Four Goodgymmers - plus Gus! - jogged their way to Martin Primary School to help spread mulch around their forest school. After a quick warm up outside the Phoenix Cinema, Paul and Gus took up back marking, while Anthony and Emily followed my lead along the High Road to the school.

After a brisk jog, we arrived to find tools and mulch waiting for us. We knew the drill and set upon the mulch pile, taking turns to rake, shovel. Then, with headtorches on, we wheeled the mulch down through the orchard to the 'parachute' area - a big tent made from an actual parachute! Then we refreshed the ground and gates.

We scraped up just about all the remaining mulch, but not to worry, the janitor tells us they're expecting a big delivery any day now, so we'll be back all through the coming months to keep those paths well-covered. A great task for a crisp evening!

Next week we're back to Shepherds Hill Gardens - it's a longer run and a great work out tidying paths, trimming hedges and raking and clearing. Looking forward to it!

GoodGym Barnet – Joyful Hydration & Time-Travelling Conversations

Six of us gathered outside the Phoenix Cinema and, before even breaking sweat, launched into a surprisingly philosophical warm-up: “If you could observe any period in history, where & when would you go?” Answers ranged from Aztec civilisation to Victorian London – the kind of discussion that might get us expelled from most running clubs but is positively encouraged at GoodGym.( well Barnett anyway.)

With our time-machine firmly parked, we jogged off towards Lyttelton Playing Fields to give the planters and orchard some much-needed love. Sadly, our host Steven was ill – but, being seasoned water-warriors, we knew the drill.

We gently built up the pace downhill, tracing the buried course of Mutton Brook (underground river, very on-trend). A quick on-the-spot exercise stop – complete with skipping – reminded us that fitness can (and should) still feel playful. One of our newer recruits Emilysummed it up perfectly as “joyful movement”.

On arrival, we uncoiled a hose of comedic length which, inevitably, didn’t reach all the planters. Enter: Buckets. Suddenly we were running relays across the field, racing to deliver precious water before any of it escaped. Orchard next – further, heavier, and definitely sweatier – but the teamwork was brilliant and spirits remained high. Honestly, the Aztecs would have been proud.

Buckets emptied and hose recoiled (no small feat), we still had a few minutes left – so naturally, yoga and star jumps. The latter required several “just one more!” photographs, which definitely qualified as bonus cardio.

We jogged back into the darkening evening, happy, hydrated (us and the trees), and reminded that community + exercise + a bit of silliness = exactly what GoodGym is all about.

Come and join next time – time travel optional, skipping encouraged.

Yesterday 4 runners ran to the Croydon Refugee Day Centre to sort through the donations.

Three of us met at Solutions Gym to warm up and take a gentle jog along the streets of Croydon to the Refugee Day Centre. Although it wasn't far Rosalind beat us there! A task we have visited frequently, Ivanka met us and let us know what she had in store for us tonight. There were a few new bags of donations which needed to be sorted, sized and placed on the racks. Ingrid was busy sorting through the school uniform, and at the end of the session Emily saw for the first time how everything in the hall can be tidied away into the much smaller store room. Always an impressive feat of packing!

A lovely task to be a part of. Join us at the weekend for a community mission or our next group run on Tuesday where we will be working wonders along the boulevard with ECCO.