On a warm and pleasant summer evening four of Goodgym's finest runners met to do good and ran 5km in the process.

This week's task was a return to helping restore the ironwork around Wanstead House Community Association - our regular meeting point each week. After many years of weather the various gates and fences around the house have become tatty with rust taking over. Armed with paint stripping tools, cans of rust killer and Hammerite the team set to work, working up quite a sweat on the stubborn rust and paint. This is a huge job but within 40 minutes the two front gates had been stripped down and treated and ready for painting. Nice work team.

With the task done it was time to head out in the dry fields of Epping Forest for a 5km run around Eagle Pond and enjoy the stunning views of Leytonstone flats.

Next week its Goodgym Redbridge's second birthday and we're returning to where it all started - Redbridge Lane Allotments. Why not join us for a run, task and cheeky pint at The George. You can sign up using the link on the right.

On a warm summers eve, 4 of Redbridge finest ladies got together with lil 'ol me to do what Goodgymmers do best - helping out in the community.

This balmy evening we didn't have just one, but two tasks to deal with! So at 7 on the dot an eager squad moved out towards Wanstead tube station for part 1. Marian, the energetic head of Wanstead Community Gardeners, left instructions last time regarding thinning out the thick bundle of sunflowers growing on the edge of the station driveway. Helene, Lauren & Stefania got stuck in thinning out the sunflowers, while Beth & myself roamed the usual hotspots around the station clearing Marians flower/plant beds from all sorts of dumped rubbish that seems to find its way there time & again...

A crisp 15 minutes later the rubbish was disposed off responsibly (read: put in the bin!) and a bundle of sunflowers was ready for transport to the cornerhouse, Marians base. There we dropped them off, a message to Marian to follow after the run to let her know where the plants were waiting for her attention.

On we went to part 2, expertly led by 'Michael Jackson impersonator' Beth. Last summer Marian led us to a forgotten corner at Snaresbrook Tube station, which we transformed to a flourishing wildflower garden. So earlier this year our fearless leader James started working on a second patch across the road. Today part 2 involved clearing that second patch of rubbish & weeds, preparing it for a seed bom or two in the near future, to see if we can make it as lushious & colourfull as the first one.

Job done it was time to stretch those legs and clock up some mileage, combining some regular routes with a little trail section introduced by Matt on a previous run. A few stretches back at base and a happy crew said their goodbyes and made their ways home.

Next week a visit to one of our favourite locations, FRP aka the paint recycling place, is on the cards, but we'll try and have that confirmed beforehand so people can keep it in mind when picking their running kit - the risk of some paint stains might impact on what clothing to wear, as shown by my usually paint stained kit :-)

With an eye on the always temperamentfull Central line & other methods of public transport, it was mentioned that perhaps a little WhatsApp group might come in handy to alert the rest of the team if someone is running late or cant make it.... or just to chat about anything Goodgym / running / etc. So if you'd like me to add you to this, please let me know - peter@goodgym.org

Thanks for joining me tonight, see you next time!

On a gorgeous spring evening five of Goodgym's finest runners met in Wanstead to help Wanstead Community Gardeners (WCG) and ran 4km in the process.

Once again the team were back helping Marian at WCG reclaim patches of unloved land around the borough. Trainer James and Run Leader, Peter were joined by first timers Matthew and Stafania and recent recruit Lauren for an evening of sweaty work and doing good.

The evenings task was to help Marian tackle the long grass that was threatening to overtake the roundabout by Wanstead Station. Armed with "enema" gloves and some herbicide the team set to work cutting off the seed heads and wiping the grass with a fluid that will kill the roots. Fingers crossed this will work over the next few weeks and the beautiful wild flowers will have a chance of flourishing. We will report back soon to see how things are getting on.

With the task done, it was time to head to Eagle Pond to enjoy the sunshine and get a bit sweaty in the process. It couldn't have been a nicer evening and the group were soon back at base for some light stretching.