The Coldfall Chronicles: A Heroic Ramble Through the Woods of Barnet

On a balmy spring evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the dense foliage of Coldfall Woods, a band of intrepid adventurers assembled. Their mission: to aid the venerable Linda and the Friends of Coldfall Woods in their noble quest to rid the forest’s edge of litter and debris. This was no ordinary gathering; it was the GoodGym Barnet brigade, a motley crew of runners, walkers, and cyclists. The Assembled Heroes: • Freya embarking on her maiden voyage with GoodGym Barnet, displayed the enthusiasm of a seasoned explorer. Her strides were purposeful, her spirit indomitable, leading the charge with a vigor that belied her novice status. give her a cheer! • Sally, the seasoned sentinel, took up the rear, ensuring no comrade was left behind. Her experience was a beacon, guiding the group with a steady hand and an encouraging word. • Ewelinaand George, the steadfast foot soldiers, opted for a brisk march, navigating the terain with precision and arriving at the meeting point ahead of the fleet-footed runners—a testament to their superior planning. • Theodore, the youthful chronicler, wielded his camera ( or more like my mobile phone!) like a sword, capturing moments of levity and toil, urging his compatriots to strike poses that would immortalize their efforts in the annals of GoodGym lore.( yes the classic jazz hands.) • Lucinda, a regular presence, brought consistency and cheer, her dedication shining as brightly as the evening sun filtering through the canopy. • Subham, whose past exploits in the realm of frisbee were the stuff of legend, joined the fray despite nursing an injury—a true testament to his unwavering commitment. • Paul, the seasoned runner, with tales about the merits of yoga and the learnings from his dog Gus!

The Quest:

Armed with litter pickers and an unyielding sense of purpose, the group ventured into the underbrush, uncovering hidden caches of refuse that marred the natural beauty of the woods. Each piece of litter collected was a small victory, a step towards restoring the forest to its pristine state. The task, though humble, was carried out with the zeal of knights on a crusade! As twilight descended, the heroes reconvened at the Phoenix, their mission accomplished.

The GoodGym Barnet team may not seek the spotlight, but their consistent efforts in Coldfall Woods ( and other good causes are available ) reflect true heroism.

GoodGym Barnet: Sprinting Through Spring for Lyttelton Park!

Despite an April forecast that couldn’t make up its mind — one minute torrential downpour, the next bursts of spring sunshine — luck was on our side this Tuesday evening. The skies held off just long enough for our GoodGym mission to go ahead rain-free, giving us the perfect excuse to lace up, head out, and do some good.

We gathered, as ever, at the Phoenix Cinema, where the evening kicked off with a celebration: George’s 50th good deed! (Well, technically his 51st — but who’s counting?) A big shoutout to George for reaching this milestone. Your commitment is legendary!

There was also a warm welcome to new runner Sonya joining us for her very first GoodGym mission — we hope it’s the first of many. And it was lovely to see Jackie and Sally back with us again after a bit of a break — it felt like the crew was reuniting in full spring spirit.

We squeezed into the cinema vestibule for a quick briefing — the usual safety chat, a bit of numbering up, and some fun exchanges about the weirdest jobs we’ve ever had (which definitely sparked some laughter and kept the chat flowing well into the run).

Our mission: to help the Friends of Lyttelton Playing Fields spread the word about their brilliant plans for an accessible, all-weather 1km path in the park — complete with rewilding spaces and better access for all. Our job? Delivering 600 leaflets to encourage locals to take part in the public consultation.

We warmed up with a gentle run to meet Dominic, our contact from the Friends group — although he was running a little late (in true GoodGym fashion, we turned that into an opportunity for some bonus warm-up exercises). Once leaflets were in hand, we hit the streets.

Brim Hill was our battleground — split into teams of three, we worked both sides of the road, ducking down side streets and hitting letterboxes with near-professional efficiency. Leaflets flew, steps racked up, and the evening unfolded in that golden way only spring evenings can — streets lined with blossoming cherry trees, birdsong in the air, and a sunset that made the whole run feel like something from a film set.

With the job done ahead of time, we turned the journey back into a mini training session — sprint drills along the way, followed by a gentle warm-down as we made our way back to Phoenix.

And, of course, no mission is complete without the post-run social. A well-earned drink at the local pub gave us time to chat, laugh, and reflect on the evening’s work.

There’s something magical about springtime volunteering: the sense of community, the rhythm of your feet on the pavement, and the knowledge that every leaflet dropped might help make Lyttelton Park just a little greener, more accessible, and more loved.

Why not join us next time? The sunsets are free, the laughs are plenty, and you might just find yourself doing your 50th good deed before you know it.

A few goodgym people did online yoga!

Two Goodgymmers rocked up for a graveyard shift (around 09:30) at St Katherine's on Friern Barnet Lane, a church site which features in the Domesday book it's so old.

We met Yiannis, a volunteer from the local community, and Mikis the verger, and later the priest joined us also. Together we cleared litter from the grounds and sharpened the edges of the fence and paths, while Yiannis used a blower to clear the grounds. There was more to do than we could manage in the time, but we made a big dent in the job of getting the area clear for the Easter procession next week and they were very grateful.

A few people came online to do Goodgym Yoga.

Yoga talk Get rid of the Fuzz Dr Gil Hedley explains brilliantly in his online talk that in order for the body to be optimally healthy and feel physically good, it’s important to move at the beginning of the day. Overnight, our muscles rest and while they’re not moving, layers of connective tissue and bodily fluid – fondly known as ‘fuzz’ – builds up between them. That urge to stretch we get upon waking is essentially an act of releasing the fuzzy build up found between muscles. If we don’t move and stretch however, this layer continues to thicken and build up, causing stiffness, chronically ‘tight’ muscles and common aches and pains.