GoodGym Barnet – Use It or Lose It!

Barnet gathered once more at the Phoenix Cinema, and what a turnout it was – boosted by a bumper crop of first-timers. A big cheer to Keith, Natasha, Billy and Lucie for joining us for the first time. Great to have you with us!

We couldn’t have picked a better meeting point. The Phoenix has been in the local news recently – one of the oldest continuously operating cinemas in the country, but sadly struggling to turn a profit. The trust’s message is clear: use it or lose it. ( just like our fitness ) So, while we meet outside for our runs, why not pop back another night for a classic film, an indie gem, and of course, copious amounts of popcorn?

After a gentle warm-up and a quick bank-holiday-weekend debrief (sunshine featured heavily), we set off through Cherry Tree Woods and on to Highgate Woods, where we met Cindy the Ranger. While waiting, we even managed a bit of gentle yoga in the evening light ( who says GoodGym doesn’t stretch you in every sense!)

Cindy led us to a rather large wooden construction. Picturesque, yes. Useful for biodiversity? Not so much. She explained how deadwood plays a vital role in the woodland ecosystem, supporting fungi, insects, and all sorts of wriggly life. Our task: dismantle the wooden tower and repurpose the material into protective fencing to help new undergrowth regenerate.

Armed with determination (and a limited number of gloves…), we attacked the structure with gusto, soon reducing it to neat piles ready for its next life as woodland fencing. Satisfying work – though possibly more splinter-prone than popcorn-eating!

Shout-outs and Top Tips • Huge welcome again to our new recruits – you smashed your first GoodGym mission. • A little plea: future tasks often involve logs, nettles, or other prickly characters. Treat yourself to a pair of lightweight gardening gloves – they’ll make you look the part and save you some splinters. • With darker evenings on the horizon, a head torch is also a worthy sidekick. You’ll thank yourself when you can see both the path and the nettle patch.

As ever, GoodGym is about more than running – it’s about supporting our local community, green spaces, and charities, many of whom are short of volunteers. By showing up, you remind them that what they do matters. Plus, winter training with GoodGym is secretly brilliant – it’s invigorating, you’ll stay motivated, and honestly… it hardly ever rains (and if it does, you’ll hardly notice!).

So keep coming, keep running, and keep helping. Barnet needs you and so do the trees!

GoodGym Barnet – Joyful Hydration & Time-Travelling Conversations

Six of us gathered outside the Phoenix Cinema and, before even breaking sweat, launched into a surprisingly philosophical warm-up: “If you could observe any period in history, where & when would you go?” Answers ranged from Aztec civilisation to Victorian London – the kind of discussion that might get us expelled from most running clubs but is positively encouraged at GoodGym.( well Barnett anyway.)

With our time-machine firmly parked, we jogged off towards Lyttelton Playing Fields to give the planters and orchard some much-needed love. Sadly, our host Steven was ill – but, being seasoned water-warriors, we knew the drill.

We gently built up the pace downhill, tracing the buried course of Mutton Brook (underground river, very on-trend). A quick on-the-spot exercise stop – complete with skipping – reminded us that fitness can (and should) still feel playful. One of our newer recruits Emilysummed it up perfectly as “joyful movement”.

On arrival, we uncoiled a hose of comedic length which, inevitably, didn’t reach all the planters. Enter: Buckets. Suddenly we were running relays across the field, racing to deliver precious water before any of it escaped. Orchard next – further, heavier, and definitely sweatier – but the teamwork was brilliant and spirits remained high. Honestly, the Aztecs would have been proud.

Buckets emptied and hose recoiled (no small feat), we still had a few minutes left – so naturally, yoga and star jumps. The latter required several “just one more!” photographs, which definitely qualified as bonus cardio.

We jogged back into the darkening evening, happy, hydrated (us and the trees), and reminded that community + exercise + a bit of silliness = exactly what GoodGym is all about.

Come and join next time – time travel optional, skipping encouraged.

GoodGym’s Hottest Role Model Run

On what felt like one of the hottest days of the year, a hardy crew of GoodGym Barnet gathered outside the Phoenix Cinema While the sun still blazed, the time of day meant it was a pleasant temperature for a light jog.We welcomed a new Runner Isabella Talbot

Before setting off, Rachael threw in a fun idea for our warm-up chat: who were our role models growing up? Answers ranged from Arnold Schwarzenegger (flex appeal) to David Attenborough (nature appeal) — so we were clearly aiming for a blend of strength and wisdom.

Just as we were limbering up, the Phoenix Cinema manager popped out with a request: could we deliver leaflets for their upcoming classic film screenings? Naturally, we were happy to help our hosts — it’s not every day your run gets a prequel.

With leaflets in hand, we jogged gently to The Finchley Charities allotment, making a few deliveries along the way. There we met Peps, our host, plus two more new faces — Oliver and Amanda who joined Isabella on her very first GoodGym outing. Three new starters in one evening!

The allotment, which supports the local food bank and residents of nearby almshouses, had a buffet of tasks for us: • Watering thirsty plants • Bramble bashing (a GoodGym classic) • Harvesting thanks, rhubarb, courgettes,apples and plums

We worked in the warm, golden light until the sun dipped below the trees, Those of us running headed back then gathered for a well-earned stretch and cool-down.

It ended up being a double good deed: helping both the Phoenix Cinema and The Finchley Charities in one evening. And who knows? Maybe our childhood role models really would have been proud of us — though Arnold might have suggested a few more reps, and Attenborough would probably have narrated the bramble-bashing in hushed tones.

Here’s to the next GoodGym adventure whatever the weather throws at us!

The Phoenix was swarming with film-goers eager for the world premiere of a new documentary about dogs, Dog$piracy. Given the threatening clouds, the cinema seemed like a great place to be, but, never to be put off, our three indomitable Goodgymmers had a mission!

We set off for Coldfall Wood - and into a cold downpour - jogging our way through backstreets. At an opportune clearing in the woods, we stopped for a bit of stretching and, by the time we were back out on Muswell Hill Playing Fields, the rain had cleared up. Crossing the fields, we spied Simone, who met us at the site, and Linda from the Friends of Cold Fall Woods, chatting away around trusty - ploggers and sacks. Great to Simone her back after a hiatus!

After a quick intro, we fanned out across the north field, clearing rubbish and catching up. Beattie got stuck into the brambles, where a few people were out gathering berries. Rachel and the others skirted the perimeter, clearing dog poo bags tossed into the undergrowth because the bin was buried in brambles and nettles. Not a job for us, fortunately - Linda reported that, and a pile of fly-tipping by the gate to the flats north of the fields.

And then, with our work done, we piled the rubbish sacks ready for collection, waved a cheery goodbye to Simone and jogged our way back to the Phoenix. The cinema-goers had only just gone in for the screening by then, so we snuck a quick refreshment in to celebrate a job well done, before trekking home.

Hope to see people next week when we've been asked to help with an emergency watering job for the new planters at Lyttleton Playing Fields.

A few Goodgym members came online to do yoga.

Yoga talk

Regular yoga practice increases GABA levels in the brain, which are associated with reduced anxiety and improved mood.

A study using MRI scans at Boston University School of Medicine found that after just 12 weeks of yoga, participants had significantly increased levels of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a neurotransmitter that helps calm the nervous system.