Just like GoodGym, working tirelessly to combat isolation with the elderly Evolve Housing are doing a similar job in combating homelessness.

My self and Juliet were fortunate to experience the how supportive Croydon residents and folks from as far as Devon are to homeless within the community. Juliet signed up for the early shift and I arrived just in time for the big speech of gratitude and thanks to all the people who had turned out tonight in support of Evolve Housing efforts in combating homelessness.

Following the speech and a run through the plans for the next 8 hours all sleepers were ushered out into the main area in Box Park where all the tables and chairs had been cleared to make room for tonights sleep out. It was very busy as everyone tried to find a spot to make their bed for the night after about an hour everyone had found their space and unpacked their sleeping bags ready to bed down for the night.

There was a lot of social media activities taking place, Croydon's social media presence must have hit it's highest peak as all around there were folks on FaceTime, WhatsApp video call, Instagram live, Facebook, twitter and snapchat sharing their stories.

• 23:20 the lullabies came on (twinkle twinkle little stars, rock a bye baby, hush little baby....) a few of us walked through to see if anyone had noticed that the music had changed, there was no sign that they had spotted what had just taken place.

• 23:30 the main lights went off, everyone noticed that as it was greeted with cheers, for a while there was a little light show setting the scene getting the sleepers ready for bed.

• 00:00 less chatter could be heard, we listened but did not hear any snoring, we all wondered which section the first snoring would be heard but we couldn't decide, when then talked about how to wake them in the morning and there where a few suggestions of a bugle, heavy metal blasting through the speakers or just a gentle nudge. We decided that it shouldn't be anything to startle them given that they have given up their warm beds to support a worthy cause.

I guess I will have to wait until the morning to hear what the wake up call was as I wasn't spending the night and left at about 00:20, unlike most of those who are spending the night I had work in the morning. Although I did speak to a few people who were actually going to work in the morning.

Loads of excellent people ran VERY FAR to collect Christmas gift donations for Evolve Housing

It was Lambeth's last run before Christmas and so we had some lovely visitors from other boroughs. We were heading off on a monster run to pick up gift donations from Clapham Junction and deliver them to Evolve Housing's office in Stockwell.

There were two run options: a 5km Santa Dash, with a bus to Stockwell and a 10km All the Trimmings. We set off through the bright lights of Clapham and past the Winter Wonderland on the Common. On reaching our collection point in Clapham Junction, we discovered many DVD donations and also some clothes. People picked up a few items each and then we divided into the bus gang and runners and off we went to Stockwell.

Once the gifts were all safely delivered, we went back to base for some stretches and then headed to the pub for some festive drinks. Katie gave out some Shit Prize of the Month and Year - it was a very tense moment!

On distance, Judy Reid smashed it for the ladies but overall winner was Michael, who has been a steady and committed runner since joining GoodGym and really clocked up those miles (1332km and counting!). Then we were onto the thing that GoodGym is all about: GOOD DEEDERY.

A massive commendation has to go to Frances, who has clocked up 54++ good deeds since joining in April. In third place came David, with 89, second place, Tom Hunter with 92 and the winner of Shit Prize of the Year went to the birthday boy himself Tom Benson with a ridiculous 102 good deeds!

All deeds and distances correct as of Monday evening so now they are EVEN MORE!

We ate lots of cake and generally were merry. What a brilliant year it has been. Thank you to everyone who makes Lambeth a success week in, week out. You really are the best!

This evening we ran over 4km to help clear leaves in Birdhurst Community Garden

13 intrepid runners turned up tonight to brave the icy winds and slippery pavements. All were wrapped up warmly – with one exception – you can spot him in the photos! Unfortunately we were not able to help Evovle tonight as they weren’t quite ready for us but luckily it was Amatare to the rescue and he found us a task at Birdhurst Community Gardens. After warnings about black ice, staying warm and not running when you are ill (starting to sound like my mum!) we headed off for our warm-up and then split into two groups: Amatare and Dom taking the speedier runners and I brought up the rear with the social chatty group

We managed to arrive in one piece with no slipping incidents and got straight to work clearing and bagging up leaves around the Garden. Many hands made light work this week and we completed the task quickly and had some time pose for photos and admire the outdoor Christmas tree. It was getting colder so we decided not to hang about and headed back to Solutions to get ready for our Christmas social. Amatare and Dom took a slightly longer route back and my group Fartleked all the way back – although we decided skipping instead of full on sprints would be the safer option and skipping just makes you smile whether you want to or not.

There was a new face to GoodGym Croydon all the way from Birmingham so welcome to Fiaz and hope to see you back again next time work brings you this way.

GoodGym has gone a bit “Facebook” and if you login and look at your profiles you wil see Your GoodGym year in review and see all the runs, good deeds and cheers you had over the last 12 months. Speaking of Facebook when I went on our open page GoodGym Croydon Runners there was a Your year in review post which is worth watching.

Our next run is on Tuesday 2nd of January so plenty of time for any New Year excesses to have worn off so hope to see you all then and have a wonderful Christmas and great start to 2018.

As temperatures drop...GoodGym runners come out to play! Yes, ten runner volunteers took to the streets to cover around 4km and distribute flyers for Evolve and Clock Tower Market.

Layer up! That's the key to keeping warm on these winter runs. While we waited for everyone to arrive, there were a few debates about optimum layering and how to wear a buff (one of those tube-scarf thingies, very handy). Before we set off, Ian talked about the Oxfam Trailwalker, a 100km challenge that takes place over the weekend of July 13-15. Ian is keen to participate and would like to put together a team - this will consist of four walkers (though you could run, run/walk or jog if you want to!) and two supporters (they would meet at check-points to hand out supplies, give encouragement and generally keep you going). Although the event isn't until July, there is an early bird entry deadline, which closes on December the 8th, so a good push to decide soon! Do you fancy setting yourself a challenge to 2018? Let me know!

Tonight we welcomed a visitor from across the border in Lewisham, hello Clare (Clare ran all the way here, around 6km!) and a first-timer, Agata - show them some support by clicking on their names to give them a cheer!

This week we were trying something new for our area, flyering. We had a stack of flyers for two organisations, Evolve Housing and Clock Tower Market. Evolve are a charity set up to help homeless people, not only with accommodation, but with long-term support and mentoring. The flyers we were delivering are for their Christmas appeal, encouraging people to donate either funds or gifts. Our other bundle of leaflets was for the Clock Tower Market, a local initiative set up and run by volunteers. This Saturday, they have their Christmas market, over in South Norwood, where you can support local traders and also take along donations of toys, for the Salvation Army to distribute to children in need.

I had pinpointed a few roads on the map, so we ran down towards Beckenham, with Ian as back-marker, making sure we didn't leave anyone behind - thanks Ian! Once we reached our chosen roads, I handed out flyers and our runners worked in pairs (and a three!) to post as many as they could, avoiding any 'No Junk Mail!' signs or any snappy dogs. Flyering tasks are funny old things, they can go either way, with everyone returning in no time at all, saying most houses were against 'junk mail', or everyone happily pootling along, enjoying a chat and returning empty handed and with a warm glow of achievement.

Thankfully, the people of Penge seem open to receiving news of good things happening locally, so all flyers went, but we were missing a couple of runners. Hmmmm, where had Louise and Stephen get to? Some squats, knee lifts and lunges kept the rest of us warm, as we considered sending out a search party, but they appeared eventually, telling us that they'd got carried away chatting, 'being northerners' (their words, but yes, it's true, there is an increased capacity for chat the further north you go)!

We ran now away from the main road, sharing our remaining flyers and posting them in the houses we passed on our way up to Crystal Palace Park. Good work team! Once at the park, we warmed up a little bit more, before taking on the long, but not too steep, hill. Some good, deep push-ups and tricep-dips and we were done. I think a big shout out has to go to our newcomer Agata, who had told me at the beginning that she doesn't normally run. She ran almost 4km, that's incredible!

As we stretched, I told the group about next week's special task, a run to St Hugh's Community Centre, to put up the Christmas decorations! There will be warming treats and festive tunes, so sign up now, it's going to be a good one. Don't forget, we also have our Christmas social coming up and, in January, a post-parkrun starter session (open to all).

This evening we ran between 3 and 4km in total to help promote a Christmas campaign for Evolve

It was a beautiful mild and dry evening tonight and after being worried on Sunday that we only has 8 runners signed up we had 17 in the end. Tonight we were delivering leaflets for Evolve to help promote their Christmas campaign to help make Christmas and the rest of the year too better for many of the people they support. As we had 250 leaflets we decided to target nearby Park Hill and split into groups of 4 each with a head torch, map and bundle of leaflets. With so many runners coming along tonight the task itself only took about 20 to 25 minutes but that did mean there was plenty of time for a longer fitness session – how they all cheered!

Tonight we concentrated on hill sprints – driving arms back, not spilling water out of our bowls and shortening our strides. While the runners headed up the hill in pairs the waiting runners did a series of exercise to stop them cooling down. Squats, balances, press ups and a few more for good measure. After the strenuous stuff we headed to a patch of grass for some Heads and Tails – get it right you get the easy exercise, gte it wrong then it may hurt a little! What I decided not to tell the group was that my Heads and Tails app decided to crash after the first toss so I just had to make it up as I went along!

There were a few new faces today so welcome to Alex, Jodie and Leonie - you all did fantastically so hope to see you back soon.

Next week we are heading out around Croydon to help at Thornton Heath Rec to see what the Friend of Thornton Heath Rec have in store for us. Don’t forget the social afterwards at BoxPark too.

Also wanted to mention the GoodGym Christmas party in December in Battersea.

Finally ...... please could all the ladies use the basement changing room in Solutions as the one we normally use is getting crowded.