With the day off, Sam arrived nice and early to open up Old Spike as he welcomed in Andrada, Daryl, Elena, Gemma, Isaac, Katy, Maria, Nathan, Nelly, Olive (who reached her target for the year tonight), Phil and Tim! We even had newbie, Andy join us. Welcome Andy!

As we all gathered at Old Spike, Sam did his longer speech for Andy as he talked about the ways he can get involved with GoodGym further. After a few weeks of skipping the warm-up, Sam decided to do it tonight as the run to the task wasn't far. After the warm-up, everyone gave their answer to tonight's ice-breaker question.

Since it was International Men's Day over the weekend, Sam's ice-breaker question for tonight was: The theme of this year's International Men's Day is "Take action and stay healthy", can you give one practical tip for Men or male identify to stay mentally healthy? Secondly, who has been a big influential person in your life that is male/male-identifying?

For big influences, we had people's other halves, Dads, brothers, friends and even primary/secondary teachers made the list. In terms of tips, we had going out for a walk to clear your headspace, but the common theme was to be encouraged to talk about your feelings.

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Finding salvation in cleaning

As we left Old Spike, Sam lead the way whilst Olive backmarked as we ran towards Peckham Rye Park and looped back at the cafe towards Nunhead. We did meet tens of runners running with Peckham Pacers. Yet, we got to Salvation Army on Nunhead Green just in time to meet Tiziana, Emma and Vic who met us there at the task.

With such a large group, Tiziana had to split us into two. One smaller group consisting of Daryl, Emma, Gemma, Nathan, Nelly and Olive were given the cleaning task. They took brooms, hoovers and cleaning cloths as they cleaned the charity shop/cafe's toilets, hallway, stairs and offices. Phil and Vic joined them in sweeping the charity shop as there were a few dusty corners. The rest of the team were upstairs in the library/bookshop space to sort out books in terms of their categories: Biography, Children's, Fiction and Thriller/Action.

The 40 minute session zoomed by and we managed to finish the cleaning, but there were still plenty of books to sort out. We will be back in three weeks' time to finish this task off and give the space another spruce up.

After our group photo, we said our goodbyes and ran literally 600 metres to get back to Old Spike for a lovely stretch before a few of us decided to go to the Old Nag's Head for a Guinness or two.

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Thank You to all the GG-ers

A personal thanks from me to all those who came out tonight! Firstly, we welcomed Alex for his first GoodGym session. It was a nice short dry run both ways. The task was manageable given the size of volunteers we had. Thanks to Olive for backmarking and ensuring no-one gets left behind. We will be back in 3 weeks!

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Thank You to Tiziana

GoodGym is all about getting fit and doing good! We praise the runners/cyclists/walkers who come to get fit and help out, but we often forget about our task owner. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tiziana for preparing all the equipment and tasks for us to do in advance! We're back in three weeks' time to finish what we started with the books!

Rushing from Heathrow airport, Sam and Maria just made it in time to Old Spike for the group run. Just having enough time to get change before welcoming in John and newbie, Alex!

It was also a first for our contact tonight as this request came through a few weeks back and we managed to convert it into a group run for tonight. The location was just above Burgess Park, so it would take over 20 minutes to run just over 3.5k to get to Southwark Charities, so Sam opted to skip the warm-up and get there on time as runners were coming into Old Spike for 18:45 on the dot. Yet, since Alex was the newbie, we had to do the GG intros and the all-important ice-breaker question.

Since it was National Teddy Bear Day in the US, Sam's ice-breaker question for tonight was about teddy bears and plush toys: Tell me the name of your first teddy bear/plush toy and do you still have it?

We had popular names like bunny (rabbit with floppy ears...) and classic ones like Teddy and Ted, but Lindy had photos of her "pass me down" teddy bear, who is 36 years old...before and after in the photos...

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Brushing off our mid-week issues

Despite the lack of a headtorch, Sam lead the way whilst Mikhail backmarked as we ran through the busy Rye Lane before going into the quiet Surrey Canal path and unlike last week, we turned left to go towards Burgess Park. Through the north side of park we went (over the lake bridge), arriving close to Surrey Square to meet Lottie at St. Mary Newington Close. We did meet Lindy just outside too as she ran from home. Inside already getting on with the task, we had Andrada, Elena and Folarin who were painting away as they all came by foot (either running or walking).

The task tonight was a two-fold. We had to split the group according to the amount of paint brushes as the other task was to sand down and prepare three more benches and two more chairs for painting next time. Newbie Alex, Clare, Gemma and John all opted to sand the benches and chairs. Whilst Emma, Emma, Maria and Steve ganged up to paint the bench blue, we had individual and duo efforts from Andrada, Elena, Folarin, Lindy and Paulin to paint the chairs a multitude of colours including green, pink and yellow! Mikhail, as he has been for the past few GoodGym group runs, was our resident photographer as Sam went around talking to people and coordinated two more group run sessions with Lottie in 2024!

During the 40 minute session, we managed to put a coat of paint on four chairs and a bench whilst sanding down three benches and two chairs ready for next time. We will be back in the new year for another coat (possibly two) and there's even talks about painting the community space.

After our customary group photo and a quick DBS check, we said our goodbyes parted ways. Most ran back to Old Spike with a few dropping off at certain points as Maria backmarked to ensure no one got left behind! Another successful group run and can't believe we only have four more until the end of the year!

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Thank You to all the GG-ers

A personal thanks from me to all those who came out tonight! Firstly, we welcomed Alex for his first GoodGym session. It was also another first for everyone as we arrived at a new contact, Southwark Charities. Who doesn't like a painting task and we have to be grateful that the weather stayed dry. Thanks again to my backmarkers for running the 3.5k run each way. We will be back to St. Mary Newington Close for more!

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Thank You to Lottie

GoodGym is all about getting fit and doing good! We praise the runners/cyclists/walkers who come to get fit and help out, but we often forget about our task owner. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lottie for preparing all the tools for us in advance and giving us an achievable task! We will be back in February and Spring for more painting!

Pinch, punch, first of the month, Sam waited for everyone at Old Spike as we had a special celebration tonight, which he announced during his GG speech. Nope, it wasn't the fact we have our monthly social tonight (as it's the first Wednesday of the month), but Maria reached her 50th good deed within 52 days! Almost one a day! Congrats! 🎉

Since it was the 1st of November, Sam's ice-breaker question for tonight was about today: On All Souls Day, please if you would like share a cherish memory of someone you lost? or Tell us your best vegan dish on World Vegan Day?

For World Vegan Day, Mikhail said sweet potato and spinach curry, which was similar to Andrada saying butternut curry. Louise said Mapo tofu with vegan mince and Gemma told us about a lentil style lasagna dish whilst Sam craved Gregg's vegan sausage rolls.

For All Souls Day, Nelly remembered her Dad who sadly passed away earlier this year. David told us about his friend who passed away a few years ago on this day, Emma remembered her best friend, Bo, her beloved dog. Maria told us about her grandmother whom she lost seven years ago and doubled up her ice-breaker with the fact her grandmother would make veggie or vegan alternatives when her family were big meat eaters....yet then lecture her on her low iron levels.

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50 Good Deeds (Maria's Version)

After our warm-up in the alleyway, Sam lead the way whilst Mikhail backmarked as we ran through the backstreets of East Dulwich, up Crystal Palace Road and Lordship Lane to get to the side of Dulwich Park to finally reach Ian and Emma, who met us there. Whilst Andrada walked over to the task, but ran back with us.

Ian had a wheelbarrow full of shears, loppers, rakes and leaf pickers. The task was simple: clear the pedestrian path going along the South Circular of anything protruding through the fence. So, in barber language, short back and sides. Everyone took a tool of choice as we split the group in half quite evenly. Mikhail was our photographer for the night and ensuring he captured the task at hand.

Working our way from two ends of the rugby club along the South Circular by the end of the session, both groups met in the middle fueled by Taylor Swift's version of the 1989 album playing on Sam's speakers.

As the clock hit 20:00, we just about finished the task and Ian kindly gave out a sweet treat before we ran back to Old Spike via Dawson's Hill to take in the night sky of London. Laura backmarked this leg of the run. Everyone was up for our monthly social and another chance to celebrate Maria's 50 good deeds at Jazu bar in Peckham!

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Thank You to all the GG-ers

A personal thanks from me to all those who came out tonight! Unlike people thought, it was just over a 3k run each way (and not closer to 4k...). Thank you for working as a team to complete the task in the time as we worked from two ends to meet the middle (more or less). Thank you for coming out for the monthly social at Jazu bar too, it was great to catch up with you all!

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Thank You to Ian

GoodGym is all about getting fit and doing good! We praise the runners/cyclists/walkers who come to get fit and help out, but we often forget about our task owner. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ian for preparing all the tools for us in advance and giving us an achievable task as well as the delicious treats at the end of the session - always appreciated! We have two more sessions this year, both on Sunday mornings, so we will see you then!

Halloween might be just around the corner, but our group runs land on wicked Wednesdays, but especially this Wednesday Sam was preparing to howl his GG speech to those who would listen...

As the clocks stuck 18:45, there was an eerie silence from those who came to Old Spike for the group run as Sam updated everyone with what's going on in GG Southwark.

Sam's ice-breaker question for tonight was Halloween themed: What is your scariest nightmare / character?

Many of us instantly thought of Freddy Krueger, but we had Annabelle/Chucky (creepy dolls), the girl / victims in The Ring, the creepy person in Luther, dogs, snakes and even Richard pitched in with his son getting hurt.

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Fang-tastic time

After our quick warm-up in the alleyway, Sam lead the way whilst Maria backmarked as we ran through the backstreets of Peckham, up Grove Hill and down it on the other side to arrive in Camberwell. A last 500 meter sprint to get to the Salvation Army Camberwell Corps.

We met Richard and those GoodGymers that said they would meet us at the task: Folarin, Isaac, Mikhail and Vic.

We were here to clean and disinfect children toys for their nursery. These toys get used four times a day, so a clean from time to time is very much needed. Yet, Richard also needed 1-2 people to sweep the leaves outside, so with a headtorch, Folarin did this quickly.

The rest of the team grabbed the toys from the cupboard and put them on the prepared foldable tables. With warm water and a sponge, everyone proceeded to disinfect and clean toys whilst listening to Sam's Halloween playlist. Mikhail was our photographer for the night and ensure he got a photo of everyone getting involved with the task.

Those who had been here several times knew the setup and so an orderly system was in place with Isaac and Lindy putting on a spook-ta-cular performance in putting back the toys in the cupboard...as there is an art to it.

As 20:00 hit and with everything done, Sam called it a night as we had to dash off back to Old Spike before the vampires come out. Going via the slightly longer, but more direct route with Maria backmarking, we made it back in time for a stretch and a cool down.

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Thank You to all the GG-ers

A personal thanks from me to all those who came out tonight! That hill is always tough to run up, but I felt like we didn't struggle as much this time. Thanks for working as a team to complete the task in less than 45 minutes. Many hands do make light work and hopefully, it was enjoyable too!

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Thank You to Richard

GoodGym is all about getting fit and doing good! We praise the runners/cyclists/walkers who come to get fit and help out, but we often forget about our task owner. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Richard for staying later to open up the centre and prepare the tables, sponges and warm water for us to clean and disinfect the toys. We will be back on the 29th of November for more plus any extra bits and bobs that need doing.