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...

---

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!

---

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!

---

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!

Emma, Lily, Maria, Sam, and Vic braved the weather and showed up to help out Surrey Docks Farm on Sunday.

They took on a variety of tasks on the day, including carrying cleaning supplies to the tower, cleaning up the harvest, shifting soil, and packing up and moving manure.

This was a couple people's first time handling farm equipment and, unsurprisingly given the title, manure.

The task wrapped up and they all jumped on the opportunity to meet the kids (baby goats) and sheep of the farm.🐑🐐

Dynamic duo Emma and Mikhail dropped by Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre, turning a regular day into a bread-bagging bonanza! With swift hands and high spirits, they made quick work of a mountain of bread, ensuring each slice had a snug bag to call home. But the fun didn't stop there; the pair then darted off to collect a hearty delivery from The Felix Project, adding more goodies to the foodbank's treasure trove. Melvin, watching over the day's hustle, couldn't help but toast to their efforts, dubbing them the real MVPs (Most Valuable Providers) of the day!

A group of GoodGym volunteers descended upon the Borough Food Cooperative. Led by the intrepid Clive, the GG team included Emma, Louise, AJ, and Mikhail. Another volunteer, the ethuasiastic Jenny, also joined the fray.

Mikhail was pleasantly surprised to see Clive, whose son he had taught last year!

The team was tasked with sorting and stocking the cooperative's shelves, which were overflowing with fresh produce, canned goods, and other delicious treats. Louise and Mikhail tackled the lettuce with gusto, while Emma focused on the spinach and potatoes. AJ, the master stacker, arranged the tins and ginger biscuits in perfect order. Jenny, the enthusiast, was everywhere at once, helping out wherever she could.

The team worked hard for two hours, and by the end of the evening, the cooperative's shelves were looking spick and span. The volunteers were tired but happy, knowing that they had made a real difference in the community.