On a chilly but gorgeous winter's morning, something strange was stirring in the new York Community Woodland. A group of runners, marshals, timekeepers and walkers had made their way to help support a dress rehearsal for a new community based running event that will soon be coming regularly to this spot

The event had a very familiar feel to it and everyone seemed to know exactly what was required of them but surely that was just a coincidence

Goodgymers took up spots at various marshalling points as the community based running event got underway. In classic Goodgym fashion Tristan forgot to start his watch, Mitch arrived late and Fergie got passed around between various walkers, marshals and runners

All in all, the event was a huge success. So much so that I can definitely see this kind of thing catching on at other places!

Now we all know that community based running events aren't a race, but the top spots on this occasion were taken by both of the Woollards who can, for a few weeks at least, be crowned the power couple of the York community woodland community running event!

What a fab morning to be part of the York running community ❤️

On a freezing Saturday, 9 GoodGymers continued their weekend of good deeding. We went back to the York Railway Bowls and Social Club and helped with their ongoing project to maintain their raised beds. We were tasked with moving large bits of brick and mortar from a levelled site and used them to fill in a gap underneath a fence. That way we could stop rubbish being shoved onto the plants.

We got to work with lifting, digging and moving. Some people approached it like a puzzle, where each piece was painstakingly chosen and slotted correctly...some of us roughly shoved bricks in and called it a day. Regardless after 45 minutes of hard graft, and plenty of innuendo's which I shan't repeat here, we were able to seal up most of the gap in the fence.

We were treated afterwards to tea and cake...now that is great service!!

People say that you get that warm fuzzy feeling after volunteering, but what I got today was frozen fingers... Seriously now, a group of us went to the Knavesmire first thing this morning to help with delivery of Parkrun York. Not deterred by sub zero temperatures just under 800 people turned up to run, or walk seeking that endorphin boost. GoodGym volunteers busied themselfes with roles such as the Race Director, pacer, funnel manager, barcode scanner and finish tokens handler. Many "thank you" , "well done" and "Happy New Year" wishes were shared and exchanged and from my perspective 99.9% participants had a good time, even if that wasn't their initial thought at the 3km mark. After the task the bravest of us went to another stint of volunteering on Holgate Allotments, while others went to seek some warmth at home and a cup of tea.