An epic evening once again helping out the lovely volunteers at Shepherds Hill Gardens! Deep summer brought all sorts of fresh and woolly faces together into our flock, from the lesser-spotted Peter to first-timer Marija. Great also to see Memory and Anthony out and about, as well as Phil, who walked to and from the site. And we had a visitor, Emily, joining us from Islington and who may come again given how close the gardens are to her.

Many hands made light work. Our host, Pat, had her arm in a sling, so she wasn't as able to get stuck in as she often does. Sprightly still, she made her way around showing us the various jobs and setting us to work. There was bramble-bashing - taken up by Lucy and Subham; some ivy clearing, which Paul and I had a crack at. And then lots of sweeping and tidying for the others, making the area safer and more inviting for visitors to enjoy. One of the Friends of Shepherds Hill, Joan, meanwhile, gave the area a quick litter pick. And, of course, we were joined by the boundless ball of furry energy that is Gus, who did a good job of sniffing out anything interesting in the bushes we might have missed.

Pat's message of thanks described us as, "A jolly and very hard working crew, who have given us peace of mind." Most welcome and we'll be back again soon!

July’s Anytime Litter Pick Round-Up

July saw a flurry of GoodGymers taking to the parks, pavements, and parkruns for some self-led (and often friend-powered) litter picks. Instead of one big group mission, we had a string of solo and paired-up heroes tackling the mess wherever they found it. The results were as varied as they were brilliant: • Peter van Tongeren took charge in Hackney and Redbridge, clearing gas canisters, a Lime bike dumped in a disabled bay, and general rubbish at parkrun. • Epping crew handled general waste with their usual quiet efficiency. • Kidbrooke’s Sutcliffe Park got a deep clean thanks to one dedicated plogger. Not only was a lost ‘Boris Bike’ reported to TfL, but around 200 Himalayan balsam plants were pulled to protect local biodiversity. A toy plane made a soft landing and was thoughtfully left for a young aviator to find. • Paul and Mike turned a casual walk into a purposeful mission, chatting and laughing their way through a clean-up with coffee and compliments from passers-by. • Jackie and Sally teamed up too—proof that plogging is better with pals!

There’s something quietly joyful about doing good in the background—just you, your buddy, and a grabber. People notice. You’ll feel it. And it sticks.

So why not give it a go this August? Grab a mate, your running shoes (or comfy walking ones), and sign up for your own little mission. You’ll get fresh air, friendly waves, and the warm fuzz of doing something that matters. And who knows—you might even find a toy plane of your own.

GoodGym Barnet: Buckets of Fun at Lyttelton!

You just can’t beat GoodGym in the summer – running in T-shirts and shorts, soaking up the evening warmth, and doing something good for the local community. This week, we took on a brand-new task: watering pollinator planters and fruit trees in Lyttelton Playing Fields – a leafy patch of green tucked into Hampstead Garden Suburb.

As always, we gathered outside the trusty Phoenix Cinema, where the pre-run chatter somehow turned to interesting relatives – the kind of chat that’s ripe for a bit of gentle teasing and a guaranteed follow-up during the task. Classic GoodGym: social fitness at its finest.

It was a short jog downhill through quiet streets – just over 2km – with the summer air feeling fresh and just right. This week was extra special as we welcomed back Phil, returning from a long hiatus due to a back injury. We kept the pace relaxed and let him guide the warm-up. No pressure, no race – just people moving together and supporting each other.

At Lyttelton Playing Fields, we were met by Stephen from the local Friends group, who gave us the lowdown on the ongoing community projects in the area. Our task? Give the planters of pollinator-friendly flowers and young fruit trees a solid soaking.

Armed with a very long yellow hose and a battalion of buckets, we set to work. Of course, the hosepipe couldn’t quite reach every corner, so teamwork came into play – some walked, some ran with buckets (some impressively carried two!), while others filled and ferried water back and forth. There was a steady rhythm to it: fill, carry, water, swap. And before long, the trees and planters were all looking perkier.

After wrapping up, most of us jogged back up to the Phoenix for a gentle warm-down – and a well-earned drink at the local pub.

Thanks to everyone who came along, helped out, and made it such a warm and welcoming evening. Check out next week’s run – you can join us at the Phoenix or meet us at the task. See you there for more running and more doing good!

On a gusty evening with glorious clouds, GoodGym Brighton saw a large turnout to celebrate eight incredible years of community missions, group runs and races. To mark the occasion, the group was split into two teams, one meeting at the Queen Victoria statue in Brighton and one meeting at the Peace Statue in Hove, the usual starting points for weekly GoodGym group runs, for a scavenger hunt, tracking down locations (including the odd GoodGym task venue) and numerical answers from a set of tricksy clues devised by GoodGym's ownLiam (for the Brighton hunt route) and Ben (for the Hove one).

Showing their mental acuity is as sharp as their Strava stats, the GoodGym teams bounded through all the required cryptic hoops to successfully deduce the answers, and the teams came together near the twin local icons of the Brighton i360 and the Upside Down House. The sum of all the clues for both teams unlocked a padlock to a golden litter picker, the evening's team captains Philippa and Rosie high-fiving with the collaborative spirit that typifies GoodGym Brighton.

The event was rounded off with a swift beach litter clearance and a lavish picnic sheltered near the shore, featuring a wide variety of drinks, fruit, crisps, falafel, salads, home-made cake and even GoodGym biscuits. All against the backdrop sound of the GoodGym banner flapping in the wind. Or was it applauding?

Sample scavenger hunt clues

Pinocchio's, Brighton (answer = 22)

Meander on down to Brighton's very own West End and catch a show if you have time. Performers might take the odd artistic liberty, but at what number do you find one who has bit more trouble fibbing?

Palmeira Square Floral Clock, Hove (answer = 9)

By no means a limp area! In the middle of traffic time works differently. When the time is next on the hour what would the time o'clock be then?

It's always happy times o' clock at GoodGym! Further afield, Carla and Stefania were getting involved in another hunt, of alpacas 🦙😊.

Thanks Juliet for pulling together this amazing group session and all for the great team work.

Happy birthday GoodGym Brighton! 🌈🎉🎂

Today’s mission saw me cycling in from Lewes along the old Rover Road – a route that turned out to be unexpectedly challenging, thanks to a surprise 200-step slope that required me to carry my bike! But once I arrived at Mrs J’s house, the real task was thankfully a lot easier.

Joined by the ever-cheerful Sherman, we got to work widening a gap in Mrs J’s privet hedge. The aim? To make space for her bins to be collected easily, sparing her the need to drag them up steep steps every week.

Mrs J was a warm and welcoming host, introducing us to her lovely dogs and daughter. She’d sadly lost her husband the year before and had reached out for help through the estate. We were glad to be there.

With a pair of shears, some teamwork, and a bit of pruning finesse, we got the job done in good time. It was simple, satisfying work – one of those small acts of kindness that just feels right.

As a North London GoodGymer, it was a real pleasure to do a bit of “GoodGym tourism” down in Brighton – enjoying the ride, meeting new faces, and being part of a community that always finds a way to make a difference.

Thanks to Sherman and to Brighton for the warm welcome!

A few Goodgym members came online to do yoga.

Yoga talk

Regular yoga practice increases GABA levels in the brain, which are associated with reduced anxiety and improved mood.

A study using MRI scans at Boston University School of Medicine found that after just 12 weeks of yoga, participants had significantly increased levels of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a neurotransmitter that helps calm the nervous system.