Tonight 31 runners ran around 3 km to paint, water, weed, dig, plant and celebrate!

It’s been 3 glorious good deed filled years since GoodGym Croydon launched and headed off to Croydon Arena in South Norwood. For this special day I decided to be a little bit less ambitious about the length of the run and head off to one of our favourite task venues – Park Hill Rec Community Garden. As it was our special birthday we asked Councillor Lousia Woodley, who had launched us 3 years ago, to come along and send us on our way. Councillor Oliver Lewis also joined us for the send off and headed up to the garden with us for some hard graft. It may have been the thought of the amazing cake that did it!

It was a beautiful sunny evening – just as it should be for a birthday – so after waving goodbye to Louisa we headed off to Park Hill to meet Catherine and Erica who had a list of jobs for us including mural painting, weeding, digging, planting and watering. I think they were a little surprised by the sheer numbers but quickly made use of the enthusiasm and work rate of 31 Goodgymers. Catherine, Erica and Josi had also kindly bought us some bedding plants for our section of the Peace Garden so we will be back to check how they are flourishing.

The time flew by and before we knew it the drinks, snacks and THE CAKE were brought out. Huge thanks go to Rachel for her amazing creation – looked too good to eat but we managed and didn’t leave a crumb. Some runners, not going to name them, even managed 2 slices! There should have been a fitness session however we decided to spend a bit more time in the garden and painting and cake eating and strangely enough nobody objected!

There have been some thefts recently at the Community Garden so earlier in the week we had a collection for some B&Q vouchers so the lovely Friends Group could replace the plants that were taken.

We also welcomed three new runners tonight, Oliver, Karen and Sara - hope you all enjoyed yourselves and see you back again soon.

To finish off our celebrations some of us headed off to the Porter and Sorter for a quick drink or burger and had a great time plotting our next races including the Dino Dash in June and also helping out GoodGym Bromley with the South Norwood takeover at the end of the month. There are also lots of GoodGymers heading off to the London 10K on the 27th of May so if you are going sign-up here and don't forget to wear your t-shirt. Conroy also told the group about the GoodGym Olympics coming up soon and the challenge of writing a Croydon anthem – let’s see what we can do!

Finally, a big thanks to Conroy for letting me take over tonight - I'll be asking for the 4th birthday run too if that's okay!

Next week’s run will be off to a the Peppermint Centre so don’t forget to sign up!

A warm evening. 2 community projects in need of a hand. A group of 29 lovely runners.

These elements combined beautifully last night for GoodGym Croydon's second birthday.

The runners

It was great to see some new faces last night! Liz, Marcelo, Dre, Chris R, Heather, Catherine, and Chris T all joined us for the first time, and got to join in with the GoodGym Croydon magic! It was also great to see a few runners back who have been part of the group's journey in the past, like Helena, and one of our pals from Lewisham and Bromley, Conroy, join us for a spot of GoodGym tourism!

The task

One group, led by Ellie and Juliet, ran 2km in total to help at Park Hill; helping get the Peace Garden ready for the Festival of Peace they're holding in June. This involved tackling weeds, moving plants, and generally getting the space a lot more ready for the festival. Another group, led by Helena, Amatare, Conroy and myself, ran around 4km in total to help our pals at the Addiscombe Railway Park do some bits in their community garden. Amongst other things we tidied around some apple trees, planted some lavender on a bank, and dug a MASSIVE hole that will eventually be turned into a pond. Both task holders were really happy with what the groups had done, a testament to what a big group of energetic runners can get done in a short time.

The social

Once we got back to the start point we stretched out and most of us headed over to Matthews Yard for a cracking birthday social. It was a cracking time, and great hearing people's different experiences running with the GoodGym community so far. There was even a beautiful group rendition of Happy Birthday To Us (I can only apologise for starting that off!). Kudos to Juliet, who has made our group all the things we love (inclusive, stimulating and fun) from our first run two years ago! Its been two great years so far, and great to see so many willing to get stuck in with our third year.

Here are a few dates for diaries, for those I chatted with about upcoming events:

• Every GoodGym Croydon group run starts at the same time and place, details about the next run will always be here

• GoodGym Southwark will be doing pacing at Burgess parkrun on Saturday if you'd like to join in with that - I'm doing my first pacing ever for 30 minutes!

• The GoodGym Olympics will be happening on the 30th June. Not as intimidating as it sounds, it's a big fun sports day in North London with GoodGym joining from all over; last year Croydon got a gold (three legged race), but it'd be great to have even more of us up there this year!

This week 12 GoodGym-ers ran 4km to shift sawdust and sweep leaves in a local park.

We started with intros at the Phoenix as always. I mentioned that there are 10 coaches in waiting for runners - so if you're interested in visiting one of those people, please do complete your coach runner training so you can get the ball rolling!

Shout out to our two new Task Forcers: Nicola and Paul – Give 'em a cheer!

Damian lead us to the Northway Gardens while Graham was our trusty back-marker.

Brian was waiting for us with two cars full of tools and leaves, ready for shifting. We split into teams to grab all the things and head through the park to our drop off point. Luckily, there were many of us with lights, as the gardens had no lights. We are now running in full-blown darkness, so I really recommend getting yourself a head torch. My fancy hand light was from Morrisons - £7. My head torch from Poundland no longer stays on my head – but still makes light and fits in my palm.

We shifted many wheelbarrows full of sawdust from the chopped down trees from around their stumps so the people could come back and finish the job. We also swept many leaves into buckets for compost.

We'll be back on 7 November to do the next bit. Be sure to sign up!

We then played Duck Tag and Squat Runs on the tennis courts, where we discovered Paul and Nicola are incredibly spry.

We soon ran home, with a little sprint finish UP the hill. Props to Graham and Jack for being so speedy!

Next week we've had a change of plan - We'll be running to the WDP not Community Focus. 3km each way.

Headtorches were donned and black cats were met as Lambeth carried out two tasks and loads of work at the Portico Gallery and Hillyard extra care home! Plus BREAD WEEK in Bake Off

We had a new task this evening, supporting Hillyard House extra care home. They support older residents who may have mental health or physical difficulties to live out their old age in a fulfilled way. The site has a lovely garden and GoodGym was tasked with creating a SECRET GARDEN towards the back of the site. We had to sneak around behind some shrubs and then clear an area that would be hidden from view by hedges. Residents will be able to explore this new garden and hopefully enjoy the peace and quiet. Armed with saws, secateurs and all manner of other garden implements, we set about this fun task. Soon, huge branches were appearing from the undergrowth and the compost pile became a mountain of old shrubbery. Rebecca Nellis got seriously busy sawing down an old tree and in 40 minutes we had cleared a massive area and swept up for good measure. The task leader Jenny was just delighted, as were some of the residents who came out to watch our work. We ran the 1km back to base and did some strength work before stretches.

The second group took the 8km round trip to the Portico Gallery. John Hunter tells all:

14 of us went up to the Portico where another member of John’s family empire, Sholto, was deputised to instruct us on moving piles of florist’s tables from one bit of the yard to another. After we nailed the table task, it was onto a Portico stalwart - the soggy tarpaulin. We made a human chain to do this. Passing this down the human chain made everyone sad, but then Methusulah the cat came along to visit each person in the chain like at a wedding or funeral, except it was definitely more like a wedding by the end of Methusulah’s visit because everyone was so happy.

Sholto said “I am happy because that would have taken me all afternoon to do that”. And he was happy too.

Sadly John H's camera went into meltdown so the lovely snaps got lost, but here they are described in words:

1: A variety of people looking sad because they got dripped on by the tarpaulin

2: Elise werking the “I’m not currently doing anything” look

3: Elise carrying a bit of fence

4: Sholto standing proudly by his work lamps

The brilliant Jack and Beth also completed a mission with the run time - clearing a garden so an older person can enjoy it. Brill!

On return to base, everyone enjoyed Katie's Bread Week offering after Flo really screwed up her Captain's Treasure Trove last week. OH FLO! We tucked into some delicious cinnamon buns and headed off into the night. TOP WORK.

Last night 18 GoodGymers - including two new runners - ran 6k to sand some furniture at Barnet Furniture Centre.

We set off whilst it was still light with Hazel leading and Freya backmarking. Arriving at BFC, Jade dolled out the sandpaper and we got to work - a bench, a table top and legs that needed smoothing down, and some red drawers with hundreds of coats of different colours that needed some serious elbow grease. The group got stuck in and Jade was so thrilled with how much we managed to get done. She'll update us on just how many different colours there were on the red drawers - there at least 5 we could find!

Jade showed us more of the treasure trove that is BFC and explained that they upcycle furniture and either sell it on privately or provide it for free to those in need.

'I like to think of us as the Robin Hood of Furniture!' She said

It's an amazing place and a great opportunity to blow off some steam with a serious bit of elbow grease!

It began drizzling as we warmed ourselves back up for the run home and it didn't stop! Happy and quite sodden the first group to arrive home put on a sterling sprint finish before some stretching and a well deserved biscuit from Hazel.

Shoutout to Shawn who did his first mission this weekend and told us all about it. Missions are a fantastic way to make an impact in a different way to a group run - there is one happening this Sunday (17th) that you don't need to be document checked for - it's a gardening day at St Stephen's House. It's going to be brilliant, make your Saturday even more special by signing up here.

Looking forward to being back at the BFC soon. Well done everyone, a cracking run and task. May the rest of your week unfold just as well!

Lucy J

It's our birthday

This week marked the 1st anniversary for Goodgym Hammersmith & Fulham. The group has perform over 50 good deeds in one year. And one runner has been to every single one! Our Taskforce member Jason

Weed sort out the problem

After a briefing and a warm-up, we headed off to Askham Court, a council owner sheltered housing property for the over 60's to help weed a big overgrown flower bed.

Upon our arrival we were met by some of the residents who help direct us to the task in hand. The gang grabbed the gloves, tools and bags and quickly got to work. They had to tackle a tricky combination of brambles and bindweed to free the lavender and roses.

After packing up and saying goodbye to the residents we headed off back to base.

Will take the long way home

After 2 km, Will took a fast group on a long route home and I lead a direct route back.

After a warm down, we head off to Draught House for a birthday dinner. Party hats were worn, balloons inflated and a tasty dinner eaten.

What a wonderful evening

It started out with a task briefing in the fitness centre. This night we’d be delivering flyers for Wand UK again. Wand is a fantastic charity that provides support for vulnerable and isolated women in the communities. Their services include mental health and wellbeing support, computer and English classes, advice with domestic abuse and parenting. They have also put on an extra project called ‘Holding Hands’ to help those affected by the Grenfell disaster - providing free emotional welling and holistic support, tai chi & yoga classes and massages.

Meet me in Norland Park

After a warm-up we set off together toward Norland Open Space. There, the group was split into two (gender balanced ;) teams. Then armed with maps and new highlighters, they set off to deliver the flyers in different areas - one lead by Polly and the other by Jason.

They navigated successfully and did a speedy job, meaning we could all meet back at the park at 8 for a core workout.

Round the tree Goosey

Our fitness session was a was like a game duck duck goose with a detour. The group did a series of core exercises whilst one member race out to a tree across the park and back. This made the timing different for each exercise. Star jumps, burpees, legs raises and more.

Once everyone had a run out to the tree we wrapped up and headed back home whilst discussing the best local park runs.

Congrats to Esther for making it along to her first Goodgym run. Give her a Cheer!

Next week is our 1st birthday! Join us for celebrations.

With the summer holidays in full swing, tonight we were a small group but we still packed a punch and got a lot done between us!

We started our run tonight with a warm up jog down to Walpole for a running technique and drills session before the main event. This consisted of a number of different exercises designed to get our bodies ready for running including some very graceful looking horse style kicking (I promise this is a real running drill!).

We then set off to run to the Elthorne Park stretch of canal on the River Brent where reunited with the wonderful Jack from The Canal & River Trust. This was our second task on this part of the canal and it was great to be back even though it did look like someone had recently had a cider party there and forgot to take all their rubbish home!

Jack split us into two groups, one to tackle an overgrown buddleia bush and make the canal safer for passing cycles and pedestrians and one to paint over the unsightly graffiti on the underpass. Andy, Emily and Larissa were quick to express their interest in painting which involved some lovely boiler suits. It was a strong look guys!

Ronan, Mike and Alex put their hands up to saw and shear the vegetation growing over the towpath whilst I did some ad hoc litter picking between checking on the groups and taking photos, afterwards it was like the cider party had never happened.

Jack always comes really well prepared when he meets us with lots of tools and a number of different tasks we can complete in the location, however the one thing he did forget this week was a wet paint sign! Therefore we've made a little make shift wet paint sign which we will return to paint over next time!

With a good nights work complete we did an Indian file running session to get back to base for a quick stretch and cool down.

Thank you all for coming, every one of you guys are great but special mention this week goes to our visitor Andy from GoodGym Hounslow whose on a mission to get to 50 good deeds before his Wandsworth (friendly) rival! We were deed number 41 on the list so it's getting close now, good luck Andy hopefully see you back with us soon (or will your rival use us to get their numbers up too?!).

Next week we are heading to Ealing Food Bank to help with a bit of maintenance and you can sign up here.

See you next time, happy running :)