29 people ran 8k to tidy the garden at Stanhope Community centre whilst being filmed by ITV

Tonight, it was great to welcome a big group of runners from Kingsheath Running club on an ‘away day’. Thank you to all of you for coming a long, I hope you enjoyed it! After a few interviews with the 'film crew', Pat from ITV Central and some filming of us leaving 1000 Trades we were on our way. We did a steady 3k to Stanhope, meeting Pat there, who filmed the group doing a hill sprint up to the centre.

Godfrey Green fingers

Once arrived Monica gave us a warm welcome, and the group got on with tidying the garden, we spent a whole 20 minutes, filling 6 bags full of weeds! Whilst this was going on Pat continued to film the group and more interviews took place.

The run back

After we were done, and a few bars of Rocky Road later kindly provided by Monica we were on our way, with Mr Cameraman taking one last shot of us disappearing into the Birmingham skyline. We stopped on a quiet road were the group did some interval work, completing six tough heart racing efforts! After these were done we ran back to our ‘infamous hill’ were we do our hill work (that’s back next week!!) and we split into two groups, one group going slightly faster, sprinting up the hill then pushing hard up the steps in front of the town hall and then keeping the tempo up for another 400 metres or so. We then took a steady run back to base, but again keeping the tempo high. Great job everyone! Thanks again to all the Kingsheath crew, hopefully we will see you all again soon and keep your eyes out for ITV Central bulletins tomorrow, we are likely to be on the box at some point! Next week we will be out doing good again sign up here.

13 people ran 5.5k to clear the car park at the girl guide association

It was a warm welcome to Caroline, Emily and Dionne tonight who came to GG Brum for the first time. Great to have you on board! Once back and front markers were sorted we were on our way to the Guide house. We had a 3.1k run along the canal, finishing just before our task destination with a group wall squat. Once we arrived after a little confusion from the task owner, we got to work, sweeping the yard, and digging up the weeds.

Bootcamp

Once the area was looking spic and span, we were back on our way, stopping in St Paul’s square for a 10-minute-high intensity boot camp session! We had burpees (I love a burpee), Neal putting great effort in. This was followed by some backside/thigh burning lunges, Caroline and Charlotte showing great form. After this we had tuck jumps, followed by reverse dips on the benches helping to make ‘bingo wings’ no more! As if that wasn’t enough we then added some high knees, Dionne and Karin putting in a great shift and last of all we did a one minute plank jack, now that was a killer, but the whole group were awesome as usual.

Ready for a beer

After all that effort the group were exhausted, so it was a gentle run back to 1000 Trades for a drink. A drink wasn’t quite enough for Neal though as Rob caught him on camera tucking into some ‘beer infused’ cake, so he was literally drinking and eating beer. The next social will be in 4 weeks’ time, so mark it in your diaries.

Next week we will be out doing good again, it would be great if you could join us sign up here.

14 people ran 3.5km to plant some trees on the Canal

It was welcome to two new GoodGymer’s tonight, with Andy and Dave joining us for the first time. Please give them a cheer! We set on our way with Lee being the front marker and myself taking on the role of back marker as I was struggling somewhat with a calve strain I had picked up earlier that day! We ran just over a mile to the Canal and River Trust offices where we met Nick who bought the trees down for us to plant.

Papped!!

To make tonight even more exciting we had a full media team joining us both from The Guardian newspaper and the Canal and River Trust’s own media section! Firstly, the group got videoed and photographed running on the canal, I had more photos taken of me then when Kim Kardashian does her grocery shopping and there were interviews galore. After all this, we eventually got on with planting the trees! This was done in no time with a good numbered group tonight. Once the ‘plantathon’ was done there was a couple more videos taken of the group running and a few pics for good measure and it was ready for our run back! Keep an eye out for the Guardian online this week!

Who is the best planker?!

Once nearly back we stopped in St Paul’s square where we did some press ups, Phill smashing them out like usual, followed by some core work, both John and Sandy showing great determination. Then it was onto the grass for some lung busting burpees, (everyone loves a burpee…..yeah right 😉), Sophie and Alex working hard, putting their all into each set. Once this was done we finished off with a plank challenge, who could hold it the longest? Well Sandy and Dave showed they had great cores both holding the plank for 3 whole minutes! Well done fellas!

Once done and everyone exhausted it was time for a gentle run back to base, for a bit of a stretch Next week we will be out doing good again, it would be great if you could join us sign up here.