This week New Coventry Trainer Liz took over from myself as she prepares for the launch of GG Cov at the end of March. Hence were this weeks pun came from.

We welcomed another Jonny, Stephen and Isobel to GoodGym for the first time tonight. After a lovely sunny day, we set off towards the canal. Liz split us up into four groups, each litter picking a different area of our adopted part of the canal towpath. Once all our sacks were full and we had a fair few as you can see in the picture, we dumped them off at Aston Lock and headed to Millennium Point.

Once we arrived Liz had an interval session planned. It was run out for 30 seconds hard, then turn and run back 30 seconds, the the same for 45 seconds, 1 minute, then back down to 45 and 30 seconds, this was all done off one minutes rest. Tom powered his way to the front, with Liam, Jonny and John not far off. Stephen put in some great graft in his first session and Isobel, Laura and Karin pushed each other a long. Once done everyone was pretty exhausted, so it was quite a tough up hill run back to 1000 Trades.

Once back at base, Liz got us all stretched off and that was job done. Well done to Liz for providing an enjoyable evening, unfortunately the group will have to put up with my good self again next week!

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

13 runners ran 7k and completed a 1 mile time-trial

Tonight we gave a warm welcome to Charlotte and Helen to GG Brum for the first time.

Our task was a litter pick on our adopted part of the canal, however our litter pickers were nowhere to be seen! We found out that they had been put on the roof and that the person who had the key was not working at the bar that night! Oh dear oh dear! That means our litter pick has been postponed for a few weeks!

Anyway of course we could still do our planned run so we headed to the canal. We ran along onto Millennium Point were we would be doing the 1 mile time-trial.

John, Aaron and David led the way, with George not far back. Aaron making the mistake of thinking he had finished when he still had one lap to go! Whoops! David agonisingly close to breaking the six minute barrier, ran six dead! John just four seconds back. Charlotte and Helen put in great work, pushing hard with Fiona on their first TT. New Coventry trainer Liz ran under eight minutes, showing she will be leading by example when Cov gets going next month and both Liz and Mel worked hard together with their first go at the mile, even managing a sprint finish. Again as usual it was a great team effort, everyone working hard, pulling each other along.

Once done it was picture time and a steady run back to 1000 Trades, followed by a quick stretch off.

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

15 runners ran 5k to drop off donations and do various tasks for Suited for Success

We had a fantastic turn out at GG Brum tonight, considering the snowy weather we got in the afternoon. Joining our lovely group for the first time were Liz and Mel. Liz is the new trainer for Coventry GG, so was shadowing tonight’s run in preparation.

We set off on the short journey to Suited for Success with our bags full of donations. On arrival we were warmly greeted by Tomas. We had a few pictures, the Rob 'mug shot' being my favourite! After handing over our donations there were two tasks to do. One group took a load of clothes to one of our other favourite task sites, Birmingham Mission whilst the other group organised clothing, therefore we had a double whammy of charity helping tonight! I stayed at Suited for Success with the group sorting clothing. Laura telling us some interesting facts about our Solar System, I never knew it would take 50 years to reach Pluto in a rocket!! Once done we set off to St Paul’s Square for an interval session, hoping to meet the other group as they ran back from the Mission. Somehow we missed each other, the other group went to St Paul’s, then back to Suited for Success only to find we were now in St Paul’s! Oh well they had a decent run around anyway!

On the arrival of half of the group in the square, Liz took over. She had us (yes I even joined in this week!!) doing some pyramid intervals, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, 1 minute, then back down all off 30 secs rest. We did it on a nice loop using half of the square, which incorporated, some up hill, down hill and some nice tight turns, definitely a decent loop, oh yes hence this weeks pun! Everyone worked hard, even me, especially on the last rep trying to chase down Sam....I didn’t quite make it! Anyway it was a great little workout, which certainly got us all out of breath!

We then headed back to 1000 Trades were we caught up with the rest of the group and Liz got us all stretched off and that was job done for another week.

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

19 people ran 6k to help feed the homeless and organise clothing for Birmingham Mission Care Centre

Tonight we welcomed a magnificent five newcomers to GG! The Famous five were Lizzie, Katie, Miriam, Angelina and Adriana. It’s great to have you with us and I hope you enjoyed the evening.

We set off to Brum Mission, on arriving we had the usual warm welcome from John, who was very appreciative of our presence as they had a big attendance tonight, so the extra people serving really helped, basically GG came to the rescue, hence this weeks pun! Half the group did the serving and the other half organised clothing upstairs.

Once done it was time for the usual picture, then on to the ‘hill of dome’! Tonight it was eight minutes of running up hard and jogging back down to recover. Aaron shot to the top, Rebecca showed great form with her arms, Fiaz and Fiona pushed really hard. All the Newbies were excellent, Katie showing some great form, Angelina and Adriana worked really hard and Miriam and Lizzie really put in a great shift aswell. It really was a terrific sight seeing a big group pushing each other along, John and George having a great race in the last few seconds of the session, it really was fantastic! Once done, there was time for another picture (there always is!) then it was a steady run back to 1000 Trades taking in a slightly longer jaunt on the way back.

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