Three GoodGymmers braved the muddy course at Morden Parkrun this week, proving that even when the going gets tough, the tough get going (and a little bit muddy!). The dynamic duo of marshals, Paul and Jade, kept runners on the straight and narrow (or as straight as it could be on the muddy course!), offering encouragement and preventing any pile-ups. Meanwhile, Mike achieved a PB and crossed the finish line in plenty of time to wield a barcode scanner, demonstrating true multi-tasking prowess.

Despite the slippery conditions, spirits remained high, with plenty of smiles and a quick coffee before heading of, some to another Goodgym session and more mud.

A huge thank you to Morden Parkrun for having us! We look forward to returning soon and hopefully finding the course a little less boggy. Join us next month: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/volunteer-at-morden-parkrun-8a6cda09-9c04-4b6c-84b6-84dacac3a607

Goodgym Merton and Kingston teamed up and donned their red t.shirts in support of Dons Local Action Group (DLAG); quadrupling efforts braving the Wimbledon chill today. A perfect double date for Valentine's, spreading the GoodGym love (and leaflets!) outside Morrisons. We were keen to share the love beyond just chocolates and flowers, highlighting our community effort and volunteering opportunities with all that would listen. Our mission: to recruit new members to GoodGym Merton. As we chatted to shoppers, explaining our work and the benefits of joining the team we tried not to get caught up in the buzz of Downton Abbey free film tickets!

It was heartening to discover a few people had already heard of GoodGym. One individual who was already a member didn't know of the recently launched Merton area, so it shows the importance of getting out into the community and spreading the word!

We hope this is just the start of a great collaboration with DLAG and we will continue to share the love and make a difference in our community together. A big shout-out to Petra and Mike who were instrumental in making this possible. Happy Valentine's ❤️.

Six Goodgymers braved the cold, drizzly weather tonight to support Merton's Community Fridge for a deep cleaning mission. Mike and Jade met our newly qualified run leader, Caroline, for the first of what we hope to be regular group run.

Emily and Rufu were already there when the runners arrived, and Georgina joined just in time for Siobhan to brief us.

There were numerous crates to shift out of the storage area to allow a proper clean. Then the fridges needed to be emptied (and wiped down) and moved so we could vacuum thoroughly behind them. Next came the cloths and spray, and with sheer determination, we tackled the often-neglected areas below and around the shelving units.

It was a real workout, with lots of heavy lifting as we manoeuvred crates of food, hauled out boxes and scrubbed at stubborn stains on shelves; then wrestled to get everything back in the right places, with a bit of reorganising along the way. Some serious grime was removed and the space felt a little lighter by the end. A huge thank you to all who joined us and put in such a fantastic effort – you're all fridge-tastic!

Our next group run and session will be in a couple of weeks, so do join us if you can: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/kitchen-spring-clean-tidy