A team of 6 runners in Barnsley dodged ice to fill Christmas gift bags!

Worsborough Common Community Centre was the setting for our bag-filling epic, and it's at the top of a hill. A big, long, lovely hill. With the cold air in our lungs and the last part of the route riddled with ice, it felt like a bit of an expedition to get there, as we tottered our way carefully around the slippery bits.

Our task was to make up 150 gift bags to support the Flavours of Christmas community event at St Peter's Church. The event is a social cohesion event designed to bring families from different communities together.

Mairead was on hole punching duty (to create a hole for the ribbons) whilst Grace was cutting precise lengths of green ribbon. Connor, Lou and Dan were frantically filling and I jumped in to tie the ribbons into bows. It was a pretty slick operation and we were loving being in a warm, well-lit room in the middle of December!

Doreen was happy for us to use the space for our fitness session too, much better than doing it outside on the icy grass, it was time for my second festive fitness sesh of the week, and slighty different from the York version...

The 12 Days of Christmas Workout!!

On the 12th day of Christmas my trainer to to meeee...

• 12 mountain climbers
• 11 squatting punches
• 10 high fives
• 9 jumping squats
• 8 tricep dips
• 7 jumping jacks
• 6 walking lunges
• 5 hiiiiigh kneeeees
• 4 bum kicks
• 3 press ups
• 2 reverse lunges
• and a single, lovely burpeeeee

It was a great workout which everyone definitely really enjoyed. I'm sure they did. We took it nice and steady heading back down the hill to Shaw Lane and then filled up on carbs at Romano's for an end of year celebratory dinner.

We're back on the 2nd January and have three whole weeks of indoor tasks! Sign up to join in with the fun , see you in 2018!

18 people ran 5k to do a litter pick on the canal

We met in our usual spot in 1000 Trades, the lights suitably dimmed to give us a slight Halloween feel. We had four GG Newbie’s which we were delighted to welcome, they were Sally, David, Julien and Lola. Please give them a cheer. Once we found our litter picking equipment, (maybe a ghost or ghoul had moved it!!) we went down to the aptly dark and rather spooky canal to do our litter pick. Once on the canal we split up into four groups, each group clearing a different section of the canal towpath.

HIIT

We all met up with our bags at Aston Lock, were Ken did a great job of taking the group selfie. Once all that was done we headed back. We stopped under Snow Hill Station where there is a little more light to do some high intensity work. It started with press ups on the lock gate, followed by a sprint to the steps, then a sprint back to the lock gate were the grouped smashed out some reverse dips, giving those triceps a good pasting! Top work by Aaron and Dionne with those dips. This was then followed by some high knees running, squat jumps, straight leg kicks and tuck jumps. Everyone doing a great job. Ken showed great form with the squat jumps. Annie got the knees right up in the tuck jumps and Paige put in some great work with the straight leg kicks.

A staggered wall squat?!

The final part of the session was the whole group getting into a line to do a wall squat, with the person at the far left having the least time to hold the wall squat and then the person at the far right having the most amount of ‘wall squat holding to do’. When I in turn told each person to ‘go’ they then had to do one last sprint to the stairs! Most of the group understandably looked like they were running through quicksand after that, as even the first in line had to hold for 30 seconds before they sprinted. Well done to Garry and Sam (the last two) who held the wall squat for 2 mins 35 seconds and 2 mins 45 seconds respectively and yes you both definately looked like you had pooped yourselves when you did your sprints!!!

So that was that, the group then had a steady run back to base, well done to everyone, you all deserve a few Halloween treats after that!

Next week we will be out doing good again, it would be great if you could join us sign up here.

GoodGymers from Barnsley, Sheffield and York gathered at an unsuspecting Rotherham parkrun for a run about and a social!

It was Grace and Rachel's first ever parkrun, they picked a good'un.

After the obligatory group pic (sadly missing Suze, who was navigationally challenged on her way over), and a good succinct briefing from the parkrun team, we were off.

Sheffield Trainer, Tom, shot off like a bullet. Hardly any of us noticed how much of the course was uphill on the first lap.. especially me and Kat who were busy gossiping about the Big Six races next year and who was doing what.

It's three laps at Rotherham, with each lap predominantly up and a lovely meandering descent as you run back around the past the finish line. Excellent cheering from the volunteers too every time.

Suze found us eventually but wasn't able to start unfortunately so she ran around with me on the final lap to keep me company.

There were some big successes too, parkrun PBs from Ash, Tim, Grace, Rachel and Connor - nice work everyone.

After the run, we took over the cafe, drank loads of tea, ate cake and had a nice chat with the results processor too. Next team parkrun will be in Leeds, sign up here