GoodGym Adventure to Barnwood Community Garden – A Night of Fun, Fitness, and Forest Paths

Last night, GoodGym Barnet hit the streets for a session unlike any other! The goal? Make a difference at Barnwood Community Garden, a beautiful green space devoted to connecting people through woodland crafts and Forest Schools. This hidden gem offers people of all ages a place to hone craft skills, enjoy nature, and grow as a community. For us, it was a chance to get outside, work up a sweat, and make some real impact!

We kicked things off with our usual meetup at the Phoenix Cinema, where all but one of us gathered. It was inspiring to see new faces and many others opting to walk, showing GoodGym’s inclusivity in action! To mix things up, we played a quick round of “Two Truths and a Lie” in the cinema foyer, sparking hilarious debates that lasted the whole evening. Rachael’s detective skills were truly tested, especially with the help of her trusty head torch!

After a challenging warm-up, with hill sprints, heel kicks, and crossovers to get our blood pumping, we divided into running and walking groups. George led the runners, taking them on a longer, scenic route, while Paul led the walkers. Along the way, Paul’s group stopped for static squats, building quad strength and some friendly competition. At one point, the walkers challenged the runners to try their squats, which kept spirits high and added some laughs as they raced ahead.

When we finally arrived at the garden, Leo greeted us with a quick briefing on the amazing work Barnwood does, including an inspiring project pairing community mentors over 60 with young people. The night’s task? Laying down fresh woodchip on paths to keep them safe and mud-free for Barnwood’s upcoming Halloween event, complete with pumpkin soup cooked over the open fire!

Jack met us at the venue, despite being on the injured list, as he trains for his marathon. We all pitched in, shoveling and spreading woodchip until the garden looked ready for its Halloween debut. The walkers made an early exit and reached Phoenix just in time to meet up with the runners for a warm-down. Almost everyone stayed afterward to relax, share laughs, and continue the debate over who told the best lies!

This week’s squad of GoodGym heroes:

• Francesco Ruvolo: Braving the autumn heat in a T-shirt!
• Tom: Fast becoming a GoodGym regular and proving his runner’s endurance.
• Jack Da Silva: Cheering us on from the sidelines as he heals for his marathon. Good luck, Jack!
• Rachael Melinek: Walking group back-marker and social media wizard, helping GoodGym spread the word.
• Beattie: Star woodchip shoveler and part of the running crew.
• George Ttoouli: Our fearless running leader!
• Paul Salman: Leading the walkers with strength and skill.
• Lucinda: Opted to walk this time but no stranger to running.
• Hamid: Taking every chance to practice his English and join in.
• Kirsten: First-timer, who we hope will join us again—perhaps in the running group next time?
• Anthony: Another newcomer. Looking forward to having him back for more adventures!

Reflecting on the night, it’s these quirky conversations and shared moments that make GoodGym so unique. Imagine telling your coworkers how you ran through East Finchley, laid woodland paths by night, and debated lies over tea in a cinema lobby. Only at GoodGym! Join us next week for more fun, fitness, and community spirit—walking or running, everyone’s welcome!

Once upon a time, in the ever-changing weather of East Finchley, our brave GoodGym Barnet heroes assembled at the Phoenix Cinema, ready to embark on a noble mission. Their task? To distribute leaflets promoting the cinema’s latest films. But alas, the leaflets were nowhere to be found! Undeterred, they shifted to Plan B—an epic litter-pick along the High Street.

The skies raged with downpours, but our heroes sought refuge in the Phoenix foyer, where they prepped for the battle ahead. Armed with litter pickers, they set out, rain or shine, to rid the streets of unsightly rubbish.

Beattie, with her keen scientific eye, analyzed every scrap with precision, leaving no piece of trash behind. Tom, the swift and strong, raced ahead, gathering the heaviest bag of rubbish, proving that speed and strength win the day. Lucinda, the finder of strange artifacts, unearthed a rare floral arrangement made from litter, earning her the “most unusual find” prize. Paul, the ever-wise strategist, coordinated equipment and worked alongside Tom to pack up a hefty load of debris. George, the rising star, quickly honed his litter-picking skills, and Rachel, the social glue, ensured teamwork was flawless, quietly filling bags without seeking glory.

In an unexpected twist, our heroes stumbled upon a car key—mysteriously abandoned, left safely for its owner. They cleared blocked drains, freed cycle lanes, and even unearthed a massive trash pile at a building site. Meanwhile, Gus, the superhero dog, sniffed out a ball, triumphantly adding it to his collection.

With their mission complete, the team returned to the Phoenix Cinema, where they tied up the Barnet Council bags and basked in the satisfaction of a job well done. Another victory for the GoodGym crew, leaving the streets cleaner and the community stronger!

GoodGym Group Run Report: Helping the Allotment for East Finchley Food Bank

Last evening, our GoodGym team gathered at the historic Phoenix Cinema for a group run with a purpose—this time, to lend a hand at the allotment run by Finchley charities in support of the East Finchley Food Bank. As we assembled, conversation quickly turned to our favorite books and current reads, sparking lively discussions and giving us plenty to chat about during our run along Finchley High Street. It was a great way to discover new titles and connect with each other over shared interests.

GoodGym is all about inclusivity, so our run catered to different fitness levels. We made regular stops to ensure everyone could keep up, and during these breaks, the faster runners took the opportunity to do some squats and kick drops—perfect for strengthening quadriceps and staying warm with a bit of aerobic work.

Upon reaching the allotment gates, we were greeted by Carmel, who gave us an inspiring overview of the charity’s mission and its impact on the community. Energized by her words, we ran down to the plot where we received our tasks for the evening.

The main job was to transport woodchip to the bottom of the allotment, under a fig tree and other trees, to create a space for school groups. The allotment also serves as an educational resource, so this task was particularly meaningful. Armed with wheelbarrows and shovels, we got to work. Meanwhile, a couple of team members continued work on a pond we had started during our last visit. This time, they focused on filling gaps around the edges with soil and spreading sand to create a welcoming area where kids can gather and observe pond life in the future.

Unfortunately, we discovered that one of the plum trees had suffered significant damage, so we carefully removed the broken branches and placed them at the back of the allotment. However, our spirits were lifted when we noticed a perfectly ripe fig, which we joyfully picked and shared, savoring its sweet taste.

The allotment has already produced fresh vegetables for the food bank, including lettuce, and we were pleased to witness the harvest of some potatoes during our visit. As the evening drew to a close, we made sure to finish up by 8:30 pm, ensuring we had time to warm down before heading home.

It was a beautiful, warm summer evening, and the setting sun cast a golden glow over our final moments together. Our group—Paul, Lucinda, Theo, Rachael, Stephanie, and Michaela—left the allotment with a sense of accomplishment, having combined exercise with doing good for the community.

well done to Stephanie on her first GoodGym run hope to see you again. click the link.

Looking forward to the next one!

The sun, in its usual nonchalant manner, was beginning to take its evening bow as seven of GoodGym's stalwart members embarked on a mission that combined the heroic with the horticultural. Beattie, John, Rachel, Moya, Lucinda and Michaela had one single objective: to lay down wood chipping on the forest path at Martin Primary School. This was not merely a whimsical endeavor but a preemptive strike of sorts, ensuring that when September rolled around, the returning children would have a path as smooth as a duke’s handshake, well... or some other minor royal...

But our intrepid heroes were not content with just securing the future of these young scholars’ footwear. No, they had a plan so cunning it could have been devised by a fox with a degree in strategy. Along with the wood chipping, at the end of heir task they carried a bounty of apples, freshly picked from the ground, if one can combine 'freshly' and 'ground' in a single sentence.

As they reached the school, the scene was one of industrious delight. The air was filled with the mingling scents of freshly chipped wood, very hot underneath, and the crisp, tangy aroma of apples that would have had even the most jaded of noses twitching in appreciation. With the precision of landscape artists, they spread the wood chippings, transforming the once earthy track into a path fit for the most discerning of schoolchildren.

And the apples? Well, they were carefully stowed away, ready for the day when one of their number would be seized by the irresistible urge to turn them into something far greater than the sum of their parts. A crumble, perhaps, that would one day be enjoyed with the same satisfaction as a job well done.

So it was that the GoodGym runners departed, leaving behind a path as welcoming as an old friend and a stash of apples with potential yet untapped. The children will return in September to a pathway worthy of a fairy tale, and one day, perhaps, that apple crumble would come to pass—a fitting end to a fruit-ful day. Well done everyone!