You'd be forgiven for looking through our photos tonight and thinking all we did was mess about and play in Exhibition Park. There was some of that between all of the standard GoodGym Newcastle awesomeness

There was a big group to welcome four- yes FOUR- new runners to the family! Welcome Jack, Tom, Tom and Raff. You are now fully fledged GoodGym members who have completed group run greatness!

Tonight's group run was a bit of everything: silly warm up games, GoodGym leaflet drop on the way followed by a huge litter pick and fitness session in Exhibition Park! The big challenge was to complete an alphabet of litter. And no Dan, I'm not accepting FETUS for F because you found an egg, or X for Extra Chewing gum. Some interesting litter was uncovered including two bike frames, a seat, part of a fridge and general bottles, cans and crisp packets left over from another scorching weekend in the park. Some people (hello Paul, Amy and Carol-Anne) took some time out to hang around on the many climbing frames on offer as the task came to a close.

What everyone wants when its 26 degrees on an open space occupied by cows is to complete a 1K time trial so we popped over to the Town Moor to do just that. The cows were very accommodating and happy to mooooove out of the way while we warmed up with our (my) favourite drills.

At the sound of the whistle the runners were off! Storming across the moooooor in some blistering times as they tried to outdo one an udder on the way back to the finish. Kudos to Andy who was first in 3:12 and Sarah, first lady in 3:47.

It was back to pastures old (sorry, I will stop this now) for a good stretch and high fives on another excellent evening of doing good things, getting fit and loving our city.

Well done everyone, I might see you at the community mission Or at our next Group Run

Happy Running! Anji x

28 group runners avoided the temptation of beer gardens and barbecues and ran to do good for Changing Lives in Newcastle last night, despite it being a beautiful Bank Holiday Monday.

Mulubrhan confessed to having two excuses not to run and ignoring them both, he even forgot his trainers and went to buy a new pair so he could take part in our second group run and task at Francis House commitment

We took an indirect route to Francis House so we could get the famous landmark and Newcastle United fortress St James Park on our Strava maps, before being met by staff from Changing Lives and swiftly set to work. Three groups doing good deeds tonight: a big deep clean in the kitchen, a garden tidy-up and an important chance to see Carol Anne brandishing a hoover in the communal area clean-up. After a giving the house for vulnerable women a massive makeover we headed off to Summerhill Park to get our fitness session in!

It was a mini runners circuit on the cards: squats planks and the all-important lunges expertly demonstrated by Paul with everyone multi=tasking and giving their all at the same time as getting to know each other. Another detour run back to get our 4K distance in before stretches and our first mini social- drinks at our start venue Hotel Indigo

Awesome work everyone!

See you for our mega-bag-drop-challenge next week! Sign up here: Mega Byker Bag Drop