8 runners, 2 teams, 6km(ish) a piece, a borough to explore and prizes to be won.

Tonight's GG Southwark run and deed was a bit different to normal. A last minute change on task and need to make sure we put our efforts into something worthwhile led to something quite fun! We also welcomed Vivian to her first ever GoodGym experience and GG Lambeth coach runner/photographer/old timer John. Hiya!

Back to the task at hand...

Link Age Southwark are getting ready to launch their Autumn campaign for recruiting volunteers to support the services they provide. They need to put up posters in the best locations around the different parts of Southwark.

Two teams...

both alike in dignity,

...were given three checkpoints to reach each spread 6km across either Nunhead or Dulwich. Not only were decent poster sites required, but they also had a variety of other tasks to achieve. The more tasks ticked off, the more prizes!

The not-so-random acts of kindness included rubbish collecting and even helping someone with the mechanics of their car. Though it's possible this may have been staged for the photographic evidence.

The best team pose was a hard one to call though the sunset and London backdrop for the Nunhead team did swing it. But strong lunging from team Dulwich.

We covered up some shabby stickers, posed beneath road signs, hugged lampposts, hugged fake foxes, told people about GoodGym, gave them a flyer and asked them very kindly for pictures of the event.

time of the signs

Both teams found some excellent locations for posters within the local community. They were all duly and appropriately rewarded with love hearts.

Map reading was required throughout the evening and there may have been a few wrong turns along the way resulting in further running ... More fitness! But everyone made it back to the Rye for photo sharing, story telling and prize giving.

Not done with traversing the borough, we had a mini body weight exercise session. A few 'I hate press ups,' 'what are these things, mountain climbers?' and 'can we go to the pub?' requests and we were done. We have photos to prove it.

Never before has a cool down seen so many chocolate rolls, jelly tots and Freddos devoured. #balance

See you next week!

11 runners take on 3km in Camberwell and garden / sweat with joy.

This week guest starred Ana, the new GoodGym Wandsworth trainer (launch day: 1st August) who came along to see what happens in Southwark and put us through our paces.

lunge nice and tall

A warm up on the edge of the rye got us nice and ready to clamber up the hills of Camberwell back to Grove Park Allotments. We met Lizzie there who had some strimming to be done, paths to be cleared and leaks to be found (or not found).

Michael set off to sort out the wild grass, goggles in place, and soon sorted out the orchard into a much more manageable area.

Helena, Matt, Deepak and Zoe got to work clearing the crazy weeds towards the back of the allotment areas.

Joelle and Jess did a sterling job of digging up the flag stones and around a potential leaky pipe under close observations. A lot of sweat, mud shifting and tap testing later and though the leak wasn't found, at least it wasn't in the most awkward place it could have been! Another job for another night? Hmm.

Becky, Ana and Lianne were focused in clearing the entrance of the allotments and watering any thirsty plants in sight.

40 minutes later, and much admiration of the land and how amazing it would be to have an allotment in London, and we were ready to say our goodbyes. After an easy amble down the hill, Ana led us onto the Rye. One lap, timed, at 95% followed by core work. During crunches and planks, we did our best to drown out any cheers and groans from the local pub showing the football.

some excellent side planking!

Not quite ready to finish the session, it was time to set off on lap two to try and beat the first lap. Either the core work had warmed everyone up or a little bit of extra effort had been held back for the final piece of work. Either way, some excellent sprinting to finish off a lovely evening.

5.7km, 9 runners and two hills across Peckham and Camberwell.

How many marshmallows does it take to power up a hill?

Despite the grey clouds and the ever ominous threat of rain, our lovely crew of runners were out in force to take on some inclines and some jobs for Janet at Salvation Army Camberwell Grove.

After lots of news: (races, missions and socials) we warmed up and got running passed all of the bins that had been put out for Thursday's collection. A steady climb up Chadwick Road took us near our task for next week and then ready to breeze downhill towards the yummy smelling restaurants in Camberwell.

We arrived with Janet sweaty and ready to work. Some set to work to paint and give some tlc to the office where Janet co-ordinates all of the projects for mums, babies and families in the community. The other fashionista focused half set off to sort through donations of baby clothes and to sort out the loft full of various donations. Much discussion was had over if Peppa Pig is actually quite a strange cartoon and a bit scary. The discussion that followed may have been about being vegetarian.

Meat eaters welcome though.

Our painters looked snazzy in their CSI outfits and quickly spruced up the office with a chic magnolia tone. Though we'd have liked to give another coat, it soon was time to clear away and de-robe so that we could get home in time & let Janet lock up. We do always get spoilt when we visit the Salvation Army and tonight, our hill running home was powered by marshmallows! No fat, lots of sugar. Other diets are available

The run home was pretty lovely, quiet streets and a downward straight to finish on. We stretched, we said bye and we look forward to next week.

14 runners crossing a borough (again) to clear hedges & weeds at Surrey Docks Farm.

Finally, the rain cleared and the mugginess came back for us to run across into the shadow of Canary Wharf to the lovely farm. After bobbing and weaving down Rye Lane and waiting for a lot of green men, we eventually, and rather sweatily, made it to meet Gemma. She had already gotten to work with a chain saw on the hedge along the Thames Path and we were to clear it.

Lots of glove matching and hoeing later and we were filling wheelbarrows with green stuff. Zoe took the challenge of jumping on the compost heap to crush it down.

Trampoline time!

After almost no time, we had to pack away. Luckily, we got to walk passed all of the animals we'd seen last time. The tallest goats in the world were hiding. too much height pressure the beautiful calf was looking much more grown up. Esther, the pregnant sow was due to give birth on Monday. We watched with baited breath for her to...

go to the toilet...

No piglets tonight but it was still lovely to see all of the animals and work somewhere so amazing in the shadow of the concrete jungle.

A few press ups, tricep dips and wall sits later and we were back at Old Spike.

A decent crew of us made our way over to The Rye pub for some food and much needed fluids.

Lovely stuff GoodGym Southwark. Until next week.

29 GoodGymers ran 5km, learnt some running fundamentals and helped garden at Cecil Sharp House

In the news this week we talked about how we are taking part in Regents Park 10km on Sunday 7th August, I've heard Jess is thinking of a post-race picnic!

Our key 'Running Fundamental' of the night to focus on was posture, this is incredibly important when you are running on flat roads, uphill, on woodland trails and really everywhere in life! Having a straight back helps you run more efficiently and engage your core more, this is especially important when you are tired.

The task this week was at Cecil Sharp House, the home of English folk music, to help keep the garden areas clear and tidy.

Task Report written by Steve Lee:

Once everybody arrived at Cecil Sharp House, the tasks were announced and distributed with the faint sounds of violin and singing practice flowing from the building. Lovely!

While half the group headed for some running technique drills up and down Primrose Hill for half the session with Paul, the rest got to task, switching when the Primrose Hillers returned primrosy-cheeked and, er, hillier.

Primrosy-cheeked

The lawn needed raking and clearing, and the neat flowerbeds needed to have leaves plucked out of them, while another task group got to wield brooms and some quite exciting wiry-brushy-grouty-stick-things to clear the paths with.

wiry-brushy-grouty-stick-things

The gardens were left looking immaculate, which makes all the difference as it's wedding season; when this lovely institution can rely on some extra income by hosting nuptials to keep it ticking over.

Hill Training Fundamental Details:

Last night we learnt how to run up and down hill, most of us know how to swim, read, write, walk and a host of other functions because we were taught BUT most of us were never taught how to run properly and efficiently.

Running Up Hill - straight back (posture), lifting your legs higher (knees) and socket to pocket (arms)

Running Down Hill - leaning forward (posture), landing on the front of your feet (feet landing) and having your arms out to the side to balance.

Everyone did fantastic learning each of these fundamentals and combining them all to race up Primrose Hill!

Well done everyone, what a lovely evening with you all.

Next week we'll be heading to Terrence Higgins Trust to pack 2000 condoms for their summer outreach events, sign up here.

PB out.