This week we ran to Hanover and Elm Grove to help keep the streets clean ✨️ Weeding and painting were the order of the day, with the team splitting up to conquer multiple tasks.

Jane and Georgia got to work clearing the pavement alongside a church, while Stefania and Ben tackled the ever prolific bindweed in the flower beds. Meanwhile, Juliet and Sarah got to work painting over graffiti tags, Sarah having made the smart move of wearing her painting clothes. Some of us had less foresight, and now have fun new patterns on our trainers... 🙄

After reconvening (with a little help from Michael who managed to join us post commute) we headed to The Level for a fun speed workout! We worked on accelerating the pace and building endurance by running progressively faster laps with no breaks 💪 We also plotted the GG Brighton Christmas Party, and learned the importance of standing on one leg while we brush our teeth 😁

Thanks everyone for a great session, and look forward to seeing you next time.

The sunsets on the Brighton & Hove seafront are amazing in September! Always.

Following a great sunny week at the end of what was a bit of a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” summer, yesterday’s weather forecast was not to be believed, and so Brighton GoodGym did (not).

There was in fact a great atmosphere and we had a very pleasant litter picking on Brighton beach, regardless of Met Office’s weather warning with risk of thunderstorms, I wonder where 😊?!

GoodGym Brighton welcomed new member Georgia and Shaun the Sheep, who is visiting Brighton from the 9th September to the 5th November. Shaun by the Sea brings together a fantastic flock of 40 individually designed sculptures of Shaun, which represent the individuality and diversity of Brighton & Hove. We already met two Shauns and we will indeed keep welcoming all to join our next GoodGym sessions in Brighton.

We took over volunteering at the Bevendean Downs parkrun, and it was ace!

The Bevendean Down is a wonderful gem of a parkrun on the doorstep of the South Downs, with astonishing landscapes and viewpoints that make you (almost ;-) forget the hilly off-road terrain while running the 2 laps route of this lovely parkrun on the edge of Brighton city.

Thanks Michael and Philippa for taking up this initiative, and Ben, Rebecca, Sarah and Nicola for getting on well in your designed volunteering roles. It was Sarah's second time here, this time as a race marshal.

Despite the morning turned wet by the end, your smiles seem to keep up shining all time along, likewise the sun who presumably welcomed you, the other volunteers and the event’s runners at the start line!

The entire field of runners and volunteers ended up to The Bevy pub for some coffee and breakfast baps, which somehow felt right. Although the Bevendean Downs parkrun is a relatively small event, the feeling of community here is big - and we always feel like being part of the whole family.

After a hiatus tonight we returned to one of our favourite tasks at The Bevy! 9 runners (and a dog!) ran and cycled their way deep into Moulescomb to help out with the incredible tiered vegetable garden that provides food for the Bevy pub and local community.

We were joined for the first time at Brighton Goodgym by Siobhan, an experienced Goodgymmer who will be a great addition to future tasks. A handful of us enjoyed the long sunny run from the centre of Brighton picking up people on route and meeting everyone else there. Everyone was pleased to see us but with the niceities over we soon got to work. We split into two groups, the chosen few had the fun but precarious task of picking plums from the steep fruit bank. Chanelling their inner mountain goat the team made light work of the picking, building up a great pile to be used at local community events.

The unlucky second group were tasked with weeding the vegetable garden path. An unglamorous task but important- with the last chance to grow some produce coming up, the planting beds need preparing. We set work pulling up bindweed, bracken, grass and all manner of weeds. Our reward for this was to pick the pears from the trees at the top of the garden. We were soon joined by the first group and made quick work of the path in the evening sun.

As a thank you we were treated to homemade Eccles cakes and stayed for a sunset chat before heading off back into central Brighton. The Bevy has had some difficult times of late but is bouncing back amazingly, make sure to get down in support when you can. We will be heading back there on Saturday for a post Parkrun breakfast!

With the sun shining again, ten Good Gym runners and one Good Gym cycler met to run to Preston Park. We welcomed back new members Daniela and Edel. It was good run or cycle ride to the Vicarage bowling club, which is the other side of Preston Park. We met Jenny who told us there used to be five bowling clubs in Preston Park but sadly there are now just two remaining. She said bowls were for all ages and anyone was welcome to join. Sherman, Ben, Frannie, Daniela, Rebecca, Angela, Edel, Sarah, Jane and I helped clear the ivy from the flower beds and weeds from the path. It was a large area, and we could see there was more to do so it would be worth a return visit. Afterwards, Pippa led a fitness session involving some hill sprints and balancing exercises in Preston Park 😎

After a long-ish run with a cheeky hill at the end, we returned to Moulescoomb Allotments where a long-term project has involved clearing a pocket of land to make a wildflower meadow. Unfortunately, the piece of land in question spent many years as a prime fly tipping location, so there's been a lot of rubbish to shift 💪

This week we were continuing to clear weeds and rubbish, as well as shifting lots of wood chips to lay down in the cleared area. Rob, Michelle, and Rebecca all channeled their inner lumberjack and had a go with the mattocks, with finds including a sword (possibly medieval), a wing mirror, and a massive bit of pipe!

After a tough session that really put the 'gym' in GoodGym, we made our way to the Lewes Road Inn, where despite being muddy and exhausted we managed to achieve a respectable 3rd place in the pub quiz 😎