Tonight we started our warm up by saying which drink we'd like to get rid of - suggestions included pernod, cider and whiskey! We then celebrated Cara's 200th good deed and welcomed Nick to his first run, before heading off to Park Grove for a final session of fence painting.

Once we arrived we made a prompt start on turning the rainbow fence blue. Within no time one side was done so a few nimble folk jumped the fence to do the other side (Then vicky found the keys to the gate in her pocket!)

The session then finished with a coconut shy relay race! Lots of people knocked one off to take home (whilst others just stole them!)

Once back at base and refuelled by Amy and Cara's biscuits, a bumper group headed to the pub to discuss the use if coconuts in more detail!

19 GG folk met to brush up on their painting skills at Park Grove School. we welcomed Claudia to her very first GoodGym and were also joined by Amy for her first group run.

After owning up to our favourite Karaoke songs - Boney M Lucy - really? and a quick leg swing warm up we headed off to meet the gaffa Vicky at the school

on arrival Mitch along with 3 other GGers went off to the Secret Garden to help out Tracey of Fairy Trail Fame. They were tasked with clearing a pile of compost, rubble and other fly tip to clear the area for a new garden to be installed.

They got straight to work digging, bagging and trying to find the strangest item (tied between computer mouse and tiny bathtub...).

Meanwhile back at the school the rest of the crew had moved some heavy podiums and were painting up the old rainbow fence while Jamie showed his sense of hue-more with a steady stream of paint themed puns. Laura was caught blue handed wearing the cape of good deeds while painting - congrats on reaching 400 awesome good deeds Laura!

we got a good chunk fence painted and then it was onto the sports field for a quick round of squats and burpees to AC/DC's Thunderstruck before we had a mini sports day.

Abigail's team won the well known quoit on the head relay race with some dubious use of the hair bun, Lyndsey exhibited an extremely unorthodox lunge technique in the quoit on the head lunge relay and Claire really came into her own with some very dainty backwards running in the famous quoit on the head backwards running race.

it was then just a short trot back to base before no-one went to the pub - the horror!

Tonight we named and numbered off saying what we do to relax and look after our mental health, following mental health awareness week last week. Goodgym featured along with drinking stout, wild swimming and doing magic tricks!

We then got into two groups. Mitch led a gang out to Bootham stray and had this to say...

We arrived at the allotments and were given a GG classic. There was an area of overgrown vegetation that needed clearing to make space for a new allotment. We were given an absolute glut of tools (yay!). We had 40 minutes. We then got stuck in.

After lots of digging, lopping, hoeing, wheelbarrowing and jaffa cake...ing we managed to get the vast majority done!

Vicky's group headed to Park Grove where newbie Sam met us - welcome Sam! We made a good job of finishing the last third of the fence and touched up where the rain hit the last session. We finished off with a play on the climbing wall, then headed back to base.

Thanks everyone!

The promise of painting enticed a good turnout for tonights run.

We started off by naming and numbering off and we marked 112 years to the day since the titanic sunk by saying our favourite ways of crossing water featuring paddleboards, pedalos and platypuses!

Ed then led the group over to Park Grove in somewhat blustery conditions .... perfect for painting surely.

We were met by Vicky and split into two groups. The first set about repainting the fence (and grass in some cases). David did a great job as quality control making sure there were no gaps and Barbara's drippy bits were spread out!

The second group were tasked with freeing a bench from tree which had grown through it and clearing away plants from the fence.

All was going to plan until we felt the wind pick up and clouds gather. We quickly packed up and then the rain came just in time for fitness.

We put on brave faces and did some circuits until we finally moved under cover to do some star jumps and penguin huddling until the clouds passed.

We were greeted with a rainbow and split into four teams for a tug or war tournament. The Area Activator team won in the final (I think a coordinated effort was key rather than strength!).

We then headed back to base for a stretch and to hear about the week ahead.

Well done for braving the weather. See you next time!

on our final day of the January challenge the committment of the Yorkies was still strong.

We efficiently barrowed a big pile of woodchip around the forest school and built up an appetite for curry!

❄️ 21 of us met on a chilly but dry Monday evening for our group run. Once we’d dragged ourselves from the (very) warm room into the cold, we named, numbered and warmed up while discussing our favourite Christmas food. Lots of sweet and savoury classics featured, along with Max’s “traditional” Christmas Eve lasagne. I think we know where we’ll all be heading on the 24th this year…

☃️ We also celebrated Rich‘s achievement of not (quite) being caught whilst dressed as a mince pie in the 3k Chase the Pud race yesterday.

🚚 Once warmed up, Tristan led our run to the task (while two of us cycled). After a last-minute cancellation due to a broken-down van, Vicky had saved the day by letting us come to Park Grove School. Once there, we split into three groups to get to work.

🎄The first task was to finish chopping willow, something that a number of people were so keen to do that they started heading off there without any tools! Trees were climbed and branches were sawed to the sound of shouts to warn anyone in the vicinity. And I can confirm that the prettily-decorated (non-willow) Christmas tree was not harmed in the process.

🍂 Meanwhile, another team were doing some classic autumnal leaf-clearing, sweeping/raking the paths and nearby grass and gathering a good haul.

🌱 Thirdly, what was thought to be the least popular task also gathered some noble volunteers, for some weeding. New plants have been planted near the fence we’ve helped erect and then paint. Sadly, weeds have started appearing (including our arch-enemy, the infamous bindweed). Said weeds therefore needed removing to offer these new plants a chance to thrive.

🙌 All the teams got to work with gusto and make a big difference to each of their areas. Before we knew it, it was time to finish. It was therefore all hands on deck to gather the remaining willow branches and drag them to the wildlife area.

😁 Thank you Vicky (and Gary the caretaker), we hope we’ve managed to do something helpful in return for you helping us out with a task last-minute.

💪 Thank you also to Tristan who led our fitness session based on that classic primary school game “Stuck in the Mud”, with added squats, skipping and lunges. It was soon time to head back to base for a cool-down before heading home/to the pub.

🎅 Thank you everyone, and see you for more Christmassy fun, at the Santa sleigh on Wednesday evening and/or our Christmas party on Friday evening.