Skip if you want to go faster

22 hardy runners, one very cold night and 6km bossed.

We were welcomed as a group with a very lovely speech from the Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle. She was warm with appreciation of GoodGym coming to support the different community projects going on in the borough and also for making links with isolated and vulnerable people through the Coach runs our runners get involved with.

A quick warm up outside Peckham Rye station and a headcount, we were on our way through icy temperatures. Folk lore has it that Southwark has some of the longest traffic lights going and we proved this with our unique method of interval training.

After battling over the Old Kent Road, we soon made it to the inaugural GoodGym Southwark task at Galleywall Nature Reserve where we were met by Chairman, Alan. He gave us a bit of background to the small but lovely nature reserve that's used by local children and families as an escape from the concrete jungle and whose current residents include snails & frogs. We sorted out collapsed piles of timber, collected rubbish, sorted out the compost bins and removed a load of screws from planks of wood. Not bad for 20 minutes work.

After that, skipping was totally necessary to get warm again after locking the reserve up. Once we got going again, those who wanted to go for it, raced to the Old Kent Road for a lung buster to make the most of the miles. John was definitely our speed demon this week with energy to spare for a final blast to the finish.

The rest of us jogged it in for a cool down and a well-deserved pat on the back. Huge thanks to everyone who came along to give their support including the Mayor and Councillor David Noakes.

Join us next week where we'll be starting from the Old Spike Roastery which will be our main start location. I can't promise it'll be any warmer but it'll definitely still be as fun.