These January nights are getting easier! Despite the day's rain, we had a cool, clear evening in which to help our favourite local cinema charity and community hub, the Phoenix.

A whopping 7 Goodgymmers showed up tonight, but the Phoenix could only find a couple of hundred leaflets for us, so we immediately plotted a longer route. During our warm up, Jack gave us the question to chat about: favourite films. A good one! Rachel went with one of her favourite comedies, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Paul chose Groundhog Day, so he'll be going back leafleting every day this week until he works out how to break the loop.

Then we set off with Lucinda and Subham backmarking. Around the corner and up a long road, we targeted houses we'd not leafleted for a while, to remind them, yes, cinema is great and they are in walking distance of a lovely venue. Jacqui snapped action shots of people hitting letterboxes. Down a really interesting cul-de-sac with retirement bungalows, George disturbed an old, lazy fox sleeping on a doormat.

We ran out of leaflets soon after, so Paul suggested we jog over to the corner of Highgate Wood and do sprints up the Capital Ring path. After two rounds of that we headed back, with a short detour via a famous musician's home (clue: we admired the wonderful walls). Subham's creative interpretation of backmarking put him in the lead, so we had another quick sprint to keep ahead of him then our warm down stretch outside the Phoenix.

We rounded off with a round of drinks and popcorn at the Phoenix, making judicious use of our 10% discount at the bar. No better way to spend a January evening!

A few people came online to do yoga.

A few GoodGym members came online to do yoga.

Yoga talk Holding a posture engages the muscles, fascia, and nervous system, stimulating mild stress that builds strength and stability. But unlike many workouts, yoga follows this with a deliberate release a moment to soften, breathe, and recalibrate.

Rain, Resolutions & a Hidden Gem

Our group run to Stephens House and Gardens from the Phoenix Cinema had all the hallmarks of a tough one. It might have been a relatively mild 10°C, but the steady rain and gloomy skies made it feel intimidating. And yet incredibly everyone turned up. Not a single runner was put off by the forecast or the prospect of getting soaked.

We gathered in the foyer of the Phoenix Cinema, shaking off the drizzle and catching up. It was great to welcome Matta brand-new runner, clearly committed to his New Year resolution of trying something different. Fresh back from cold-water dipping in Sweden. we hope to see him at our next challenging event.

Our warm-up chat turned to resolutions kept, broken, or still evolving before we headed out into the rain, easing into the pace with George sensibly anchoring the back. Don’t forget: capture your run or walk on Strava every activity counts for the January Challenge.

About 20 minutes later we arrived at Stephens House and Gardens. By then the drizzle had eased, and we were warmly welcomed by the wonderful volunteer duo Alison and Warwick, who give so much of their retirement time to supporting this historic place.

Our task was a satisfying one: clearing leaves from the front car park and the stable yard — a job that’s particularly effective late in the evening once the cars have gone. Armed with wheelbarrows, brooms, shovels and rubble bags, we soon filled two very large bags of leaves. Jackie was so engrossed she barely seemed to want to stop proof that leaf-clearing can be strangely addictive.

Before heading off, we reflected on just how important this place is. Stephens House is a real hidden gem, run as a trust and heavily reliant on community support. Many people don’t realise how vulnerable places like this are right now. Whether it’s popping in for a coffee, enjoying the food, attending an event or even hosting a wedding every visit helps. Even the Antiques Roadshow recognised its charm, filming three episodes here.

The run back revealed a lovely irony: East End Road was closed to traffic, but on foot we slipped straight past the barriers — yet another reminder of how adaptable (and smug) runners can be.

Most of us finished back at the Phoenix Cinema for well-earned refreshments: popcorn, homemade chocolate, and cider generously supplied by Theo — our resident cameraman for the night.

A wet evening, a brilliant turnout, a great task and another reminder of why GoodGym works so well.

A few GoodGym members came online to do online yoga.

Yoga talk

One of the most overlooked benefits of yoga for runners and for life is how it trains you to stay relaxed while something feels uncomfortable. Holding a steady pose while the legs shake or the breath tightens isn’t about pushing harder; it’s about softening just enough to stay present. That skill transfers directly to running when a hill feels endless, or to life when things feel tense or uncertain. Yoga quietly teaches you that discomfort doesn’t always mean danger sometimes it’s just a moment asking for patience rather than force.