Welcome Theodore and June on their first group run with Goodgym Barnet . This evening we were looking to help Phoenix Cinema by distributing leaflets about their up-and-coming films into local houses. Phoenix cinema is a jewel in the crown of Finchley, having been the oldest purpose-built cinema in continual use in the world! ( please challenge me on that if you dare) We gathered in the foyer of Phoenix for a chat. Then we set off on a warmup jog and a further structured warmup taken by Cloud ( nicely done despite the unusual traffic on a pedestrian footpath, which included two cars doing a drugs deal!) We then went for a further run before starting to deliver the flyers to some local houses. Once complete, we did a warm down and then had some refreshments back at the cinema.

Thanks for coming running and doing some good.

The Phoenix Cinema, Have just told me they would like to offer a 2for 1 tickets for GoodGym members for a special screening of Alice Darling with Q&As on Saturday.

The manager has requested to know if anyone is interested?

A few Goodgym members came together for our first group run of the year on one of the coldest days so far. We gathered in the warm, welcoming Phoenix Cinema to chat. As is traditional, we number up, selected a back marker ( why is it always cloud ?) and stated some of the highlights of our New Year. We warmed up with some slow, and then quick punching in a squatting position. (Great way to get the blood pumping!) we then set out into the evening to meet up with Kirsten. who was running late. We did a 5 km circuit, stopping every so often to do leg and arm exercises. Unfortunately, our scheduled good deed had to be cancelled because of ice, but we managed to grab a few leaflets to promote the Phoenix cinema. We proceeded to deliver them on a nearby road, allowing Louise to deliver to a famous musician living near Highgate Woods. On our eventual return, we warm down with some stretches, and some of us went for some refreshments. Thanks for coming running, being resilient and doing good!

Please feel free to comment below.

A few GoodGym members came together to help Martin Primary School in Finchley with its Forest School paths. It’s a short run from the Phoenix Cinema to the school where we met up with John who told us what to do. (And also, that England were losing two nil to Wales…! His Irish sense of humour!) We set about our work in the dark, and our torches lit up the steaming wood chips that we spread throughout the woodland with shovels and wheelbarrows. (It was rather eerie!). we headed back for some well earned refreshments back at Phoenix Cinema café. Bizarrely in conversation we realise that we had an inordinate number of Portuguese speakers in the group.

bom trabalho feito!

A few Goodgym members came together to help Hope North London deliver a letter inviting those in need to apply to receive a Christmas Dinner Box and to join community Christmas events at the Green Man Community Centre. We ran from the Phoenix to the Grange estate in East Finchley to meet Emma and start the delivery. There are approximately 18 blocks and nearly 300 properties on the Grange estate. Each block has two or three storeys and multiple staircases with 6 or 8 flats off each staircase. So it was a great work out! We managed to deliver every leaflet! Well done guys! On the run back we also stopped to do one leg squads and paired arm pushes. Thanks for coming running and doing some good.

GoodGym runners gathered at the Phoenix Cinema as usual on clear cool night in East Finchley . We number up and chatted about our favourite national food. ( Thai Italian and Malaysian food topped the list) We then set off at a gentle jog through East Finchley station and into the back streets of Finchley and Hampstead Garden suburb. This is one of my favourite runs along Mutton Brook and then through Big Wood and Littlewood eventually reaching Barnets only Tiny Forest planted in February 2022. we enjoyed a special moment in the middle of Big Wood when we switched off all lights and enjoyed the dark stillness. On reaching Tiny Forest we set about clearing weeds to give the young saplings the best chance of thriving into next year. After about 20 minutes headed back to the Phoenix stopping off to do some additional running and torso exercises.

thanks for coming running and doing so good.

give a shout out to Louise on her first group run with Barnet.