What's Up (Ox)Fam?

On a foggy autumn night, six of Goodgym's most committed runners met to wash charity shop windows and ran 8km in the process.

With a few regulars away on holiday this week, it was a smaller crew assembled at Wanstead House Community Centre to do good and get fit in the process. Four of the six even did a Community Mission the previous day with Wanstead Community Gardeners, so bravo to Peter, John, Linda and Beth.

Keeping the windows sparkling clean is a never ending task for high street charity shops and can become a significant expense during the course of a year. Hearing about our help at Barnados and St Francis Hospice, the local Oxfam shop was keen to get in on the act too.

Armed with squeegies, sponges and old newspaper the team soon set to work on the two windows and within 15 minutes the windows were sparkling clean - although the inside smears are something of a frustration.

All that left was some easy Monday miles to set us off for the week. At John's request we head out onto the streets of Wanstead and Snaresbrook - rather than an interval session on George Green - but with a twist, we ran our usual winter loop in reverse. It's amazing how a regular loop can look completely different when ran the opposite direct and it can be a great way to add interest to a run which may have become a bit too regular.

With the group racing round the 5km loop, we were soon back at base with just enough time for some easy stretching before heading home for some well deserved dinner. Great job team!

Why not join us next week for some more autumnal fun as we get fit and do good in the Borough.