Good Deed

At the school, we were greeted by wheelbarrows, shovels, and rakes, with instructions from our host, Jon, to spread fresh woodchip over worn and muddy areas. The chilly night air mixed with the dust from the woodchip, creating an almost magical, eerie atmosphere.

Anthony Mak-Fan showed great commitment and determination, tackling the heavy woodchip with focus. Meanwhile, Susanna on her first group run, worked effortlessly, making a strong first impression. Rachel Melinek was her usual reliable self, leading the group back to the Phoenix with energy and enthusiasm. Beattie, always dependable, was an excellent back marker, ensuring everyone stayed together and safe.

Mid-task, I took a moment to show Susanna and Anthony around the rest of the forest school, giving them a sense of the space we were helping to maintain.

After completing the work, we returned via a slightly different route to include a sprint workout. We tackled three sets of sprints with gentle jogs in between, adding an extra fitness boost to the evening. Along the way, we also did press-ups against walls before finishing back at the Phoenix Cinema.

A Bonus Good Deed

While warming down with gentle stretches, an elderly lady approached and asked for assistance retrieving personal items from her car. She needed her credit cards to pay for a film. Without hesitation, we stepped in to help, completing an unexpected but rewarding second good deed to end our session.

A big thank you to everyone who came along and worked hard to help the forest school. Your dedication and teamwork continue to make a difference in our community!

Our brilliant Barnet Goodgymmers gathered for the first group run of the year, starting like they mean to go on! We gave newcomer, Subham, a warm welcome and in return he gave us the title for the report. We wished the Phoenix Cinema staff a happy new year and warmed up, and off we went with Rachel as our backmarker and Anthony the fourth corner of our well-wrapped quartet, litter picking around East Finchley's high street. Which was surprisingly... clean?!

Undeterred by the windswept pavements, we jogged our way south half a kilometre scouring the verge and pavements, rooting out litter. We crossed near the Engine Rooms and, with Rachel taking the lead, jogged our way back up to the tube station to plog at what we found. Then we jogged a solid km further up the High Road and got stuck into that weird patch of wasteland on the corner of Leopold Road - which will be familiar to anyone who plogged with us that time Gus found a tennis ball. In scant moments we'd filled our sacks with the endless supply of bottles, cans, plastic and other unidentifiable trash.

Then we strode back through the bracing night like the legends we were. All in, a solid 2.5km round trip with a bit of lugging and lifting thrown in. A final thanks to Penny for dropping off the picking sticks and to Daniel for dropping off the council sacks for us to use - a very well coordinated effort behind the scenes, and hope everyone else gets well soon!

GoodGym Barnet Tuesday Evening Run: From Screens to the Streets!

Tuesday’s GoodGym Barnet run was a fantastic way to step away from screens and connect with our community and environment. We kicked off the evening at The Old White Lion Pub, where laughter and chatter warmed us up for the activity ahead. After numbering up and sharing some festive cheer, we crossed the road to Cherry Tree Wood—but not before a detour for a warm-up jog!

We headed to a peaceful cul-de-sac (usually quiet but surprisingly bustling that evening) for some stretches and short sprints. The dynamic warm-up got our hearts racing, setting the tone for the night ahead.

At the park, Task Host Roger greeted us, ready with a unique mission: transforming part of the woodland into a future fruit haven! Our first task was to collect wood from a fallen tree, prepping materials for the next step. Along the way, we welcomed Anthony, who joined us after a delayed bus, and Rusland, a familiar face we hope to see more often. Even my dog, Gus, relished the adventure, enjoying a park all to himself as we worked.

The main activity was a physical challenge: removing turf to create planting beds for raspberries and other fruit bushes. By the glow of head torches (and the city’s soft light pollution), we dug, stripped, and shaped the ground into a neat half-moon formation. Roger’s enthusiasm—and our “sod off” puns—kept the energy high as we worked up a sweat in the cool November air.

As always, GoodGym is about the unexpected joys of helping out. Whether it’s digging in the dark, sprinting down a quiet street, or reconnecting with old and new faces, every session leaves you with a story to tell and muscles well-used.

We finished back at the pub for a cosy drink and a conversation that hit home: how often do we let social media distract us from real life? The dopamine-driven scroll might feel good, but nothing compares to the satisfaction of making a tangible difference in your local area.

Why Not Join Us Next Time?

If you’re reading this, maybe it’s time to ditch the screen and dive into something real. Discover the satisfaction of helping your neighborhood while keeping fit and making friends. Join GoodGym Barnet and turn an ordinary evening into an extraordinary adventure!

Ready to feel alive again?

See you next week—we we are delivering parcels of Goodwill for Hope London!

thank you to our host, Roger for facilitating this event!