There was a fantastic show of GoodGym t-shirts on display at Run Norwich today. Loads of members taking part and others volunteering (Katy, Sam & Neil) and supporting (Calum, Claire and others I'm sure!).

Everyone did great and some awesome PB's. It was hot out there and a very challenging course.

Look forward to seeing even more GoodGym red at next year's event.

I'm sure of everyone who took part so if I haven't added you to the register please let me know

Tonight was a special evening for several reasons with the main one being it was our 1st Birthday Group Run.

It was also our record turnout at GoodGym Norwich with 36 runners... and this time I was present for the record turnout.

We had 4 new runners in Neil, Kate, Lucy & Katie so a big shout out to you.

5 of our runners were hitting milestones tonight - joining the '10 good deed club' were Stephen, Jen & Graham and joining the '25 good deed club' were Michelle & Helen. Fantastic effort and I'm looking forward to more milestones being achieved in the future.

We also did a round of applause for those who did races at the weekend that I know included Jen, Hayley, Brad & Graham.

Tonight's task was to help re-energise a sensory garden at The Clare School, which is a specialist ‘physical and sensory’ complex needs school. It's about 3km away so I nice little jog there and back on a very warm and sunny evening. Our runner Hayley works there and is great to see how passionate she is about it (and how excited she was for us to arrive).

I also announced during the warm up that we had the 1km trial tonight ahead of the #GGOlympics2018 taking place in London this weekend.

Calum and Katy led headed the run tomorrow now that they are both qualified Run Leaders, which meant I could be back runner this week.

On arrival Hayley and Jen were awaiting us with some glamorous music (I won't mention my dancing) and a couple of the teachers had provided with a wonderful selection of cakes and goodies... this is becoming a habit I could get used to ;-)

After a briefing of what the tasks were, I took half of the group to do their 1km Time Trial in Eaton Park and then once we returned the rest of those who wanted to do it came over to Eaton Park for their turn.

By the time the 2nd group returned from the 1km Time Trial, some of the group decided that it was Basketball and Netball time... with the photo of Calum's dunk one of my favourites of the year so far... along with the group photo we had taken at the end with some incredible poses and facial expressions from everyone.

It was time to gnaw on the treats that were provided for us and then a sluggish 3km jog back to The Forum.

After some stretched it was time to sing Happy Birthday to Catherine D, our most deeded GoodGym-er.

...and being our birthday we had to head to the pub for some food and a beverage.

Tonight was probably my favourite GoodGym experience so far, to see how the group has grown, developed and bonded over the last year, as well as all the amazing good deeds they've dedicated their time to makes me feel very privileged and proud to be a part of so THANK YOU to everyone who has been part of the journey so far. I'm looking forward to partying with some of you on Sunday.

Next week we have another awesome run when we Clean the GoGoHares in partnership with Co-operatives Fortnight 2018.

This week was the 1st time we had 2 different tasks on the same night and therefore there'll be 2 run reports combined into 1 with Calum's part (the better part) coming up further down.

I was taking the bulk of the group on a long run to Bowthorpe Community Garden while Calum was taking 3 others to paint a small room for Open Doors, which was on a shorter root.

After having a week off I felt out of routine... I'd done the briefing at the start and got Calum to do the warm up while then realising at that point I hadn't even explained what the tasks were.

I did remember to announce that Vicky was on her 25th good deed and Catherine was the 1st GoodGym Norwich member to complete 50 good deeds... all within the 1st year! Incredible commitment.

It felt like we were saying a little goodbye as the 2 groups separated (where's the tissues).

My group had a warm and sticky 6km stroll apart from Tim and Sam who had extra energy so kept tailing back... I'd love to know how much ground they covered.

On arrival we were pleasantly surprised with a lovely table full of refreshments so straight away we were sending photos to the other group trying not to make them jealous haha.

The team had a few tasks to do which included painting a fence (Samantha, Rosie, Michelle and Catherine), removing bind weed (Sarah and Helen), locating & pulling up a bind weed root (Vicky, Tim and Mel), weeding the shingle (Bill, Sam, Katy, Robert, Lizzie, Tammy & Lisa), clearing a pathway (Hayley, Jen and Isabelle) and some hedge trimming (Darren).

Sarah and Helen discovered one of the 'Norfolk Rocks' amongst the bind week, which they later re-hid on the way home.

Before we headed back some of the group wanted to finish up with a cherry pip spitting competition, I'd never heard of this before and I'm not even sure I wanted to but it happened and I don't know who even won!

Now it's over to Calum... drum roll please.

Oh hai there GoodGym teams! Calum here, and it’s my turn to tell you all about my team’s mission. Wait. Sit down. Hold on. Strap in. Are you ready?

First thing’s first. I was not ready for tonight’s run. While Steve had asked me months ago about doing this, and I while I was eager to help out the Norwich Massive, I forgot. However I wouldn't let a little thing like organisation stop me! I think Steve was aware of this too because he promptly asked me to lead today's warm up 2 minutes before it was time to start the warm up. I bumbled and fumbled my way through, even learned a thing or two. Firstly, if you don't say please after most of your exercises and then say please after one people get REALLY suspicious. Like when you catch your sibling coming out of your room, even though the sign says “ no stupid brothers allowed ” Stan! Secondly GoodGym is full of patient and wonderful people willing to let a fool try bumble and fumble his way through his first ever warm up session.

After we split up, my 4 member strong team (Jasmine, Elizabeth, Chloe and I) sadly watched the larger team bounce off. We felt morose, like we were watching our 21 children head off to their first day of school. Still we had a task to do and no time to waste, especially as I would waste some time getting us lost probably. I did.

Once we finally arrived we were introduced to Open Doors staff and treasurer. They explained how Open Doors helps train eternal staff how best communicate with people who have learning disabilities, they also give advice and help to support those with learning disabilities. Incredible charity and really friend staff – they won our hearts with juice on a muggy evening.

We got shown to our room we were to paint and got stuck in. I bashed on some ABBA and the team started slapping on the paint. Even though we spent 45 minutes working on the room we didn't quite manage to paint all the walls, although I did manage to paint quite a large portion of myself by mistake. Open Doors was very understanding with the unfinished job and agreed we could return on a later run to finish it off, and possibly de-weed the garden. With a quick detour in to a pub to check the England score, we headed back to The Forum. I nearly got taken out by a seagull who did not appreciate my hat, but I made it. We stretched we joked, we bonded. It was a great task for the small team and we would be happy to do it again, although we did miss the rest of our GoodGym family. And remember my readers, unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

Next week we're heading to The Clare School.

To put things into perspective, we had 32 GoodGymers tonight running just over 11.5km, that equates to over 370km in total and 16 hours of volunteering time... very fitting for National Volunteering Week. It was also our joint highest turnout and longest ever Group Run.

We had 3 new runners in Emily, Brad and Lisa - what a run to start on so a massive welcome and well done to you!

Some milestones this week - Rosie A on completing 10 GoodGym deeds and Alex, Samantha and Sarah E on each completing 25 GoodGym deeds.

Also a big Happy Birthday to Robert, he'd produced some millionaire's shortbread as motivation to run back to at the end, along with Calum's brownies.

Tonights task was to visit The Grow Organisation at Bowthorpe to dig up and flatten out an overgrown patch that will then be set up as an area used by Veterans to work, rest and play. There were also some other weeding bits and bobs to do.

As we had such a large group and a long way to go, I lead the session, Catherine was going to be in the middle and Bill as back runner.

The topic for the run out was 'favourite type of brownie' with no pun intended for those who have visited Amsterdam haha. Probably not best prep for a long run out but luckily we got a biscuit on arrival to control the hunger.

Alex and her team were ready and waiting for us with their tools ands gloves. After a well earned 5 minute recovery break and drink (plus the biscuit) the army of red t-shirts go stuck in. As task owner Alex quoted:

They're like a swarm of locust that come through and tear all the rubbish up

After 30 minutes we headed off for the long journey back where aforementioned cakes were awaiting us.

A good stretch was then needed.

A mention to Jasmine for pushing herself and completing her longest ever run! Also Darren for this week's pun.

It was when time for an extremely tasty cake and a duly trip to the pub, you all did good.

Next week I shall be in Tenerife so you have a guest in double Olympian Paul Evans leading the session, which will in fact be our 50th at GoodGym Norwich!