8 GoodGym Yorkies met at the Trust Hut near Saturn to paint over graffiti at Naburn Bridge.

Some of the team had already put in some mega miles, having run out to Naburn after doing Parkrun. Becky had clocked an impressive 22km and Tim, who arrived half an hour late following a 'medical emergency' involving chafing and nipples had taken a detour from Parkrun to go home and get changed. He arrived with 25km under his belt.

We donned the now traditional tyvek suits (apart from Huw who could only wear half of one because he's too tall to fit his arms in) and made the short walk to Naburn bridge.

Our task was to paint over the graffiti. On arrival, we realised that we hadn't brought anything with us to open the paint tins or free the paintbrushes from their blister pack. Fortunately, Elder Leavitt came to the rescue with his handy mutli-tool and we soon got underway. Since Elder Leavitt was still recovering from a slipped disc in his back, he was excused from painting and took charge of photography. We only had 2 tins of paint between us all , so when he had finished taking photos Elder Leavitt kept warm by walking up and down with the paint for us to dip our paintbrushes in when we needed more.

After an hour of painting, our work was done, so we headed back to the Trust Hut to de-suit and return the paintbrushes. Audrey, who looks after the Trust Hut had just made some popcorn, so we indulged in a quick snack before running and cycling home - but not before arranging to return tomorrow for more missiony goodness.

A fabulous group of runners came to St Nicks to clear a huge pile of wood-chip and transform a muddy path into a really nice one!

It was great to see four new runners come along and get involved, let's give some cheers to:

• Amber
• Lucy
• Lynne
• Austin

Before we even begun the task, Norb was showing some signs of distress.

I ate three packs of Oreos and now I feel sick - Norb

Despite generally feeling nauseated, Norb and several others were on wheelbarrow duty and were running wheelbarrows of wood-chip back and forth as quickly (and safely) as possible. In fact, the wheelbarrowers were moving so quickly between the pile of wood-chip and the new path that the spading team were barely getting a rest. After 30 minutes, a huge dent had been made and we'd laid the first layer of wood-chip all the way down the path.

30 minutes? Is that all we've done?! - Amber

It was tough graft and people were swapping between 'barrowing, raking and digging to try to stay fresh. Well, most people were. Tim, Becky, Lizzie and Norb were the 'barrowing elite, they were completing their very own wheelbarrowing endurance challenge and Becky was totally gutted she wasn't recording her efforts on Strava as Tim proudly said:

I've done 5km, with a wheelbarrow.

Norb was less ecstatic about the amazing distance stats as he was really starting to regret those Oreos.

Now I have two stitches.

Back over at the wood-chip pile, Payton and Austin were matching the pace of the wheelbarrowers by doing some speed spading. We did a few time trials to see the average time to fill a wheelbarrow with wood-chip. It was 14 seconds - very impressive.

Finally the path was complete and the pile of wood-chip was gone. After putting all the tools and wheelbarrows away, we completed a few conditioning and balancing exercises before having a really good stretch out to ease those tired backs and shoulders.

A year already? That has flown by with so many good deeds done, and kilometres run, that some of us lost count! 21 GG Yorkies met at Forty Five for a GoodGym York 1st birthday party. We were warmly welcomed by Louise, one of the original runners who met in the Premier Inn one cold, dark January evening in 2017.

Everyone brought food, and the bar was well stocked, so we were set for a evening of fun. Nick Griffin began by making a very moving speech, thanking our leader Egg for everything she has done for the people of York in the last year. He used words such as “motivational, indefatigable, inspirational” and there was a huge round of applause as he presented Egg with a beautiful photo album full of snaps from various group runs and missions, accompanied by some truly lovely words from the GG York members.

Paul A had been busy creating a quiz, and oh what a quiz it was. Our knowledge of GoodGym, York, Egg, parkrun and, obviously, fruit juice flavours, was really tested! Despite Lizzie, Nick, Leanne and Bev’s team having the advantage of being compiled of 4 GGers from the very beginning, and some insider knowledge, they were pipped to the post by the formidable Aron, Barbara, Mel and Jenna. Aron has obviously been stalking Egg’s Strava/parkrun data, whilst the others had incredible skills with anagrams.

What a lovely evening, with a lovely group of people. Here’s to the successful future of GoodGym York, and forging of fantastic friendships!!!

** A group of GG Yorkies braved a cold Thursday night to create a new footpath at St Nicks!**

We welcomed along three brand new runners to the gang, let's give a big cheer to:

• Bridget
• Parker
• Tyler

Apparently a brand new wood-chipper arrived at St Nicks yesterday, ready to recycle lots of old Christmas trees. Whilst the team were figuring out how the millions of pieces of this fine bit of machinery go together, a local contractor pitched up with a truckload of wood-chip (also from Christmas trees) looking for a new home. Perfect.

One very dark and slimy patch of pathway had been boarded ready for us, as the team wasted no time in filling wheelbarrows and running them over one by one.

The path smells like Christmas!

The pine tree chippings certainly did have a wonderful aroma, and the raking team were doing an excellent job of spreading it around evenly too.

With it being a bit chilly, the work rate was high as everyone did all they could to stay warm. Christine seemed to be averaging a 'barrow a minute as Tim and Robert were sprinting the full barrows up the path!

It's going uphill!

The path did meander slightly upwards which made the second half of the task that little bit tougher, no match for us though. With just a couple of minutes left on the clock, the last two wheelbarrows took the wood-chip all the way up to the steps: our task was done.

Cones of Joy!

The best way to celebrate the completion of a good task is with a lovely little fitness session. We completed a Cones of Joy workout with the timing station being a bunny hop circuit around the tree and back. Exercises included:

• Squat-kicks
• Hurdle jumps
• Spot jumps
• Walking lunges
• Pretend ladder climbs
• Can-can kicks

...and lots more.

Our next group run will also be our birthday run! We'll have been running for one whole year, come and join us for a 5km to Glen Gardens!

An amazing crew of 26 GG Yorkies ran to the YHA to help paint three rooms as part of their volunteering week.

We welcomed along two newbies to the gang, let's give a big cheer to Elder Palmer and Elder Leavitt.

After a nice peaceful run along the Ouse, we arrived at the YHA to be met by Hannah - who led me through the corridors and explained where we all had to go. She also said that everything had to be white. Easy. Our task was to paint three rooms; ceilings, walls and all. I successfully navigated through the maze of the hostel to rooms 6, 7 and 8.

Some people took 'everything had to be white' a bit too literally. I turned my back for less than 30 seconds and Nick already had it on his shoes, Jack and Ellie had war paint and Shelley...

I'm absolutely covered - Shelley

I can't describe room 7 as anything other than pandemonium.

Nick's end fell off!

Nick had managed to pick up the only dodgy roller, it had fallen off whilst covered in paint and made a right mess. Fortunately there was already a dust sheet down but everyone was banned from leaving the room until they'd had a thorough foot inspection.

Meanwhile, room 6 was very calm and organised and in room 8, Aidan had come up with an ingenious method of painting the ceiling which involved having a nice lay down on the (dust sheet covered) top bunk. Very effective.

I had already discovered some white footprints but Christine and John were all over it with the amazing heavy duty wipes that take paint off any surface. Christine did an amazing job of cleaning up the carpet and John was on doorway duty of room 7, which resulted in him becoming the official shoe cleaner.

Do Lizzie's foot, she's been standing on one leg for 5 minutes!

After a very efficient clean up operation of wrapping all the brushes and rollers in polythene, we headed back towards the river for an attempt of a massive group Indian file.

It's going to be as organised as a clown fight - Stef

To my utter surprise and amazement, it worked! 25 runners stayed steady and together all the way to Scarborough Bridge with the back runner sprinting to the front in turn. The only thing that caught people out was the occasional massive puddle.

Some people - having had a taste of the sprint - couldn't resist and went for the sprint finish past the station and back to the Premier Inn, whilst the rest of us carried on having a nice chat.

Til next week!