We kicked off last night's run with the excellent news that we are record breakers - with the largest number of good deeds done in GoodGym history last week. With an enormous 1621 runs to help out an elderly person or support a community project, the impact you are having is incredible. Keep it up GoodGym!

Speaking of huge numbers, the January challenge is going pretty well for Wandsworth, with an impressive 114 out of a goal of 220 good deeds done. We do need to work on the distance a bit though, as we've currently clocked up only 873 out of 3000 kilometres. I know you are running machines though, and every step counts, so lets make the rest of the month count!

Last night we welcomed three lovely new runners to the group - please give a big Wandsworth welcome to Jane, Sonja and Julie . Great to have you run with us!

If you do know anybody who is keen to find out about GoodGym but is a bit nervous about coming along or unsure about fitness levels then point them in this direction. I'm running a start session which is designed for new runners on saturday, but if you're up for a little extra weekend GoodGyming, then experienced GGers are also very welcome!

• A light bulb moment*

Last night our task was at a local estate, but before we set off we did a few exercises to get our hearts pumping and warm up our cold muscles while discussing our fav films. Gladiator came out top, while Lion King, Mary Poppins and, appropriately, Speed were also mentioned.

The task was only a short 2k run away so we set off at a steady clip, only pausing for a few lunges and squats along the way. We arrived to find Donna, the Chairperson of Kambala Cares, the organisation set up to support the local community there, waiting for us with spades, bulbs, brooms and bags, and we divided up into two groups to tackle the two jobs she had for us.

Naughty squirrels had been digging up the bulbs we had carefully planted a few weeks ago, so we got stuck in with a whole new lot of them. Meanwhile, 18 other industrious GGers got going with a thorough litter and junk clean up, filling up a huge number of bags. Nice work team!

After just over half an hour of work, we waved goodbye to Donna and Andrew and set off for the river to do an intense fitness session. In three different groups, we worked on cardio, conditioning and sprints, focussing on a technical point each time. This wasn't an easy session, but you guys smashed it - well done on the effort! By combining strength work with high energy sprints the session is really effective - do this regularly and you will definitely see an improvement in your speed!

All that was left was a fast run back to base - apologies I got you back a little later than normal last night! - but well done on a great session where we got so much done. Next week we've got a short run down to a local school to help create an outdoor learning space (and we'll be back on time!) . Sign up here for more GG Wandsworth fun - see you then!

HAPPY NEW YEAR GOODGYM WANDSWORTH!

We really started off 2019 with a bang - no less than 46 amazing runners ran 5k, smashed out a whole range of jobs for a community garden, and took on a tough fitness session all in the name of getting fit and doing good.

The January Challenge!

As some of you know, every year we take part in the January challenge. This is a bit of (friendly!) competition between GoodGym areas to see who can rack up the most good deeds and distance in the gloomiest month of the year - it's a really good motivation when it's a bit dark and cold outside. This year our goal is a biggie! We have no less than 220 good deeds to reach, and a whopping 3000 kilometres. We can do it! Just make sure you're connected to Strava so all your training miles are counted, and come along to as many group runs and missions as you can squeeze in - everything counts towards our target. Go team!

Well done to everybody who did races and parkruns over the festive season - don't forgt there is a parkrun every Saturday morning at 9am. It's a free, timed 5k and a great way to get fitter, improve your times and also to meet up with your GG buddies - wear your red tshirt with pride!

Need for Speed

After a quick intro and catch up in the BAC we headed outside for our warm up which got our muscles ready for the run ahead. We also found out about eachother's resolutions for 2019. There were a happy number of running and GoodGym goals (hurrah!) as well as promises to cut down on plastic, drink more, drink less, remain fabulous, eat less meat and read more books. You are an inspiring bunch!

Our task tonight was at Doddington and Rollo rooftop garden, a space which has been transformed from a neglected multistorey roof into an amazing community garden for local residents to grow their own fruit and veg. So after a stead run down there, stopping only briefly for some conditioning reps, we arrived to find the volunteers waiting for us with a list of jobs.

Tasks included cutting back vines, weeding, shifting heavy pots, sorting compost, turning over soil and we quickly divided up into teams to tackle them. It was incredibly seeing you all work so hard - looking round the garden is was a buzz of activity and so impressive to see what a big team of people can achieve in half an hour. That work would have taken the volunteers a significant chunk of time, so well done for making such a difference.

Tools down, we jogged over to Battersea Park for our fitness session. We kicked off the first one of 2019 with everybody's favourite/worst challenge - Sally Squats. This is a serious bit of thigh-burning conditioning, and we all found ourselves how blimming long Sally was going to be up and and down - was it the extended version? Was it on a loop? Finally it came to the end with everybody gritting their teeth and nobody giving up. If hat wasn't enough we then did a total body workout circuit, which sadly (I can tell you were devastated) had to be cut short because we ran out of time.

After a speedy run back to our starting point we paused at the bottom of the hill at the BAC for a final tough sprint before Danny kindly led us though our much needed stretches. What a brilliant way to kick off the year, team. Next week we're back doing the same and edging ever closer to reaching our January target! Hope to see you - until then, happy running!