For this week’s group run session we’ll be working again with the Friends of Meadows and Bruntsfield Links — a long‑standing community group dedicated to protecting, maintaining, and improving one of Edinburgh’s best‑loved green spaces.

Our good friend Neil at FoMBL has called us as there's lots to do at the moment with the seasons changing. We will be focussing on clearing leaves, there is a lot of soggy ‘leaf litter’ around which can cause pedestrians to slip as well as clogging up drains.

Our meetup point is Edinburgh Street Food, where there is a bag drop available (and 15% discount on food and drink for anyone wanting to hang out afterwards)

From there we’ll run together at an inclusive pace towards the Meadows, it's a slightly longer route than usual (there and back ends up around 7km). There is the option to meet us there, cycle, or skip the return run if this feels too much. If you are planning to walk, please note the longer route will mean you'll miss a bit of the time at the task due to the longer route.

Headtorches and weather-appropriate clothing are are also recommended. The evenings are getting colder and darker so its good to be prepared for the cold and wet.

The Friends of Meadows and Bruntsfield Links are a brilliant volunteer‑led organisation who work year‑round to keep this historic green space thriving. Their efforts support biodiversity, improve access, preserve heritage features, and ensure the Meadows and Links remain welcoming places for everyone. By lending a hand, we’ll be contributing directly to that ongoing stewardship and learning more about the challenges and opportunities of caring for such a heavily used urban green space.

You can read more about the Friends group on their website: https://www.fombl.org.uk

Need more reasons to get involved in GoodGym Edinburgh?

London School of Economics conducted a study with GoodGym for 2 years to understand the benefits to mental health when combining physical exercise and volunteering. The results were described as “extraordinary” by Dr. Chris Krekel, lead researcher on the project.

Measured in 6 outcomes of mental wellbeing GoodGymers were found to have a positive change across all 6 with the boost in life satisfaction the same as observed in someone who escapes unemployment to 6 months of employment. Specifically, the findings show participation in GoodGym:

Increases life satisfaction by 21% Increases worthwhileness by 17% Decreases mental distress by 21% Decreases loneliness by 12% Increases belonging by 27% Increases connectedness by 16%