As the nights begin to draw in, our leafleting sessions on behalf of Cambridge City Foodbank are a fantastic way to get some fresh air and your step count up - all while doing some good!

For the first in this year's winter series, Kate and I layered up and met to distribute the revamped leaflets, which Kate carried in a well-stocked backpack. With me recovering from a bug, we took a gentle stroll from our meeting point rather than a run, heading down Mill Road to the other side of the railway tracks and our designated area. With it being just the two of us, we made the decision to stick together to maximise the social aspect, helped by most of the doors being arranged in closely grouped pairs. 👭

With all of the "no junk mail please" doors uncannily being the ones I went to (not taking it personally!), we admired the various stained glass windows and autumn wreaths. We were even treated to a couple of cats and some small but mighty tiny guard dogs! 🐈‍⬛️🐶

Catching up on everything we'd been up to since we'd last seen each other, the main topic of conversation soon became running. It turns out we've both signed up to our first marathons next year! Sharing training plans and ideas and agreeing to do some long runs together, we committed to motivating and supporting each other. 💪

With each of us having a less-than-ideal afternoon beforehand, this task was the perfect antidote and we were both so pleased we were able to make it. Time flies when you're having fun and doing good, and it was the pep both our steps needed! ☺️

Three GoodGymers were going wild in the aisles supporting Cambridge City Foodbank this week, running to deliver donations and using the opportunity to pop some GoodGym posters up around town.

I met Scott by the cemetery, all very glamorous, and we ran to meet Caroline at the shop, who was travelling by bike having done a fair bit of training this week.

We checked the existing donations and made a plan to pick up items they were low on like oats, tinned fish, and some sweet treats. Having read an article recently about a great organisation collecting food donations for the wider community, who often get overlooked, we also raided the world food isle and picked up some "Free From" items.

Baskets full, we headed to the checkout to hear the beep, and all agreed we'd had fun on our supermarket sweep.

We were back supporting Cambridge City Foodbank this evening. It was a lovely late summer evening and perfect for a run.

Meeting Scott and Alice at the pool, we welcomed Sarah (Barnet OG) and George to their first GoodGym Cambridge session 👋 Great to have you along!

After introductions and a warm up (including squats for no-squat Scott and some all important ankle mobility exercises) we were off! All fired up and on our way, I realised after 50m that we hadn't taken our group shot, so we took a very early pause to make sure we captured the moment (and the beautiful light). On our way once more, we navigated through the backstreets and the cemetery, taking the scenic route to the supermarket.

We did a recce to assess what was needed and split off to secure some donations. Being extra prepared, it turns out Alice had impressively been running with a bag full of cans 💪

Not able to join the session, Caroline had beaten us to it earlier in the day, and even had time for a quick (Drosque-esque) picture in front of our poster in store.

With a variety of food and household items donated, we started our run back to the meeting point, taking a slightly different route, this time via the underpass (we like to take in all the best sights). Feeling happy after enjoying movement, good deeds and great company, we cooled down and made plans for our next session before heading our separate ways.

This week's task saw the return of our monthly Cambridge City Foodbank donation run on behalf of Greens Organise 🥫☕️🧃🍼🍫

Joining us for the first time was Alex (welcome! 🙌), meeting regulars Catherine and Kate for a social run from Parkside Pools. I joined them at Stir, having already run that morning and using the time instead for a much-needed bike clean! We jogged to the collection point, and after a (too) brief interaction with a coned dog, bag tetris commenced... 🟩🟨🟦🟥🟪🟧

Between us, we managed to pack nearly all of the items, only leaving behind half a crate. With our bags full and our spirits high, we set off 2 km walk to the foodbank. The time flew by and the conversation flowed, discussing the benefits of strength training and enjoying the novelty of the evening's weighted exercise 🏋‍♀️

After the usual friendly greeting from the team there, we unpacked all the items into crates for redistribution - but not before weighing our bags! Between the four of us, we'd carried an impressive 53 kg of donations! The unofficial prize for Heaviest Bag went to... 🥁 ... Catherine, with a whopping 17 kg in hers 💪

Enjoying an evening stroll and discussing the benefits of social missions/visits, they dropped me back at Stir and continued their run back to the pool. Thank you for another fabulous mission!

P.S. Anyone else's legs feeling the effects of our unconventional weight training today? 😅

For this week's group run, Beth, Kate, Catherine, Scott and I tied up our laces to run some donations for Cambridge City Foodbank 👟👟

Meeting at Parkside Pool, we set off on a gentle jog down Mill Road after a group warm-up 🤸‍♀️

Arriving at Coldham Sainsbury's, we spread out to gather items from the foodbank's suggested list 🥫🧃

Beneath the setting sun, our return run saw us catch up on the epic charity swim Beth - on her 10th good deed today - participated in last weekend. Well done, Beth! 🏊‍♀️🙌

This Thursday, Cambridge GoodGymers helped deliver donations to Cambridge City Foodbank through Greens Organise Cambridge's mutual aid initiative 🍞🥫🍫🧃

Catherine, Caroline, Scott and Christopher met for a bouncy warm-up and a jog along the river, working up a sweat in the evening heat. Eva joined the group to collect the donations and between them, the team loaded 5 crates of items into their backpacks! It was a rather weighted walk to the foodbank but all the donations were happily received, and the team felt very proud of their efforts 🏋

Practically skipping back with their bags now emptied, the group got some more steps in on the 2.5km walk across to Thirsty for this month's social. Nick joined and everyone raised a glass to all the good deeds achieved this month 🍻

Over the next few hours, the team relaxed with plenty of laughter, chats about superconductors and property law, tricky beer decisions, shared pet photos and some impressive multitasking by Eva with a beautiful embroidery piece 🪡

Apparently keen to get even more steps in, some of the gang succumbed to the temptation of Jack's and jogged into town for some late-night gelato. Double (double) tinies all round! 🍦

What a fabulous evening and a fantastic way to bring together members of the GoodGym Cambridge team. We're looking forward to next month's social already, and all the good deeds in between!