This week was cause for celebration with both ZOFIA & MIKE completing their 101st good deed with GG!

CONGRATS BOTH AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING SO INVOLVED!

We also welcomed a new runner into the fold, please welcome, support and cheer;

Hannah

With the first group run of Feb being a brisk one with a lot of wind (weather, not flatulence), we set sail after a quick group photo celebrating Zof and Mike's achievements to meet with Sustrans Stalwart Simon who as ever (even with a cold) was committed enough to load up his van with all manner of tools and meet us to volunteer himself and meet with us and give a brief of tonights task...

The site of the Durham Ox is an area we go back to every few months to keep it in order and use for all the users and Simon highlighted this really has been noticed, noted and is appreciated by users and nearby residents alike.

We got straight to task with a mixture of;

• Litter picking
• Sweeping
• Drain clearing

We got to three different sites around the Durham Ox site and collected 7 bags full of litter and made the paths much more presentable and attractive to use.

On route back we made a few stops for some fitness which this week included;

• Clock Lunges
• Star Jumps
• Knee Up's
• Group Piston Squats
• Stair Squats
• Sprints
• Stairs, lots of stairs...

After stretching off we headed inside for some delicious home made lemon cake kindly made by Mike and his youngsters, thanks Mike and family!

Until next week, happy running :)

We welcomed no less than 6 new GG runners to the group tonight.

Please welcome, cheers and support;

(Alex) Tai Cai Rachel Lu Daniel

Give em a cheer support them by clicking their name above.

This week we were back off to our old friends REGATHER to help GORGEOUS GARETH with their community apple project which harvests apples from peoples gardens that would otherwise go to waste and goes to REGATHER where they are used to make delicious cider and apple juice. The profits go back into the project or similar projects that help to reduce food waste and make food production more locally sourced and sustainable.

We split into three teams, two teams we labeling inside, some apple juice, some cider. Team three did a litter pick outside the building to keep it looking spic and span.

Once we had completed the labeling we headed around the corner for some circular fitness action which this week included:

• Lunges
• Step Up's
• Box Jumps
• Tri Dips
• Group squat jumps
• Calf raises
• Lot's of circular sprints

On route back we added some extra loops and stairs to keep everyone together before coming to a close with stretched and upcoming news.

A HUGE congrats to Rachel for her 100th run and big thanks to Dianna for making the fantastic cape!

Until next time, happy running :)

We started this week with a good GGSHF cheer for three new runners. Please welcome and cheer;

1. Tom
2. Callum Tinnion
3. Yuara Gumelar

This week we also welcomed Lucy who was a trainer in LDN who has made the move up to the mighty Steel City along with boyfriend Paul who also used to be a trainer in LDN, look forward to seeing more of you both soon!

We were back off up to Lynwood Gardens last night to help REGATHER with the maintenance that is required to keep this fantastic community space (which includes a woodland kindergarten). This weeks tasks included;

1. Scything the weeds
2. Barrowing, dumping and spreading woodchip
3. Moving brash
4. Lopping back overgrowth

Everyone got really stuck in, Chris, Dan & Chris commitment on the wheelbarrows was incredible, running full barrows up and down the hills to supply the spreaders with a steady supply of the chip!

After a good session we downed tools and headed in the direction of home. On route back we used and underpass for some paired high knees/wall sit action and threw some extended loops, stair sets and loop back on for good measure.

On return to base we stretched off, heard the latest and showed our appreciation to Chris who will be away now for a little while until Nov, best of luck Chris, look forward to having you back.

Until next time, happy running!

:)

A HUGE GGSHEFF welcome to Jonathan Collett for attending his first run, hope you enjoyed it and will be back for more Jono!

This week saw us heading back over to Heeley People's Park to help them prep for a FREE pay as you feel event taking place in the park on Thurs; 'Much Ado About Nothing' performed by The Handlebards, a traveling (by bicycle) group of performers. The event will take place in the park on Thursday 15th August at 1830.

On arrival we were greeted and quickly split into 2 teams;

1 - Cutting back and filling tonne bags to ensure the stage was set for Thursday and views could be maximized! 2 - Weeding and raking and filling tonne bags to spruce up the park and make it look it's best for the Shakespearean festivities.

Following a good session we took advantage of the Arena area and used the step for some FANTASTIC FITNESS which this week involved:

1 - Knee raises 2 - Leg raises 3 - Press ups 4 - Tri dips 5 - Step ups

From there we ran up through the park which was looking lovely and took an alt route home which took in some stir sets, sprints and hill repeats for those who were game.

After stretching off and hearing what people have been up to on the latest missions and community missions we headed inside for chat and liquid refreshment.

Until next time, happy running!

:)

We welcomed 2 new runners to this weeks GG group run, big whoop, hola and cheers for;

• Mary Fleming
• Roger Wilson

Hope you both enjoyed it and will be back for more soon!

Before heading off we gave some more cheers to GORGEOUS GEORGE & SENSATIONAL STEVE who were on their 50th and 202nd good deeds respectively.

Huge congrats and high 5's!

We split into 2 groups and headed up the road to Lynwood Gardens to meet our man, the legend G-UNIT - AKA Gareth of REGATHER. Pappa G gave the first group gloves, tool, lighting and instructions to get straight to work and came back down to meet and greet our second rabble of runners who quickly donned gloves and split into groups to take on the nights tasks;

• WONDERFUL WEAVING (DON'T STOP BE-WEAVING)
• EDGY EDGING
• WONDERFUL WOOD CHIPPING (Wheel never tyre of woodchip)
• KINDERGARTEN CLEARANCE

After a good 45mins of graft we regrouped, leaving the gardens in a much better state than when we arrives.

Once it was time we spread the word between the group to bring tools in and get ready to run back.

On route back we used a strategic underpass crossing for some EXCELLENT EXERCISE.

We got into pairs with one person on a wall sit with hands out straight, whilst the other did high knees and then switched. Once each person had a go we used stairs on either side of the underpass to get a quick stair set in and recover down the ramp, ready for round 2!

After a couple of rounds we continued on our route home with some loops thrown in for good measure.

BIG NEWS - WITH TONIGHTS RUN WE HAVE SURPASSED OUR #JANCHALLENGE TARGET OF 300 DEEDS - MASSIVE THANKS AND CONGRATS TO ALL WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED!

Great work everyone that came along tonight and hope you can all make next week to deliver the Age UK 'Keep Warm' leaflet to inform the local elderly what services are available to keep them warm this winter.

Until next week, happy running! :)

ITS A RECORD!

WHAT A TURN OUT, WOW!

Big welcome to new runners who came for the first time, hope you enjoyed it and will be along next week. BIG CHEERS FOR;

Amber Cagney, Laura, Jennifer, Hawa Ould-Ahmed, Thomas Paul Archer, Alex Lynch, Dan Twort, and Jess Zollman Thomas!

Also HUGE congrats to Helen who winged her way to 100 good deeds tonight and to Rachel who was on her 50th good deed! GREAT WORK BOTH!

This week we were back off to HEELEY PEOPLES PARK (HPP) to help HEELEY DEVELOPMENT TRUST (HDT) with the upkeep of this fantastic community owned and maintained park.

We split into 2 groups, with Sam and Tom taking a group and Steve and Kim taking another.

On arrival to HPP we met with FANTASTIC FRANK who gave us the low down on HDT and the park and what the task was going to be tonight.

Armed with very useful lights PARKY ROB got the first group straight to work doing the MONSTER MULCH, loading buckets and barrows with mulch that was spread over three parts of the park;

1. Playground
2. Pathway to/from the playground
3. Around the boulder

On arrival, the second group got another brief from Frank and mucked in with the first group who were already set up with the task and had an efficient line of fillers, carriers and spreaders on the go!

In Rob's words; 'You can't go deep enough'

So we pilled it high, creating a soft landing for all users of the park's fantastic boulder and park facilities.

During loading of said barrows and buckets, some interesting things were overheard....

Adam, stop soiling on my feet!

Thanks so mulch...

Mounds good

Thank you very mulch

Spread the love

At the end of the task Frank and Rob thanked all and mentioned that the most mulch they had ever spread in a single session was 2 van loads and we had done three in 45mins, so this was another record for the night!

We waved goodbye to the park, Frank & Rob and headed to another park for a spot of fitness were there was TRIPLE TROUBLE in store.

We got into teams of three and each member complete a set of the following, tagging team mates along to the next exercise as they finished the previous;

1. Loop of the park (quick as you can to save your teammates)
2. Straight arm hang (with raised knees or legs if you fancy it)
3. Step up's or box jumps on the TETRIS peice!

It was a fantastic evening of running, fitness and good deeding!

Until next time, happy running! :)

On a chilly and dark Mon eve we welcomed three new runners to the @GGSHEFF family, big cheers for;

• Dolors
• Darren Wake
• A. Fundora

On a longer run than usual we got going and headed out to our location of Archer Drive to help SENSATIONAL SIMON of SUSTRANS fame to clear a section of overgrown NCN.

We all got straight to work with a combination of tasks;

• Litter picking
• Cutting back
• Sweeping
• Shovelling
• Moving branches

Litter, by litter the path was looking more and more useable with passer by's in awe of the great work that was happening. Despite advise you may have heard not to trim your bush in the dark, with trusty head torches on it was not a problem for our crack team of runners who made quick work of the overgrowth!

Once our time was up we headed home on the longer but thankfully flatter route compared to most weeks.

Fitness was squeezed in on route back with some high knees, suicides and squat jumps as we were struggling for time on the longer run.

After a brief stretch and debrief we got a pro lit group shot before heading inside for a drink or two.

Until next time, happy running :)

Wow!

A RECORD of 45 runners rocked up tonight, what a turnout!

We welcomed three new runners this week. Woop, hola and cheers for;

• Adam Perry
• Megan Burton
• Konstantina

Thanks for coming along and hope to see you all on a run again soon!

This week was a brand new task to go and help out The Childrens Hospital Charity where one of our very own GG runners works, big thanks to Rachael for organising the task which this week was helping stuff bags ready for the charities Glow Run - see photos for discount entry code.

It was a very well welcomed indoor task tonight where we stuffed the bags that will be given to the runners of the Glow Run on finishing the race. The team got straight to it got the bags done in quicktime.

Everyone was having great fun filling the fun bags full of fun and the envelope team were really pushing the envelope!

Helen was feeling a bit big headed by the end...

On route back we snuck in some stair sets, partner high knee/wall sits and got back to base for stretching and beers.

Until next week, happy running!

Despite the damp weather the @GGSHEFF spirits were not as we headed out onto the Steel City Streets on route to Lynwood Gardens to continue with our work to help GORGEOUS GARETH of REGATHER fame with the ongoing work needed to keep the space usable and attractive for the local Kindergarten and local public who use the space.

On arrival we split into 2 teams and got straight to it;

• Cutting back weeds
• Moving & spreading woodchip
• Raking leaves

On the way back we made a couple of brief pauses for the following;

• Hill Sprint
• Stair Squats (or 'presenting' as Steve likes to call it)

Once back at base we stretched off and heard the latest including Serge's up and coming debut Sheffield drama performance, good luck Serge!

Until next time, happy running ;)

32 Good Gym runners ran 5k to pick apples for Abundance.

Before we headed off we gave a warm welcome to Francesca and Jen who were joining us for the first time and a round of applause to Tom 2 who was doing his 50th Good Deed – great achievement Tom.

The arrival of autumn was marked by the increasing amount of head torches and hi-vis gear as well as a noticeable chill in the air.

However, we soon warmed up under the guidance of run leader Kim, whose whistle kept piercing the Sheffield night as she gave us different exercises to do on the run to the mission. These included a raised leg walk which hadn’t been seen since John Cleese did it in Monty Python’s Ministry of Silly Walks (Google it youngsters).

We were met by Lucy and Peter who gave us our task and told us a bit about Abundance. It is a volunteer based organisation that rescues, shares, cooks and processes fruit which may otherwise go to waste from across Sheffield. The fruit is then shared with the local community. You can find out more about Abundance at www.sheffieldabundance.wordpress.com

And if you’d like to become a volunteer by scouting, harvesting, sorting, processing or distributing fruit you can email them at abundance@growsheffield.com

There were so many of us that Kim had us split into two groups: one apple picking, the other sprinting up the road and doing even more exercises – and then swapping over.

The task concluded with a brave group of runners holding a large tarpaulin under the tree whilst Mike shook it as vigorously as he could. The result was impressive - like a firework display of apples falling to the ground. One or two runners were hit on the head, thereby reaffirming Isaac Newton’s apple inspired law of gravity.

A steady run back downhill to the Showroom, a quick stretch and a beer or two rounded off another great Sheffield GG evening.

Oh, and for those of you who were expecting lots of apple puns in this run report, sorry – other than the title there are none. Having used every apple pun I could think of in Saturday’s Apple Picking for Regather report I had no new ones left – and simply repeating them would have made a tarpaulin run report …