Impressive was the stamina of yesterday’s Brighton GoodGym-ers who did not even hesitate to get out in a cold Autumnal evening for a short run to Palmeira Square to help the Palmeira and Adelaide Garden Group. New heroic GoodGym-er Sonam joined us for the first time, in shorts 😊

As usual, our lovely Stuart, who is the patron of all the good conservation happening in Palmeira Square’s green spaces, welcomed us ready for action with rakes, brooms and leaves grabbers to remove all the Autumnal leaves from the footpaths around the Floral Clock.

On continuing move and with grand co-ordination of group effort, we managed to clear all the pavements without (almost) freezing our hands and feet. Soon after the GoodGym-ers were joined by Brighton & Hove council's forces contributing to the clearance of the streets and to our greatest satisfaction!

The Floral Clock is now ready for the Christmas lights switch-ons happening this coming weekend!

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On a cold November night 13 intrepid GoodGym-ers made the short run over to the Brighton Community Kitchen to give it a good clean and a freshen up. We were joined on the task by first-timers Steve and Nicole!

Upon arrival, Jo from the kitchen explained to us the mission of the kitchen (part of the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership) to offer practical cookery skills and nutrition education to people facing food insecurity with their community cooking classes. The classes also help foster a community spirit, tackle social isolation and promote mental health.

With the help of one of Jo's famous checklists we split into groups to tackle sorting out the plastic bowls (Russian Doll-style), ordering plates, chopping boards and cutlery, giving all the stools and chairs a thorough clean, giving the ovens a deep clean and squeegeeing the outside windowsills.

Although ostensibly an altruistic mission, some GoodGym-ers got immense satisfaction from ensuring that everything was in its proper, ordered, place in the kitchen (cough, cough, Jane).

Once we'd got through all of that Jo thanked us and said that although it seems like a small thing to do these tasks, it makes a huge difference to the her as they are things that she just doesn't find time to do.

We said goodbye to Jo with a promise to return early next year and headed-off to the nearby Basketmakers Arms for a pie-and-pint social which was expertly organised by an absent Frannie!

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“I change my behaviour” “Better in a group” “I have to plan a well-lit route” “Scared” “Goodgym helps to motivate me” “My superpower is fear” “No headphones” “Everyone should feel safe to run at night”

These are just some of the things we wrote on our #LetsLiftTheCurfew flag, as we joined This Girl Can’s campaign to raise awareness of the concerns and fears many women face when it comes to getting active in the darker months.

Together we ran one mile to meet local councillor Tim at our meeting point in Hanover, where we were put to task helping to clean up graffiti, cutting back bushes, and picking up litter. When our work was done, we gathered to reflect on how we feel when it comes to running in the dark. From feeling scared and self-aware, to planning safe routes and not wearing headphones - it was clear that the darker months can make keeping fit more challenging for some of us. However, we all agreed that running in groups like GoodGym really help to alleviate those fears, and we’re super grateful for the safe, friendly, and inclusive community we’ve made together.

For more information on how GoodGym are supporting the This Girl Can #LetsLiftTheCurfew campaign, read the story here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/stories/this-girl-can-x-goodgym

Welcome Charlotte and Mariangela - come back next week!

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Brrr! Yesterday was a cold and rainy evening – a shocking return to the English weather for Stefania but nicely warmed up by the greetings of a grand group of Brighton GoodGym-ers ready for action!

We conquered Victoria Gardens by running several loops and alternating running fitness exercises with speeding up legs to keep us warm before leading to our task. But, this was not there available to our surprise! Never minded, and freewheeling, this GoodGym session turned to be a great social gathering at Lord Nelson Pub, where Michelle organised a quiz night for us, thank you!

GoodGym Teams: ”Good-ER Gym-ERs” and ”Great Guys” quizzed the names of cakes and guessed colours by answering multiple (and more) questions, but there is never a black or white answer for everthing, isn’t here? (Tom’s quote 😉)

We welcomed Matthew to join the fun and return to our future group sessions!

On a humid September evening we ran and cycled down Lewes Road to Moulsecoomb Primary School to help them prepare their school field for the first day of term the following day.

However, this wasn’t just your bog-standard school field. Upon arrival Warren gave us a little tour and showed us the replica Iron Age Roundhouse, a Clay House, some beautiful flowers and a vegetable patch all covered in wild grass plus a new greenhouse. The students get to explore the buildings in their history classes and they help out (and sometimes even enjoy!) maintaining the vegetable patch too. We were joined on the task by first time Goodgymers Andy and Tom - welcome to both!

We were tasked with removing the Bindweed from the Vegetable patch, weeding and moving and bagging the ready-to-go compost from the compost patch. Fittingly, and much like a school disco, we split into a boys group and a girls group, and although we didn’t dance separately we did all roll our sleeves up and get going! Apart from a few vicious (and as yet unidentified) insects in the vegetable patch everything went swimmingly and we were able to leave Warren with a few manageable tasks for the children to finish on their return.

No pub for us afterwards, all the Brighton Goodgymers needed an early night before the first day of school the next day 🤓