School and the gang

Welcome to our first time runners Marie, Robyn, Tasha, Alice, Mia and Mairead - great to have you join us!

It was another amazing weekend of all things running with loads of GoodGymers taking part in marathons and other races in places like Valencia, Lisbon, Bruges, Yorkshire, Amsterdam and the Great South Run. Well done if you did any of those, and to Frances who got a new 10k PB at a race in Battersea Park!

Talking of congratulations, it was Oliver's 's 50th good deed last night - give him a cheer! He's been a machine, doing up to a record four good deeds a day, so a huge well done on reaching that milestone.

• Next week we have our special Halloween run, where we have a task helping out a community garden in a cemetery, a spooky fitness session and a social afterwards. Sign up here for the post run social!

After all that good news we headed outside to do a warm up before running to our task. After some high knees, fast feet and jumping jacks, we talked about our favourite pizza toppings and the big Pineapple V Non Pineapple debate. Thankfully no proroguing was needed as non-Hawaiian won out, and the prize for best topping goes to Bruno with salsiccia e friarielli. Who's hungry?

Our job last night was at Belleville school, the first bilingual state school. Jonathan, who manages the grounds, had big plans for one of the areas near the back of the school, but there was lots to do. So after an extended run around the common we arrived to find Jonathan waiting with wheelbarrows, bags and tools.

His plans are to build planters for the children to help them learn about growing fruit and veg, but the area he had in mind is covered with tarmac. Jonathan had spent the day cutting out big holes, and our job was to completely clear the area of the slabs that had come up, the lining, weeds and all the other stuff that was in the way.

After half an hour of heavy lifting and shifting, moss scraping, cutting back,moving fence and, some impressive tactical manoeuvring the space was looking ready for planting and will be a brilliant learning area for the kids. So after a quick photo and wave goodbye we jogged up to Clapham Common to do out fitness session. This week it was circuits, with one group do a run which worked as our timer. With burpees, planks, squats and clock lunges, this was an effective all over workout. Nice one, team.

After a nice brisk run back, we finished off the night with stretches and cake. Don't forget our special Halloween run next week, where, although not essential, dressing up will be positively encouraged! Until then, happy running everyone.