31 GoodGymers were out in force around Camden last night - the rain held off just long enough for us!

After a power cut at the Living Centre, we had to regroup at the Coffee House (our usual pub ending point for the run) and leave our bags there.

NOTE: This will be the same drill next week as there's another power cut planned for Wednesday 26th Feb. Make sure you come to the Coffee House, 60 Chalton St, Somers Town, London NW1 1HS for 18:45 next Wednesday.

After a quicker than normal intro speech, we had not one but two big milestones to cheer:

• Beth hit 100 Good Deeds and wore the Camden Cape with all the felt, bells and whistles on. It was a particularly windy night last night, so lots of cape-flapping in on the run (and ceilidh at Cecil Sharp!).

• Our very own Liz continued climbing the Heroes leaderboard by hitting 400!! Please do give both of them a big ol' Camden cheer before you read on.

There was so, so much cake in the pub that was it was difficult to peel ourselves away to go running in the wind, but Reader, we did and we did well.

Coffee House Report (written by Liz)

Having volunteered as tribute to look after the bags in our usual pub, I spent my time scaring people away by alternating between reading science(TM) documents (not aloud), and by overloading them with cakes/biscuits whenever they ventured too close (cakes/biscuits courtesy of Beth). The scaredy-cakes worked, and everyone's gear was still there at the end of the run.

C4WS Report (written by Chris)

The team of 12 runners, led by Chris, headed off earlier than the rest of us to get down to C4WS to make the beds for the homeless as normal. We've only got a few more weeks running there now, so if you'd like to make beds and you haven't before, come along on Wednesday nights - our last evening of bed-making is on the 25th March.

12 runners made 12 beds - 6 men's, 4 women's and 2 volunteers up on the stage. Nice. After that it was a longer run around Camden, coming in at 5.8km in total before the C4WS team arrived back at the pub ahead of the ceilidh-ing crew.

Cecil Sharp House Report

Hitting the pavement up to Cecil Sharp House, we arrived in good time for Susannah but unfortunately she was nowhere to be seen! We searched around and spoke to the reception team but nobody could get through. We couldn't into the shed to get the tools and there was no information left about the task so we couldn't get stuck in as we normally do so instead we danced!

While we were waiting to see if Susannah was just running late, the staff let us come out of the cold into the dancing room (and Strictly rehearsal space, apparently!). The inimitable Lizzy with her font of dancing knowledge then became the impromptu ceilidh instructor and, luckily, we were even numbers so everyone had a partner. After a few practice run-throughs of the different steps, it was time for the real thing and boy, was it a wonderful sight.

A few times through, it was time for us to run back to the Coffee House, full of beans and with empty stomachs ready for the cake-geddon that was to follow. For the lack of doing good in the community, we certainly came away feeling that we'd done some good in the GoodGym Camden community - the laughter was never-ending as we were dancing.

I think we saved a night of a few mishaps. Well done all. There'll also be a ceilidh social at Cecil Sharp in April, so come along to that!

NEXT TIME

COMMUNITY MISSION: This Saturday, a team of us are going to the Great Croft Age UK day centre gardens to help out with some weeding and organising. Jade and the team are working on the next phase for the garden and need our help to get the plans in motion. We'll meet at 1pm on Saturday by the gates to the gardens on Harrison Street - sign up now!

NEXT WEEK: February has been a strange month for tasks - everyone seems to be on holiday or not replying to emails. We'll definitely be going back to C4WS but the second task is TBC. Get your name down and I'll look forward to seeing you there with us. Meet at 18:45 at the Coffee House, NW1 1HS instead next week, instead of our normal meeting place!

34 GoodGymers hit the ground running in Camden last night as the final of the Christmas Tree Run loomed large.

We tried an slightly-earlier-than-normal intro speech so we could set the American International Church team off to avoid a crossover. From the good feedback we got from it, I'm going to keep doing this until our runs to C4WS finish at the end of next month.

N.B. If you can, try and get to us at St Pancras & Somers Town Living Centre for a 6:55 start (not the normal 7pm) for the next 6 weeks, it would be really appreciated. This is to minimise the crossover with the homeless shelter users and us. I'll keep reminding you about it in the GoodGym Camden weekly email on Mondays, just in case.

Tonight was also a special night for me as I - finally - hit 50 Good Deeds! Dear runner, you'll be pleased to know that I have - with all the haste of a thousand winds - ordered my black t-shirt and will be wearing it at least once before going back to the Trainer Red t-shirt. Thanks Abi for the shout-out and Liz for baking two of the most delicious cakes I've had in a long time. That chocolate one just melted in my mouth. Delicious. Go and give her a cheer if you had a slice.

C4WS Report (written by Beth)

10 of us ran 3km to help the American International Church with their winter homeless shelter. We made up 10 beds very quickly and then had a chat with Jonathan, the Minister. He said that they have had over 30 guests so far this season, the majority of whom have since gone on to more permanent living arrangements - a real testimony to the dedication of the team’s holistic approach to caring for the local homeless population.

Jonathan invited GoodGym to their Volunteer Appreciation Supper on 6th May - it would be great to have some representatives from GoodGym there, so do put the date in your diary and go along. We'll pass on more info closer to the time.

Christmas Tree Run (Part 2)

Tonight was the final outing of the Second-Annual Camden Christmas Tree Run and boy did we get some miles in! Collecting 23 trees this late in January was a great effort and well done all who took part.

Without further ado, the results you've all been waiting for:

WINNERS! Team Breaking and Entreeing - 8!

Team Cirque de Pine - 6 (with a whopping 9.23km run!)

Treem Tree - 6 (2.5km)

Team Januar-Tree - 4

Team Weren't We-Supposed-To-Be-Running-The-Short-Route?! - 4

It was lovely to see a mix of old and new-ish Camden runners running together in last night's teams. I was out on a Sadiq Bike (they change name with each new Mayor, right?!) checking in on a few teams as the competition was going and seeing you all sprint around, plan your attacks and lug trees to the various collection points all in the spirit of GoodGym was brill. Keep coming back - you're what makes good GoodGym so well... great!

Next time

COMMUNITY MISSIONS, AHOY! As the January Challenge approaches week three, we're cracking on with missions. Fancy volunteering at the Ally Pally Parkrun this Saturday 8:30-10? A few of us are heading up there and you're more than welcome to come along. Community missions are a good way to get a feel for what GoodGym's about without the numbers we usually get on Wednesdays, especially so if you're really busy in the weekdays as a lot of us are.

Sally's leading another community mission down in SE15 with Plastic Free Peckham from 2-4pm on Sunday. If you're feeling extra good, why not try both?

It's also the first Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) community mission of 2020 this Sunday 11-1pm. There was also talk of an after-task picnic, potentially with some cider in the sunshine. They're a lovely bunch up there and I'm sure they'd love to see even more people come along.

NEXT WEEK Normal Christmas-tree-less service resumes next Wednesday as we run back to C4WS (homeless shelter). A bigger group of us are running to Cecil Sharp House for the first time in 2020 for some weeding, clearing and tidying up of their garden spaces. Come one, come all.

Have a great week (and don't forget to get those Strava profiles linked to add your miles to the Camden January Challenge)!

Ben

GOODGYM CAMDEN PIZZA PARTY: As it's nearly Christmas, we're all going to get together after next week's run and eat pizza at Happy Face in Granary Square. We're a big group - there's 28 of you signed up to come - so the restaurant is asking for a £5 deposit per head. If you've signed up online, please give me your choice of pizza and find out how to send me your fiver here.

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28 GoodGymers came out in the freezing cold tonight to run with Camden on Wednesday night and what a night it was.

We had THREE newbies join the herd tonight - welcome Emily, Jen and Isabelle (thanks for singing our praises, Poppy)! I hope you thought GoodGym was even better than you expected it'd be and we look forward to having you back with us soon.

Here's next week's run in case you want to sign up right now - we'll be bed-making and Christmas-decorating and then... PIZZA EATING.

Before we got warmed up, there were not one but TWO huge announcements to be made:

• Steve Coman has just reached his 400th Good Deed! That's massive, Steve, and you should be really proud of what you've achieved. That's 400 times you could otherwise have been doing something else but instead you chose to come along and do good for the community, big congrats for that!
• Liz also achieved the previously un-achievable; she's only gone and managed to do 250 Good Deeds in a year (and counting!). With 365 days in a year, Liz has shown some serious, serious commitment to GoodGym all across London, from community missions, to group runs and missions - often completing several in a day. All our hats are doffed to both of ye!

As with all our winter tasks, we split the group. One group ran with Louise up to Cecil Sharp House and another smaller group ran with me to C4WS to make some beds.

Cecil Sharp House Louise took 16 runners up to the Home of Folk. Susannah wasn't there, but had instead transformed into Clark and David who told the group what needed doing. Splitting the 16 up in a Ronseal approach, there was Team Front, Team Path, Team Back Garden and Team Car Park - who said GoodGym wasn't glamorous! While being serenaded by a choir concert happening at the same time the teams got on with sweeping and leafing. EIGHT BAGS of leaves were filled up in no time at all, and soon it was time to head back to base.

C4WS After a short run down to C4WS, 12 of us got stuck into into bed-making for the Jonathan and the American International Church team. There were 5 beds to be made in the women's room and 12 beds in the mens. Unfortunately, there was a bit of confusion about missing sheets, duvet covers, duvets and pillows which meant we overran a bit (the group collectively breathed a sigh of relief that there would be one less lap of Granary Square!). Jonathan had to run out to Primark while the folks were having their dinner at the shelter for the last 7 duvet covers, but promised us that next week it would be back to the slick operation it otherwise always is!

After a run on to Granary Square, the group did a lap, had a quick photo with the Christmas trees (not the neon one, but the nicer ones) and then a slow jog back to the Living Centre for a stretch and a cool down.

As it was Liz's 250th Good Deed in just a year (she's done even more than that, don't worry!) - I baked a lemon drizzle cake and Beth made her a really lovely bracelet with the GoodGym colours which we ate and admired (in that order) at the pub later on.

COMING UP

COMMUNITY MISSION: David from Russell Square Gardens has asked for our help once more this coming Saturday to bulb-plant and leaf-clear. Four of us were there last week and it would be great to see some more friendly faces - it kicks off at 11am and you can sign up right here.

GOODGYM CHRISTMAS PARTY: GoodGym are getting festive this Friday at Stephen's House in Finchley Central from 7pm. It's £5 entry and fancy dress is very very welcome. Find out more here.

GOODGYM CAMDEN PIZZA PARTY: As it's nearly Christmas, we're all going to get together after next week's run and eat pizza at Happy Face in Granary Square. We're a big group, so the restaurant is asking for a £5 deposit per head. Give me your choice of pizza and find out how to send me your fiver here.

NEXT WEEK: We're going to be bed-making at C4WS and Christmas-decorating at SPCA on next week's group run. Get your name down here for what will be our second to last run of the year!.

Phew. And breathe.

That's all for this week folks, see you next time.

Happy running,