We gathered once again at the ever-reliable Phoenix Cinema, braced for another properly cold winter’s evening. With the last few days dipping well below freezing, this Tuesday proved no exception and with the added prospect of snow and icy surfaces later on, safety came first.

Our task host at Shepherd Hill, Pat, made the sensible call to cancel the session there due to slippery conditions and a light covering of snow. So… Plan B it was. And when in doubt, you can always rely on GoodGym’s most generous task of all: litter picking.

We warmed up in the cinema foyer, where conversation turned to New Year’s Eve plans past, present, and imaginary. Answers ranged from the sensible (“go to bed early”) to the surreal. Subham absolutely won the night with his story of accidentally meeting Mike Tyson on a staircase in a famous New York nightclub Tyson going up, Subham coming down, polite smiles exchanged. Subham briefly considered pushing him down the stairs and claiming victory… wisely deciding against it.

It was also great to see John from Camden joining us, and the beauty of litter picking meant plenty of time to chat while quietly doing good around the local area. Always surprising (and slightly depressing) how many cigarette ends lurk around trees though there was a small victory when a blocked drain was cleared using nothing more than a litter picker and determination.

As the cold finally began to bite, we headed back inside for the important stuff: hot chocolate, refreshing drinks, and a rather large box of popcorn, courtesy of George much appreciated.

Thanks to everyone who came out, adapted, laughed, and still made a difference. Next week we’re at Stephens House & Gardens it’s a great one, so bring a friend!

Run, chat, do good see you there.

Warmth on a Cold Night at St Mary’s

Daniel and I spent the night supporting the Winter Night Shelter at St Mary’s Church Hall in Finchley and it was a quietly humbling experience.

Run almost entirely by local volunteers, the shelter provided warmth, food and calm on a night when temperatures dropped to –2°C. By the time we arrived, guests had eaten well and were settling down to sleep across the main and smaller halls. Our role overnight was simple but important: to be present, supportive, and help ensure everything ran smoothly.

In the morning, a fresh group of volunteers arrived to prepare breakfast before guests packed up and moved on to the next venue. Seeing the interfaith community working together so seamlessly really brought home how vital and effective this network is.

Without shelters like this, nights like that could be unimaginably hard for those sleeping rough. It was a privilege to play a small part in such an important local effort.

If this inspires you, please share and don’t forget our January Challenge: walk, run or cycle, log it on Strava, and help us do good while keeping fit

Any Time, Any Place, Any Pace: December Litter Picks

December wrapped up our monthly “any time, anywhere” litter pick, and what a lovely way it was to end 2025 quietly, locally, and with lots of small acts adding up to something meaningful.

Huge thanks to everyone who took part this month, and to those who’ve been dipping in and out right across the year. Whether you picked for five minutes on a dog walk, filled one bag, or tackled a bigger hotspot, it all counts and it all matters.

We had some brilliant moments: • A festive litter pick along the Snoopy Trail, where a couple of enthusiastic children joined in by spotting bits we’d missed (future GoodGymmers in the making!). • A determined clean-up along the River Quaggy that started as a “quick pick” and turned into multiple bags of bottles, cans and polystyrene. • Solo picks, shared picks, daylight picks, and “I’ll just do this bit while I’m out” picks.

That’s really the joy of this mission. No pressure. No fixed time. No big logistics. Just being active, present, and community-minded wherever you happen to be.

Why litter picking works • It’s easy to fit into everyday life • It’s quietly satisfying (that bag fills up faster than you expect!) • It sparks conversations and curiosity • It makes you notice – and care about – your local patch a little more • And it’s one of the simplest ways to turn a walk, run, or dog outing into a good deed

As we roll into 2026, let’s keep this going – and see if we can pull a few more people along with us. Bring a friend. Borrow a picker. Snap a photo. Write a few lines. That’s all it takes.

If you’d like to get involved, need a litter picker, or fancy being added to the WhatsApp group for gentle nudges and shared motivation, just let me know. This is GoodGym at its most accessible – and most human.

Thanks again to everyone who’s been part of this through 2025. Let’s get properly stuck into 2026

A hardy group of Goodgymmers, new and regular, gathered at the Phoenix Cinema for their regular session, only to find... the cinema was closed! Thankfully, the lovely manager was in, and more than happy for us to gather our resolve in the foyer as we prepared to go out into the dark and damp.

Tonight's mission was leafleting for the North London Hospice. Each year they offer a great service collecting Christmas trees and donations to keep themselves going. We had 500 leaflets and many pairs of hands to make light work of delivering them to nearby houses, especially the ones with all their Chrimbo decorations sparkling.

Warming up outside, we welcomed Fanny and Kingsley for the first time, as well as Narina for her second consecutive week (thanks also for bringing Kingsley!). Amazing to see Jacqui also, who can't usually make Tuesday group runs. And, of course, stalwarts Rachel, Subham and Paul making up the numbers.

Then off we went, with Rachel and Paul leading a walking group of 5, and myself, Subham and Jacqui jogging to the far end of the nearby roads, then working our way back to meet them in the middle. Then, after a quick redistribution of the remaining flyers, we set a challenge to see whether the runners could finish and get back to the Phoenix before the walkers. The walkers won, mainly because the runners stopped to take a photo.

Lucky for us, the Phoenix manager was still working and more than happy to open the bar for us! After a round of bevvies (or maybe two for some), we patted ourselves on the back for another job well done.

Looking forward to the new year, on Wednesday 7 January we'll be helping North London Hospice reap the rewards of our leafleting, collecting Christmas trees - a great follow up to start 2026 with!

Peacehaven delivered its usual charm for the Mince Pie 10: relentless wind, rain so fine it hung in the air like mist, and a field full of runners in Christmas costumes who somehow remained cheerful despite looking like festive sponges.

I wasn’t running this time. Instead, I was helping on The Green Runners’ swap-shop stall — a jumble of pre-loved running shoes and kit designed to give good gear a second or even third life. PairUps were also there, showing people how to repair their favourite trainers.

In between gusts of sideways rain, I had a fascinating chat with Darren, one of the founders of The Green Runners. He explained something that feels obvious once you hear it: most of us spend ages finding the right running shoe, wearing it in until it matches our foot and running style perfectly — so why get rid of it after 300 miles just because the industry tells us to?

According to Darren, that mileage limit is more marketing than science. The cushioning usually lasts much longer; it’s the seams, uppers or edges that go first. A tiny, cheap repair kit can keep a favourite shoe going far beyond its “expiry date”, saving money and reducing waste at the same time.

A few very grateful runners came over after the race, soaked and muddy, and left with better-suited shoes from the stall. It was a reminder that community, circular thinking, and simple actions can make a big difference.

Two GoodGym runners popped over to say hello before braving the trails, but apart from them, most visitors were enthusiastic Christmas-clad racers curious about how to run more sustainably.

If you’re wondering what else you can do as a runner, The Green Runners have four simple pillars: 1. How You Move – choosing active and lower-impact ways to get around. 2. How You Kit-Up – buying less, repairing more, swapping, borrowing, and thinking second-hand first. 3. How You Eat – making food choices that support both performance and the planet. 4. How You Speak Out – using your voice to encourage greener habits in your community.

Their story and resources are well worth a look: https://thegreenrunners.com/our-story/

A morning of atrocious weather, Mince Pie madness, and conversations about making running more sustainable — not a bad way to spend a Sunday. If nothing else, it proves that with a bit of thought, we can all extend the life of the things we use and reduce the pressure to constantly buy new.