Storm Freya no match for sturdy GoodGymers

20 runners braved Storm Freya to head to Victoria Park for a variety of heavy duty gardening tasks...

We gathered in a compact hotel room this evening for tonight's pre-task briefing. Due at glorious Victoria Park at 7.10pm, to meet Tom, our terrific new task owner, we needed a few minutes to run through the details of tonight's range of tasks, before we hit the tarmac.

A full body workout

We arrived promptly at a dark park, to be greeted by Tom, on a bike laden down with gardening kit. We kept up with the bike through an increasingly dark park as we headed up central drive, grateful for those runners who'd headed out with head torches this evening. We finally reached The Old English Garden where three teams worked on: turning a wall of compost in the compost pen; raking an entire bed ready for seeding, and redistributing soil onto shrub beds.

As usual, the runners worked at lightning speed, and it wasn't long before the back-up tasks were completed, as well as the original tasks. It was a windy, cold night but the runners ploughed through mound after mound of leaves and soil. They shovelled, and forked, and raked, and wheeled, so every muscle in the body from core to calves was thoroughly worked. Even the mud-shifting from the rakes was labour intensive this evening.

Fartlek in the freezing wind

And then it was time to head back to the tool shed to replace kit and be briefed on tonight's fitness session: task owner Tom would lead us back out to Crown Gate East, changing pace on his bike, offering the runners an impromptu fartlek session.

GoodGymer Tom then led us through our Victoria Park speed session, a few 20-second bursts of fast running, before we headed back down Old Ford Road for stretching and polishing off our favourite McVities Gold bars.

It was a FULL. ON. evening: the weather was stroppy, the park was dark, the lake was, well, there; the running was fast, and the mud stubborn. But the GoodGymers breezed through, not batting an eyelid, other than to adjust headtorches. As always, you rock.

The first March shout-out's

A big warm welcome to Tom, who joined us tonight for his first run (how are your lats?). Thank you for shifting so many leaves on your first run. And to Simon, by no means new to GG, just to Tower Hamlets, and we hope so much you'll join us again soon.

And thank you, from us all, to: Bryon, for leading the runners back on the fartlek session; to Leanne for perfect, careful backmarking, above and beyond what we expected distance-wise tonight, and to Tom, for powering our runners through that last bit of fitness-boosting.

Now, next Monday...

We're back to Oxford House next week, to enjoy an indoor task where we'll help Sarah and the team continue the big makeover of this beautiful arts centre. Read more and sign up here.

All that leaves me to say is have a wonderful week, and hope to see you very soon.

Editor's Note

After whizzing through this evening's announcements & intro (as much as I ever 'whizz' when it comes to talking), our transition to warm up was briefly interrupted as Bryon stepped forward to present me with a one year anniversary balloon sculpture and a Wonder Woman card on behalf of the group. Blimey. You lot know how to turn a trainer from chatty to teary in seconds. I maintain GoodGym IS YOU. Thank you.

21 Hackney GoodGymers celebrated Toyin’s 50th GoodDeed by running 6k to Shorditch Park to create 300 metres of mulch pathway.

A steady start and an electrifyingly speedy finish to 50 GoodDeeds from Toyin who has really dominated GoodGym this year! Congratulations on your amazing hard work and enthusiasm for all things GoodGym!!

Setting off the a random route to Shorditch park (not that I took the wrong path in London Fields!!). Notching up some good distance as we wiggles our way to one of the most well used Green Spaces in the borough.

With 3k under our belts we met Park Ranger Vince who had the tools all laid out and probably the biggest mulch pile in London ready for us to attack!

Shovelers, rakers and Wheelbarrowing Ninjas were all ready for action to help Hackney Parks keep our Green Spaces useable in wet weather for the community.

The Ninja’s were flying tonight speeding down the 200 raceway to tip the mulch at super speed! The takers were precise and efficient keeping the mulch thick and aligned while the shovelers provided the smooth and swift supply of mulch!!

40 minutes and 300 metres on mulch laid finishing in the perfect spot with the whole section complete!

With the tools loaded back onto the van we zipped off for a water side run down the canal back to base! Firing up the speed on the last 1.5k great to see everyone working hard all the way back to base!!

Think it was the added incentive of the post run Social that spurred us on! Thanks for the 16 who came along for a Thai refuel!!

See you next week for a visit to Shaklewell Primary to get their school garden on track!

Smooth Running

Joel

13 Hackney GoodGymers ran 6k to Abney Park Cemetery to shovel, barrow and spread 2 tonnes for fresh mulch.

Zipping away from the Bakehouse with a Spring in our many steps we headed North to Hackney’s Magnificent 7 Cemetery Abney Park. One of the 7 protected and historically significant cemeteries in London our help is a massive boost to keeping the enchanting green space in top nick and useable in the Winter months.

We do this by spreading mulch across the many dirt paths in the Cemetery to keep the mud at bay while also protecting the vegetation and wildlife that live on the path verges from people walking on them.

Straight into action with shovels, barrows, rakes and spot lights we delved deep into the darkness and got working! Slick action lines of filling the wheelbarrows, running them out and tipping the mulch out then raking it into place.

40 minutes in and 2 tones of mulch shifted a top effort produced by all!!

A swift exit and a pacey 3k run back to base finished off a top GG evening!!

Thanks to Justin for the spooky chapel picture!

See you all next week for a trip to the amazing Hollybush community Garden!!

Smooth Running

Joel