We had GoodGymmers from all over the place last night.

Bex and Rachel were joining us for the very first time. Lucie was checking us out after completing a Thursday fitness session and Ewa was back at GoodGym after last getting involved in 2015!

Then we had Matt and Chris from Bristol, Heather and Damian from Barnet (who both did wonderfullly at Brighton Half at the weekend), Jacqui also from Barnet, Lewisham and Greenwich regular Tom (shhh, we think he is meant to be with Adele this evening), Ewa from Tower Hamlets, Steve Lee from Camden and wannabe-Islingtoner-but-feels-sorry-for-Camden Frances.

Big news. Last night was Damian's 50th run Go and give him a big cheer.

Aidan took a strong group over to St. Luke's for more planter filling. That is pretty much done now so well done to everybody that has shovelled, wheelbarrowed, shifted and turned over the last few months.

Simon, Graham and Kike took care of the Caxton contingent, whose job it was to yank up all manner of unwanted foliage from the community centre's front garden, especially thistles, which we managed to rid the area of completely.

Yes, we all got wet, but so what? It's almost as though doing good is some sort of water repellent.

Treats for the evening were provided by Simon. Homemade flapjacks. BIGGGGG apologies to those who were off doing a lap of Highbury Fields and missed out. By way of apology I will be baking again next week and this time everybody will get some.

With Pancake Day looming there was only one thing to debate: should we stick to the traditional lemon and sugar filling, go for more exotic stuff like Nutella and banana, or go completely crazy and choose a savoury option? Most did go for modern, fancy fillings but there were a few traditionalists among us. Aidan insisted that it was unacceptable to have only one pancake anyway so you may as well have all the fillings. Go for it!

Next week we have a whopping three tasks and they're all great. Freightliners Farm, Thornhill Square and a brand new adventure at Urban Wild Gardens. Plus of course there'll be more flapjacks Sign up now

Be flippy,
Simon

It was all hands on deck, when 18 Brent Goodgymers rolled deep for 5k, in 0 degrees to shovel and roll 15 wheelbarrows of soil, rocks and compost for a Harlesden Town Community Gardens' allotment site. BOOM

Was it cold? - Yes. Was *The Queensbury** and it's open fire inviting us to stick around and chill with a beer or two? UMMMMM Maybe..... *But did that stop us from getting out into our fair old borough of Brent to sprinkle some goodgym charm all over the joint? - Hell No!

Thrown into the mix this Monday eve was a merry band of newcomers - Samuel, Fiona and Vojtech (our new resident chef!!) and of course joining them was my regular squad of lovelies - The Familia Ananda. "Spice up your life" Samina. Sister Sledge Tabitha and Debs. Amy (Pole Fit Goddess) Crawford. Take no prisoners man like Neil. Clairey (Veteran) birthday Bell. All the sass and bringing some Class Liz James. The one and only mouse in the House Clare. Never not smiling Karen and always Awesome speedy Queen Andrea.

Also joining the masses on Monday was one in particular, so happy we were to see for the first time this year was Lucky Enrique back and recovered from a poorly Jan. Also one big fat massive delight for night came in the shape of Sparky Sparkes Irwin a vintage GG Brent original bringing some nostalgic vibes.

So with housekeeping done and welcomes wrapped, we set off into the darkness for our last GG Brent of January. Full speed into the night we dashed along to our how for the night Harlesden Town GardensA green space in the heart of Harlesden where people can grow things, play and learn together while meeting and making friends. Helping the community to grow together this is an amazing community project supported by the Brent arm of the charity Crisis. https://m.facebook.com/harlesdentowngardens

Setting an inspiring pace up front, Irwin proved he'd been keeping up the fitness in honour of his big 2017 return. keeping us all well and truly on our toes for a 7.30min mile pace to base. Wowzer!!

After our very swift cavort we arrived on site and even though we may have been out of puff, we certainly weren't out of energy or enthusiasm for that matter, as we set to mission on the tasks ahead. Waiting for us at the gardens, with his usual good cheer and positive vibe was Gabriel from Crisis who manages the site, dishing out the evening tasks. Before long the team were split into groups and got to work, shifting and wheeling the various piles of soil and rocks to their new homes for use elsewhere in the fantastic community arena.

But while the team were busting it out, I of course (never not one to miss a chance to act the kid) had my eyes on some fitness fun in the playground YAY. So over to the apparatus I did go and breaking off in teams of 4 the crew took turns to join me on the bars for a good old monkey around, practicing all manner of body-weight challenges, in particular testing upper body strength.

We hung, swung and knee tucked our way to a fitness session jungle style, with plenty of Pow Pow along the way!!

With all the excitement and glee, What felt like 5mins of fun was in fact 40mins of graft and even though we wanted to stay (and play) much longer we sadly said our goodbyes and off into the night we flew again.

Staying as a pack we jogged a light foot comfy pace towards Roundwood Park to partake in one last fast fit challenge in the moonlight. Partners squat hold and punch arm challenge, 1 min on and 10squats to rest. Great for muscle condition. Rinse, repeat and don't step on the Shame(dog)poo!!

After the exertions we weren't finished there and after we walking lunged our way towards the gate, there was only one more mile that stood in between us and home. This point in, Enrique took to the helm driving the squad for one last challenge up the infamous "Out of Puffington Hill" Wham bam thank you mam. Eat my dust, now onwards home was a must.

Speedy and agile the team dashed off the last mile with glorious Good(gym) cheer and ample crew love. Even with pace group splits and back markers bringing in the final few, it was a team effort and everyone finished off the night with 5k under their belt, biceps bulging and big fat smiles to boot! HURRAAHHH

Epic night, awesome task and stupendous squad. Just your average Monday night for GG Brent.

Do good. Feel good. Inspire.

Hi, Hi We're your weather girls (and Dan) and have we got news for you......You'd better listen "It's raining Brent, oh yes, it was raining Brent but a special (eight)" Came, for: 4Miles, lots of smiles and a mean clean up of Harlesden Methodist Church. ITS RAINING GOODGYM

If you didn't catch that - The rain was frighting!!! So much so I needed a pep talk call to Ruth at head office to get me pumped to hop on the old moped and brave the tube strike fall out traffic, in the torrentials, to get to my crew!! The love oh for the love... It's deep and its real!

And to my delight 7 more die-hard Goodgymers greeted my soggy entrance, with gleeful smiles and motivated madness in their eyes! ahhhhh my running familia and happy to see them was I!!

Welcoming Newbie Amy into the folds were the sexy six sisters with soul - Liz, Karen, Tabitha, Debs, Andrea and of course Moi!!!And it couldn't be a weather girls special it weren't for our "Tall, strong, dark and Lean. Rough and tough and never meannnnnnnnnn - Dan Heller of course!

Humidity is rising (uh rising), barometer's getting low. According to all sources, the street's the place to go (we better hurry up) and hurry we did! 'Cause tonight for the first time (this year)Just about half-past seven For the first time in (2017) history. It's gonna start raining Goodgymmmmmmmm!!!

Okay I'll stop with the singing now! So hot to trot we buzzed down to our task for the eve, Harlesden Methodist Church for the big clean! Slap bang in the heart of Harlesden High Street, this place is more than just a community church hall. The fantastic team offers a range of amazing services for the locals including counselling, homeless soup kitchens, clothing trade events, funding drives for the community, you name it they do it! So what better place to give back than here!!

So we set to work for a 40min blast of spruce up power, but not to let the fitness slide, simultaneously utilised the copious amounts of stairs for walking lunges and squat jump drills, taking it in turns to power up those glutes and work on those quad muscles too!!! BOOM

It wasn't long before DJ Dan's music was blasting out cheering us on through the task and drill, helping the time to fly by and before long - DING DING.... Disco over, it's time to roll out once more.

Packing up swiftly and back on the road quicker than you can say glitter-ball, the team got straight back to it, engaging those newly woken up butt muscles in hill sprints and solo dashes all the way back to base, the final 2 miles!

So despite the rain, the cold and the awol tubes, Goodgym Brent, proved once again, that obstacles do not exist when you are determined, motivated and jumping into Jan with POW POW Power, enthusiasm and Goodgym-Vibes!

See you next time!!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

A sensational six Goodgymers, pounded pavements, hopped over hills and ran ragged to clean up a particularly filthy community hall for the marvellous Harlesden Methodist Church. POW POW.

Chill was in the air but not on our minds, as the always motivated Brent crew gathered for the first GG of December. With the glorious hellos and welcomes of housekeeping complete, the team wrapped up and rolled out into the night for a quick dash 2mile tempo-run down to Harlesden High Street.

With our resident maple leaf lovely Andrea leading the pace from the front, we drank in all of the sounds and smells of the bustling community along the way. Steaming up the hills and pushing pace, the team blasted the first 2 miles in an 18min record time, even with traffic light stops and people dodging to boot! EPIC

Arriving at our destination Harlesden Methodist Church we stretched and caught breath before being welcomed into the INDOOR TASK Woo hoo!!!! Always a win, when winter has set in.

Heading straight up the stairs led by the charismatic caretaker, we gathered our cleaning equipment ready to take charge of the community hall, where windows were in need of a jolly good wash and frames were overdue restoration from grey to white.

Hot to trot, underneath the blasting heat from all of... well ALL the heaters in the hall, the team set to work on the 40min shake down. Of course the soundtrack of the eve was set in play and this Monday night, we wiggled our way through the 'Coach Ellie happy-mix' delights of - Katrina and the Waves and Shola Ama old skoolfun for everyone.

We were walking on sunshine indeed, as Dan's massive efforts to sparkle up the floor added to the clean, sheen and pristine work Tabitha, Debs and Enrique added with the windows.

With the sparkling hall beginning to gleam again, we buffed and shined our way through the last of the panes, to the end of our time, giving our best impressions of regional accents, Enrique completely outshining me in the Scottish department and Andrea giving us a schooling in the intricate art of the Canadian linguistic trait of asking a question at the end of every sentence!!

Good times and good work complete, we tidied and turned on our heels quicker than church mice diving for cheese. Or on our case, cheesy tunes.

Blasting the last 2miles home as quickly as we had shot out, it was a night for pushing PBs and boundaries and the team did it all with smiling faces and encouragements for each other all of the way! Back at base it was stretch and fetch the bags. Another night complete and Goodgym good-tasking sprinkled through the community we love.

See you next time Xmas Party people....

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPRE.

Swapping Monday blues for running shoes, a Goodgym perfect 10 help an angelic book shop sparkle again!

Undeterred by the election of the absurd and not swooned by the bright light of a supermoon, members new and bold gathered at GG Brent local, The Queensbury. We welcomed 2 new members again to the fold this week - Amy and Hannah and were pleased by the return of Helena even after last weeks Queens Park mile attacks! Special shouts go out to both Eliza and Deborah for making it without their usual running mates - There's no 'I' in team!

Completing the crew we had (She ain't got no belly) Coach Ellie! Making up the rest of our terrific team of track-tastic trudgers: (Next week's coach) Clairey-Bell, (Can't tame me) Amy, (Getting leaner) Samina, (Every one's a-fan-a) Hannah, and the rose among the thorns Enrique (that's me : )

Hot to trot but sweaty we were not, as our destination was just a short skip away. We had arrived at our Beginning, and we vowed to make it Glorious!!Greeted by the the welcoming 'Hi there' of our favourite JEEP 'dri-ver' some of the team tooled up with sponges and things, others charmed a lend of a ladder as two nipped into a Sainsbury's loo, to fill a blue bucket and one of those green recycling bins with water, to wash away some sins.

'Wax on, wax off' type upper body efforts cleaned the Sign and window - "watch out below, oops, there's water on yo!" (unlucky Samina! and everyone else who got splashed!) Working so concertedly, we managed to remove, quite sweetly, some unsightly graffiti.

Having heard the good news it' time we were off to climb the mountain. Following Ellie as she ran, grinning with her cunning plan - Hill Training - AAAHHH MAN! (Did someone say squats - apparently we chose this?)

Pointers on technique said like words of encouragement lead to a fast and steady start for the group, then a shaky turn had us realise that calories are what hills burn! A self imposed beasting drill on a damp North London Hill. The collective sigh of relief upon arriving back at the bottom after Hill folly three was red in the face for all to see.

Speaking of bottoms. . . Even after the the trio of triumphant trips to the tip, any GG Brent meet wouldn't be done without the monkey on all our backs (sides) SQUATS!!!

Delirious by this point we squat. We squat and hold, we squat and thrust, oh god we even (balancing pretty well considering) bounce in to and out of alternate squat lunges!!!???

Back to base to celebrate Andrea having just achieved a distinction in her Masters!!!

Monday's really are good!

Kinda sad it ended - We're all broken. . . and just a little mended : )

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

13 Goodgymers, Dropped 200 leaflets for 2 worthy causes on a wintery but wonderful Monday night in Brent.

Greeted by the awesome sight of not one, not two, but three new faces and a whole bunch of awesome oldies too, I was over the moon to be back from hols and straight back into the warm embrace of the one and only GoodGym Brent.

With welcomes and housekeeping underway, the team were introduced to the task for the night - The Bi-Monthly track session and leaflet drop. This week I was delighted to welcome Tania's contribution for the Brent Social counselling services, an opportunity for low income and out of work local people to be supported in achieving positive mental health, through talk therapy in the borough of Brent.

With no time to waste the team were off, speeding down the road and engaging with all the community along the way. Newbie Rebekah was the woman with the effective 'wink' and used these Eye-rresistible (sorry) charms to drop the most out of the whole team.

After the one mile dash to Willesden Track the team didn't rest on their laurels and got stuck straight into the the most Hard-Core strength and abs session known to mankind. Strength work started with: *Walking lunges *Piggy back runs *Squat sequence Quickly followed by walking held planks and scissor kicks for..... well as long as I could do it so that was a looonnnnggggggg time!!! HA HA

Mixing in with the strength work the team bashed out a series of speedy 100m sprints followed by 200's and recovery runs. It's safe to say they gave it a Good-Gym run for their money (again sorry, it seems my holiday away has been plenty of time to come up with the cheesiest of all cheer puns)

After sweat there was the stretch and one last dash home to freedom. Despite the cold and teasing drops of wintery rain, there was only good vibes and good times had by all, what a way to get back in the game!!

Another successful dose of community goodness and athletic throw down to boot. There's only one place to fuel body and soul and that's ramping it up with West London's finest - GG Brent.

Until next time.....

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE