Twelve runners set out on a beautiful Monday night for short trot down to the Old Harlesden Police Station where a huge task awaited them out the back...

Abraham was there to meet and greet, and introduced us to Colin, who explained that a new art complex called CREATE SPACE will soon be opening there and will be available for local community use, and that they are fighting to make it a great space for everyone, rather than letting it be developed into blocks of flats. Anyone looking for more information about volunteering or signing up as members can contact colinlearatceatespace@outlook.com (0749 232 1626).

Colin led us out to the previously unexplored territory round the back of the station, (where the creepy old Willesden gallows are located!!!) and set us all to work, with Sadhana, our intrepid (and prolific) photographer catching all the best action moments!

There was (quite LITTER-ally) heaps to do;

• moving wood

• weeding

• sawing branches

• moving piles of mattresses

• litter picking

• fighting unruly ivy...

...but the team were undaunted - we had no trouble with the rubble! and cleared some space in that place! Bravely ignoring slugs and wee beasties, brushing past clumps of nettles and thistles and enduring their nasty stings, we worked on for 50 minutes, searching for doc leaves to soothe the pain, but to no avail... We packed up and set off back for the Queensbury with just a sliver of daylight left - yay for spring!

Before you go... The next GoodGym monthly drinks will be on Thursday 6th April from 6.30pm til late, upstairs at the Marquis of Cornwallis, WC1N 1AP (near Russell Sq). All the details are here: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-monthly-social-april I hope you can make it!

The next is a 'save the date' for the GoodGym Olympics, which will be held on Saturday 10th June at the Parilament Hill Track from 1-6pm; the idea is that different boroughs compete in events like 400m, and the elimination mile, to more novel events like a welly throwing competition and even hopefully a wheelbarrow race with real wheelbarrows. Each area will be encouraged to make their own flag for the event and even have a GoodGym Bake-off (ala a summer fate style), so hopefully it will be something for everyone.

Bye for now, till next time! XXX

A sensational six Goodgymers, pounded pavements, hopped over hills and ran ragged to clean up a particularly filthy community hall for the marvellous Harlesden Methodist Church. POW POW.

Chill was in the air but not on our minds, as the always motivated Brent crew gathered for the first GG of December. With the glorious hellos and welcomes of housekeeping complete, the team wrapped up and rolled out into the night for a quick dash 2mile tempo-run down to Harlesden High Street.

With our resident maple leaf lovely Andrea leading the pace from the front, we drank in all of the sounds and smells of the bustling community along the way. Steaming up the hills and pushing pace, the team blasted the first 2 miles in an 18min record time, even with traffic light stops and people dodging to boot! EPIC

Arriving at our destination Harlesden Methodist Church we stretched and caught breath before being welcomed into the INDOOR TASK Woo hoo!!!! Always a win, when winter has set in.

Heading straight up the stairs led by the charismatic caretaker, we gathered our cleaning equipment ready to take charge of the community hall, where windows were in need of a jolly good wash and frames were overdue restoration from grey to white.

Hot to trot, underneath the blasting heat from all of... well ALL the heaters in the hall, the team set to work on the 40min shake down. Of course the soundtrack of the eve was set in play and this Monday night, we wiggled our way through the 'Coach Ellie happy-mix' delights of - Katrina and the Waves and Shola Ama old skoolfun for everyone.

We were walking on sunshine indeed, as Dan's massive efforts to sparkle up the floor added to the clean, sheen and pristine work Tabitha, Debs and Enrique added with the windows.

With the sparkling hall beginning to gleam again, we buffed and shined our way through the last of the panes, to the end of our time, giving our best impressions of regional accents, Enrique completely outshining me in the Scottish department and Andrea giving us a schooling in the intricate art of the Canadian linguistic trait of asking a question at the end of every sentence!!

Good times and good work complete, we tidied and turned on our heels quicker than church mice diving for cheese. Or on our case, cheesy tunes.

Blasting the last 2miles home as quickly as we had shot out, it was a night for pushing PBs and boundaries and the team did it all with smiling faces and encouragements for each other all of the way! Back at base it was stretch and fetch the bags. Another night complete and Goodgym good-tasking sprinkled through the community we love.

See you next time Xmas Party people....

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPRE.

7 Brent Bandits, braved the cold, followed a Goodgym-paper trail, made it to the track and destroyed some laps!

It was by far the coldest run of the year, well and truly into winter now when 7 smiling faces greeted me at the Queensbury this Monday night. With Enrique and his ladies making up the ranks - Sister sledge (Tabitha and Deb), the ever hilarious Samina and brilliantly cheerful Liz, we also welcomed to the mix our 'out of towner' for the night - Delightful Deb from Bristol, who was completing her round of Goodgym bucket list jaunts.

So with our bi-monthly track session in sight we could tick one off the list for Deb as she had never ever stepped foot on an athletics track, or for that matter ran on one!!! EEEKKKKK A treat was in store.

The task to accompany our fitness fun, was the regular GG Brent leaflet drop, but this time with a twist.... Each member was also tasked with bringing an extra slice of Goodgym cheer to the mix by making their leaflet accepter smile while explaining what we were all about and how we supported our local area. Success was in the air and we recruited at least 6 new locals for next week! YAY

Speeding down the high road and over St Peter's Hill, it was not long before the red racer was in sight and this week there was only one goal in mind - SPEED Stop clocks at the ready our awesome athletes set to pace on their first 400m dash, followed by not one, not two but three more!!!

Timing is simple, clock how fast you can run the 400, recover for 2 minutes, then repeat. Little did the team know that 4X round = 1mile and so as they embarked on their smashing times, each one able to keep their laps within a 10second range (AMAZING!!) with huffing and puffing their efforts came to a close..... now time for the maths!

Calculators at the ready we added up the timings and so everyones shock and delight, there were 1mile time trial PBs all over the place. My ultimate favourite moment was when Deb from Bristol said in disbelief when presented with her 7minute mile achievement, "This can't be correct, I've only ever run 9minute miles!!" Well believe it sister you are more capable than what you think!

Track is an amazing way to challenge your speed and short distance recovery rate in the view that regular sessions will translate to faster speeds in your endurance pace. And despite the disbelief in my maths skills by the crew, the calculator doesn't lie YES You really are all that awesome!!

With joyful cheer at the accomplishments made and statue challenge shutterbug achieved, the team bounced out (and I mean literally about 5 minutes of mad jumping around) ready to run the cool down mile back to base.

Speeding the last few metres back into home territory, we ended with stretches, cheers, back slapping and clapping , of course we were clapping ourselves, but it still counts!!!

So proud to witness everyones dedication, ability and improvements. It goes to show, with a supportive crew around you, you can surpasses the limitations and impress yourself, beyond belief.

See you next time!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE