Six runners met on a fabulous Monday summer evening for a short run to the local former Willesden Green police station-cum- future community hub and all-round creative space, followed by a jaunt up to Gladstone Park for a breath-taking relay race!

A smaller group than usual, but no less full of good vibes and energy, Claire was happy to welcome second-timers Jo and Emily, Joe with an 'e', and Brent regulars Liz, Tabitha and Deborah, vying for the 50 good deed black t-shirt, who will be the first...?

We set off down to the High Street with a spring in our step to the task that awaited us - yes that's right, moving old mattresses ready for collection, and stacking up a batch of new ones. There was no sleeping on this job though, we shifted those mattresses quicker than you could say 40 winks and even had time for a cuppa tea.

Meanwhile, out front, Deborah, Tabitha and Jo had set about sprucing up the surroundings, litter picking, weeding and ... oh dear... standing in poo (ever heard of bag it & bin it Brent dog owners?!?). Not one to be a party poo-per (groaaaan!), Tabitha didn't let that take the smile off her face (well, only temporarily!).

With tools packed up and gloves returned, we said our goodbyes and thank you's for the hospitali-tea and ran off towards Gladtstone Park for a tempo relay race, the six were paired up and ran round the bottom of the park in different directions till they met somewhere near the middle, high-fived and changed direction to race back to the start point - competition was fierce and there was only a measley 17 seconds between the first and last finishers, impressive work! We regrouped for a well-deserved stretch out on the grass before heading back to the Queensbury.

Well done everyone! You make Brent Brighter!!!

Brand new task this evening at Freightliners Farm!

We welcomed first timers Ben, Pippa and Christina, read the news and then did a backwards head count. Steve's idea. What's more amazing than Steve having a good idea is it actually worked, counting all the way down from 37 to 1.

With all that stuff done we scurried off to the farm as one gigantic group on possibly our shortest run to a task ever.

The enthusiastic Liz of Freightliners met us there and since there were a whopping 37 of us divided us into various smaller groups.

We set about various jobs for 20 minutes or so. One group shovelled ____ *, another did some weeding and sweeping, others carried and shifted packs and stacks of hay and a small group painted a wall. As usual we got loads done in a short amount of time. As we put the call out for people to start wrapping up there were come confused looks and questions. "Isn't it a bit early?" Yes, it was early, but that's cos the best bit was about to begin: putting the animals away :-D

There were sheep, goats and a couple of cows to move from fields to pens. The problem with animals is they can be a bit cheeky and try to go where they're not supposed to. For this reason you need a HUMAN WALL! Most of us blocked off various gates, exits and openings while a few other fearless folk got hands on and helped direct the animals from A to B. Tip o' the GoodGym bravery cap to Rebecca who doesn't let goats get the better of her.

The cows were very well behaved. The goats were cheeky little buggers, running this way and that, trying to chew on the cherry tree and climbing up things. The sheep were a bit confused at first, but when Caroline started bleating they all followed like sheep.

Animals all put away, hands washed and group photo taken, we zoomed off to Emirates Stadium for the first "monthly" time trial for 5 months. There were so many of us we did it in two waves. Fastest lady over the line was first timer Pippa in a joint women's record of 2:40. Can she beat it next month? Fastest geezer was Hugh with 2:15.

Nice work everybody. We'll be back next month, or maybe in five.

Just enough time for a animal-shaped biscuit before jogging (apart from that hard run up the hill) back to the pool.

Something must have been in the air because on our cool down back down the other side of the hill Steve and Meredith started racing each other, then John and Jackie joined in, then loads more. Maybe this sprint down the hill should be a thing. It seems more fun than running up them.

So, the debate. Last week we all voted and decided on this week's debate. The big question: should headphones be allowed in races? Answers:

• It's dangerous and distracts
• I always train with music and it'd make races boring if I couldn't
• During a race you don't want to be distracted by music. Better to focus on the race

We put it to the vote and it looked like "no headphones" won, but then we shouted louder and loads of people that were distracted for some reason joined in with the vote and the winner was a yes for headphones.

We have three tasks next week. See you there,
Simon

• Sorry, had to censor this out, cos you're not allowed to say "shit" in a run report.

This week 25 glorious good-deeders graced the streets of Islington for our third journey to Sunnyside Community Gardens. An amazing community garden in Archway that is for all to enjoy and specialises in therapeutic horticulture for those with physical and mental disabilities.

Among us were first timers Nadia, Del, Katherine, Ceiran, Kim, David and David. A very warm welcome!

We split into three groups for the journey up: fast feet folk led by Graham, medium men and women taken by David and philosophers with Simon.

On our journey up we discussed how we all had an axe to grind with drivers. Apparently lots of things bug us about them: not indicating, tailgating, middle lane hogging, opening car doors on cyclists, stopping for no reason, not stopping at zebra crossings, not pulling over far enough, speeding, cutting up cyclists, and simply existing. Stupid drivers.

Anyway, we made it to the task without getting run over and met our hosts, the ever-keen Yvonne and Alan, who had plenty for us to do.

Half of us continued cutting back brambles and branches from the garden's corner. Loppers and secateurs were in action as usual, but some of the slightly thicker branches needed an AXE. Check out the photos and tell me these guys aren't having fun. There were a couple of wheelbarrows and buckets in action as a few of us carried the discarded foliage to its resting spot.

At the other end of the garden the rest of the GoodGymmers wielded shovels and spades (yeah, axes aren't the only things you can wield) and set about clearing a path of woodchip and made a gigantic pile held in place by some of the logs we shifted a couple of weeks ago.

Today's biscuit break took the form of a Bourbon Cream. Quite a popular choice.

Before heading off Richard showed Simon the "Skunk Cabbage" (Lysichiton americanus) in the garden's pond (see photos). I've read up on it and apparently "... it contains calcium oxalate crystals, which result in a gruesome prickling sensation on the tongue and throat and can result in intestinal irritation and even death if consumed in large quantities" Glad we remembered the Bourbons.

For the journey back we got into the same three groups. David's group sped off, Graham added in a few hill reps before zooming home and Simon's group played secret surges and took the blurriest selfie ever.

Another week of getting fit and doing good. Excellent tasking and running everybody. That's what it's all about.

Next week we're off to Barnsbury Square Gardens. Don't miss it!

Simon

P.S. William's head was not chopped off by an axe in the group photo.