# We're back!#

Tonight it started with one, two, three then all of a sudden there were 17 of us inside the lobby of Solutions having many different conversations about what we have been up to over the last two weeks and how much they missed the group runs for the past two Tuesdays.

Why did we have the two weeks break?

Absence makes the heart grows fonder

Everyone was was fueled and ready to go but not before we got the domestics and warm up out of the way, we also welcomed back Ollie who had joined us for his 1st on our last run of 2019, ready to kick off 2020 where he left off. It was nice to see the warm welcome he received on that cold night last December kept him going that he Rushed from work to be there tonight.

Tonight we jogged 3.8km to Tunstall Nursery to help clean up the surroundings and fill the sand pit with sand for the children.

Well done Ian on winning the building competition, while others were busy transporting the sand he took time to build a sculpture of his favorite GG trainer (me) unfortunately because it was built in the sand it somehow did not survive being transport to the sand pit.

I also hear congratulations are in order too for Jenny, she was the queen of shoveling, for those of you who did not attend the pub she let us in on her secret that as a reward her mom had her filling pot holes with gravel on the road leading to her farm so thats where she honed her skills.

With the sand pit full and all the jobs done we bid our farewells and headed outside the nursery for our time trial congratulations to tonights winners Mo and Louisa. I was expecting Louisa to be lifting the crown tonight, because she informed me that she had only just recovered from her illness so would not be exerting too much energy on the time trial, however she let Dovile led the way until just before the last corner then sprinted her way to the finish line.

The Xmas break had been kind to Martin(see pics) and he showed us just how kind by lifting the climbing frame and did some squats, he also lifted the big tyre demonstrating what rest can do and why it is important as runners we listen to our bodies.

This year over in Croydon we are going to behaving a lot of celebrations its a year of milestones for a lot of our members first up we have Ingrid she completed her 99th good deed tonight will the wings appear next week?

Hello you lovely people at GGHQ, keep you fingers very close to the mouse because these are some of the others who will be collecting a special tee this year, Ros (88), Stephanie (85), Ellie (83), Ian (83), Sarah (47), Martin (42) and Hannah (37).

Well done to the Croydon winter warriors I noticed you're all sporting the new badge on your profile pages.

It was great seeing you all today and for the others who were unable to come along today we missed you, and can't wait for your return were you will fill us in on what you've been up to while you were away from us.

Do you fancy joining Steph on her 2020 quest? Last year she vowed to run six 10ks this year fancy helping her achieve her goal?

Next week's group run will be going over to Valley Park to help Pam and the people at Peppermint, do sign up here, you'll be in the capable hands of Andy and Ellie be sure to turn up they have a few treats up their sleeves for you!!

Tonight 13 runners ran 2.3km to Park Hill School, despite the freezing cold conditions to help out in the forest school garden.

We had two visitors along with us tonight Louise (Goodgym Lewisham) and Arran (Goodgym Richmond) thank you both for making the trip to Croydon tonight you could have been anywhere else but you chose to come and join us. We started off the session with our signature photo outside Solutions then headed over to Southern House car park for a rigorous warm up before setting off towards Park Hill School.

When we arrived Esther was there awaiting us she had many different task for us to do, turning over the compost heap and combining two into one, clearing leaves from the pond, mending the raised beds, topping up the soil in the strawberry bed, cutting back some bushes for her to plant two trees and sweeping up the fallen leaves to be placed on the compost heap. The group quickly dived up into small groups and worked on the various tasks. Despite the cold conditions and the fact that it was an outdoor task spirits were still up and they chatted and laughed while discussing many different topics. Before we knew it time had flown by and it was time for us to leave, we bid our farewell and took some more pics before heading back to solutions.

Well done to all the runners who turned out today despite the cold conditions until next week enjoy the rest of your week and keep warm!

Congratulations Dovile and Jenny on completing your 10th good deed tonight.

All the best to our runners taking part in Beddington 10K this weekend. For those who are not going along to watch and fancy a community mission Nicola and a few others will be at Lloyd Park Junior Parkrun, sign up here.

Fancy joining us on a parkrun? On Saturday 7th December members of Goodgym Croydon will be running together as a group at South Norwood Parkrun why not come along and join us, be sure to come in your Goodgym top, we will be going at the pace of the slowest member in the group, sign up here but don't forget your barcode.

Next week we are off to Dovile and Magda's children's school to help with their garden, they have both told the school about us and how marvelous we are at giving 60 minutes make over a run for their money so do sign up and lets not ruin the image the have painted of us.

Last night 14 GoodGymers ran walk, jogged 5km in Broad Green, delivering the Autumn news letter on behalf of Big Local Broad Green an initiative that aims to strengthen and enhance the area through the assets, strengths and connections of local people who live and work there. The initiative will see local citizens building on their talents and aspirations identifying and acting on their own passions and concerns to make their area even an better place to live and work. Backed by £1 million funding over a ten year period. Broad Green is one of 150 areas across the UK chosen to take part in Big Local.

Last night was a night of celebrations that ended with our monthly social to a local eatery/watering hole, were had a lot to celebrate, Sarah's birthday (being good folks we didn't ask her age as we couldn't believe she was old enough to vote as she looks forever young), Rachel completing the Amsterdam Marathon, Peter smashing his goal and recording a personal best in the Croydon 10K, Fiona on completing her first half marathon at the royal parks half marathon, Andy and Lorraine both completing 50 good deeds earning them that Black Tees, Nicola completing her 100th good deeds, which she kept quiet after completing her 99th the night before at Lewisham. With her new set of wings coming she’s definitely taking off!

With thanks to our resident baker, Rachel we had a rhubarb and custard cake to celebrate the various achievements and birthday.

Next week we will be going to Tunstall Nursery and at the end of the task we will be attempting a time trial, have you been practicing your speed work? There are two titles up for grabs. (King and Queen of the segment) Will it be you?

Last night Today 13 runners ran 3km,to ECCO to clear litter along the boulevard and cut back the overgrown ivy.

We welcomed Paula to her first GoodGym outing, she had heard about us from a neighbour and liked the idea so she decided to come and have first hand experience of what a GoodGym session was all about.

Having received our instructions from Jerry about what he wanted us to focus on, we donned our hi-vis vest and embarked on our task. Due to working along the tram tracks and with safety being paramount we doubled up when required to ensure there was always someone looking out for oncoming trams and buses.

The group broke into little sub groups of litter pickers and weeders and hedge trimmers, Ingrid our resident litter picker was in her element wonder up and down the Boulevard looking for litter. Unfortunately for her there wasn’t much litter about which is also a good thing, because the people of Croydon cares about their community and keeping it clean.

At one point we even had Sarah, Nicola, Stephanie and Mo treating us to a performance of the candy dance, we won’t start selling tickets just yet to their performance however it was quite entertaining.

Elsewhere along the path the other members of the group, not having much luck at finding any litter downed their litter pickers and picked up secateurs and brooms (none was able to fly good thing we didn’t try to drown them) however they had a good system in place where the sweepers followed the cutters which meant at the end of the task we had less cleaning up to do as it was done immediately.

Despite being her first outing with us Paula seemed quite at home as she with her lookout Paul in toe worked on trimming the overgrown ivy along the tram side of the raised beds.

That old saying that never gets old “time flies when you’re having fun” because there was a lot of laugher in the group which despite the rain earlier and a few questions as to whether we were still running had all disappeared and drowned out by chatting and laughter. Must have been something to do with it being the last Tuesday of the month!

Next week we will be Flyering for Broad Green Big Local sign up here, there’s going to be a competition!!

Upcoming events

Saturday 28 September Royal Bethlem Park run takeover come and join us there are options for volunteering still available.

Saturday 5 October Spartan Obstacle Race

Saturday 12 October First Cross Country fixture of the season might be too late for you to participate if you are not UK athletics registered however no registration needed for spectators which is always followed by a great re-fueling session in a local public house.

Sunday 13 October Petts Wood 10K

Last night 10 runners ran 6.7km on a hot humid evening to Unique Roots to help Pam spread and move wood chips around the allotment.

When we arrived at the allotment Pam was already there with all the tools laid out awaiting us, she explained to us what was to be done.

Roll out the (wheel) barrow

They all picked up our selected tools and headed out into the allotment chipping away. There was a lot of laughter and banter going around, as the group happily went about their various roles. We had a good production line going with 2 wheel barrows, a big yellow bag and a big yellow... (submarine) sadly not it was a bucket.

Big Yellow Bucket

I'm pickin' up my boots going back to Unique Roots!

Congratulations to Hannah on completing her 11th good deed yesterday, Hannah joined the family in July and there has been no stopping her since she joined, she has been visiting our friends over in Wandsworth on a Monday but always coming back to her roots on a Tuesday.

We're raking it in (in Croydon!)

Sadly Zara's time with us in Croydon has come to an end and she will be heading back to Lambeth, however she has promised us that she will be popping in on us every now and then as Croydon is still her home despite going back to Lambeth. It has been a pleasure having you along with us on our group runs and socials you have been a great addition to our little group, but we all know its not goodbye so until we meet a gain have a good time over in Lambeth and remember don't get lost!

We all chipped in

All the best to Steph who will be swanning off to Jamacia with her family on On Friday, before you go we though you could do with a quick crash course in the local lingo so we all chipped in with a few of the regular words and phrases you're most likely to hear when you're there below.

Don’t bother me – Nuh Badda Mi It is mine – A Fi Mi Good Looking Girl – Criss Ting Just a little – Jus a toops Con Artist – Ginnal Look at that – Coo Deh Can you please – A Beg Yuh Leave me Alone – Lef Mi Oh My Gosh – Jessum Peace Excuse Me – Jus a word Can I pass – Beg yuh pass Take Care – Walk Good Hey there – Pssst Turn there – tun deh so Thank You – tanks Girlfriend – Dawta Fantastic – Irie Children – Pickney Father – Fahda Mother – Madda Right here – yahso I am okay – ya man Serve you just right – ah good Wow – Blouse an skirt Don't forget the RUM! Nuh figet di Rum!

We all chipped together

Although the chips were stacked against us we all chipped together and cleared all the wood chips, had a little chat with Pam before heading back for our end of Month social. On our return to Solutions our resident baker Rachel, was awaiting us with another master piece she had prepared for Zara. Thank you Rachel although she was unable to join us on the group run, she ensured that she would not miss our post run refueling.

Chip off the old block

If you haven’t yet heard, GoodGym is 10 years old next month and we’re having a whole load of celebrations to mark the occasion! A date for your diary is Saturday 21st September when the event mastermind that is Tom Benson will be at it again and is planning the biggest day of community missions ever! Watch out for news of how to get involved coming very soon but it would be great to start thinking about what community missions you could do in your area that day. It’s all very exciting!

Summer is coming to an end, next week we are going back to school as we head over to Tunstall Nursery to help them get ready for the new term sign up here.

Today was the our first meeting following the GG Olympics, Ingrid and Nicola filled us in on the events at the Olympics and how much they had even as spectators. It was nice listening to them talk about the day and even nicer hearing them planning on getting a team together to represent GGCroydon at next year's event. Other GG areas better watchout because GGCroydon is coming to get their medals!

12 GoodGymers who ran 5km to today's task at St Paul's United Reform Church where Revd Martin Knight was awaiting our arrival.

When we arrived Rev. Knight showed us his office now that it was completed we did a group run and community mission there earlier this year to do the painting, the office looks really lovely and professionally painted.

Office inspection over he took us outside to show us the area he wanted us to focus on today. By the side of the church the bushes had grown out of control. We had gloves, secateurs, loppers, shears and an hand saw at our disposal as we all busily went about cutting back the bushes to create a clear walking path.

There was a branch that had fallen from the nearby tree onto the roof, Martin attempted to removed but with all his might and will he was unable to so Myself and Mo went to his rescue, however we realised that it wasn't because MArtin was weak but actually it was because the bushes and vines had grown all over the branch and made it impossible to pull away. BUt not wanting to be defeated with the help of the Rev. we were able to cut away the vines and pull the branch off the roof. As a reward myself, Mo and Martin refueled with the berries around us.

Everyone put in a great shift and it wasn't long before I had to call time, however looking at what it was when we started to how we left it we have made a huge difference, Rev Knight was impressed with what we achieved and thanked us for a job well done.

Well done Hannah you've now completed your 5th good deed, and also been cheered by 25 people!

Farewell to Michelle who will be heading back to the Middle East on Monday, it's always a pleasure having you along and really great how you always find the time to come running with us despite being on holiday.>

Have you got a story?

Have you been inspired by a member of team GB?

GoodGym is joining forces with Team GB later this month and want your stories about who you are inspired by. Please email rebecca@goodgym.org if you have anything you’d like to share.

Next week we are off to the Peppermint Center, if yu have not met the ever bubbly Pam this is your opportunity to so sign up here we normally get to harvest some of the crops for tea.

Today marked my 1 year anniversary with GoodGym Croydon, and it has been a good year running with you all and getting to know you. On to the next 1.

Today 15 runners ran 3km to Park Hill to assist with watering, trimming and pinching the tomato plants.

We welcomed Hannah, Peter and Fiona to their first group run. Shout out to Julian for returning for seconds, he enjoyed it so much he even brought his mom along (Fiona).

Welcome back to Ian, he completed his 50th good deed with Southwark but was back with us tonight for his 51st, the start of his next journey to gaining his wings.

Congratulation on joining the 50s club Ian.

We arrived at Park where Josie was awaiting us, before we started working she ushered us all to her car where she had water and squash awaiting us. Refreshed and watered we went into the walled garden to begin working on the tasks they had for us to complete.

The group broke up into small groups some watered the plants and vegetables while others trimmed the winter Jasmine and cut back the ivy that had managed to intertwined itself into the Jasmine and taken over a section of the wall. Nicola, Peter and Mohamad, were adamant they wanted to see the wal before they leave and made it their personal mission to attack the ivy, in the end their hard work paid off and they uncovered a section of the wall.

Normally Ingrid is our chief litter picker but today she lost her crown to Hannah and had to settle for the watering can. Elsewhere Emma and Julian were busy pinching the tomato plants while other members of the group where given a walking tour of the vegetable patch by Josie with their watering cans in hand.

We completed our tasks and helped tidy up and pack away all the equipments in the rangers station, Josie offered us more water, squash and biscuits.

Although time was upon us we couldn't leave the park without completing a mini fitness session and this week we worked on our planks. Well done all and as usual the friends of Park Hill was left happy with the job we had done, we bid our farewells and ran back to solutions.

If you are unable to attend the Goodgym Olympics, there is still a chance for you to participate, 26 July - 1 August GoodGym OIympics: The Nationwide race

Have you signed up for next week's group run? Sign up here dont forget after the group run we are having a social, sign up here.

Saturday 3 August The GoodGym OIympics