By Brook or By Crook

** Doesn't matter what week or what month it is GG will always be there on a Monday night**

This week we were very lucky to have a still and mild evening for our weekly run. Tonight we headed out to Brooklands Pleasure Park to do some winter path clearing.

I was the early bird this week meeting Annika for a document check to enable her to start her coach run journey. It was lovely to meet you and I do hope that you will manage to join us on a Monday group run if your ballet class time changes!

Shortly afterwards Paul followed by Michelle Duncan Belinda Gill Tamsinand Anne rocked up full of enthusiasm and smiley faces.

As usual there was some pre run banter . This week it was mostly about recent training runs in preparation for the Worthing half marathon which is just 3 weeks away .

It was also lovely to hear about Duncan and Belinda's recent holidays to Iceland and Gloucestershire (not together!)

If you go down to the woods today

We headed off for a 3 k warm up to our task which was situated in a wooded area just near Brooklands lake .We were met by park ranger Anthony who distributed tools and instructions for our task. It was probably the darkest task we have done but strangely fun with head torches and truck lights guiding the team in their work.

Making a clean sweep

The team shovelled and swept paths and wooden steps together with some clipping and pruning of overhanging branches for 30 minutes before downing tools and admiring yet another ground breaking piece of work.

We then stopped for a few group photos and, in an attempt to try and win the much sought after GG photo of the week, the team jumped. Unfortunately the camera was too slow to capture the perfection of the jump (although Tamsin came out perfectly! )

Racing around the Brooklands circuit

After a pre fitness session briefing we headed out of Brooklands heading north on the pavements scooting round on our 6 mile circuit.

This week it was another tough session with a few shorter sprints but mainly working on extended tempo run and strength moves.

We did another pyramid based workout with elevating efforts from 30 seconds to 2.5 minutes . At the end of each block we added some strength work including squat jumps, lunges , mountain climbers , static sprints and of course ,the dreaded burpees. We even made use of pub facilities to add some variety to the workout but sadly a dry visit tonight!

On the path to PB's

Everyone worked worked really hard again as a team tonight The structure of the session meant that the front runners got extra mileage by running backwards to pick up the rest of the runners ensuring no one got left behind.

With continued commitment and a regular attendance, I'm hoping the benefits will start to become apparent in the spring. Remember beach bodies are made in the winter!

We finished with a steady 3 k run back to base, tally of mileage and some stretches.

Fish and chip update

The date for this social has changed to Monday 5th February at Chipwick Brighton road BN11 2EN at 8 pm. We will be celebrating Belinda's and Ed's 100th park run together with Johns 50th . All welcome. Why not bring your partners too to meet the crazy Monday bunch?

All the best for the week. Stay focused on those January challenges! 8 days to go to compete them

Big GG love

Julia :)