SILENT NIGHT

15 wonderful GoodGymmers ran 6.5km to weed the Westminster Drug Project's back garden.

We were supposed to do some gorilla gardening at the Tube station today, but there was a very last minute change of plan. With just a couple of hours to secure a new task, the universe gifted us with the wonderful Maureen at the Westminster Drug Project who happened to email me this afternoon with a task in mind. With some spectacular organisational powers, Marueen managed to pull all the necessary strings to get GoodGym Barnet access to the WDP this evening for a last minute spot of weeding.

Massive well done to everybody this evening, especially seeing as they came expecting a 3-4km run and ended up doing 6.5km in the end, our longest run to date. You lot are superheroes!

A massive welcome to so GG Barnet newbies: Marjon, Stacy and Mark * WAVES *

Particular props go to Stacy, who ran a half marathon yesterday and still zoomed around today like it was nothing.

The night started with Hazel arriving at the cinema 45 minutes early, earning her the role of Guest Welcomer. She did a splended job of keeping everyone together and pointing them towards the necessary amenities. We also had a special guest: Gillian joined us from HQ to let everyone know more about coach runs and missions.

Remember to bring your ID (passport, driving license) plus a dated proof of address (letter from government, bank etc) next week to get the ball rolling. Lots of great missions to get helping out with, including helping East Finchley Community Festival on 25 Sept.

After a gentle warm up along the side road by the Phoenix, we started our journey to the Westminster Drug Project on Hendon Lane. Freya, Heather and Ashley all helped lead the way, and we tossed in some sprints every kilometer along the route for the extra energetic of the pack to smash while everyone else got a chance to breathe and catch up.

Once we arrived at the WDP, Maureen invited us all inside for some cold water before we set to work silently weeding the garden. We had to be extra quiet so as not to disturb the narcotics anonymous meeting happening in the room adjacent or to disturb the neighbours.

Everyone agreed that there was something quite satisfying about silent weeding. Getting a meditative moment like that in a group setting doesn't happen often, especially when it's a fitness group. So I think the calm was appreciated. Within 15 minutes the group had blitzed the garden and it was time to go.

Freya led us up to Long Lane Pasture for our fitness session, but turns out the meadow is closed at night, so we used the allyway instead for some lunges and squats to get those glutes firing. That was of course after our wallsit challenge by the entrance, while we waited for everyone to catch up. Congrats to Mia for her legs of steel.

Damian then led a speedy group back to base, while I led the not-as-speedy group back. We all met back at the cinema for some stretching and celebrations. Ashley smashed the sprint finish for the speedy group, showing a massive improvement on last week – proving what a difference two weeks of not smoking can make. Well done, buddy! Keep going!

Particular HI FIVES go to Katie and Stacy G, who ran the furthest they've ever run today. You guys are AWESOME!

Don't forget to sign up for Zombie Evacuation, if you want to try your chances at surving the apocalypse. It's a 5km race in Allianz Park where you are chased by zombies. Can you make it to the safe zone? You know you want to play.

Next week we'll be helping the East Finchley Community Festival by distributing fliers near Bishops Ave. Sign up here. Running a total of around 4km. All abilities welcome, meeting at the Phoenix Cinema at 6.45pm every Tuesday.

Until then, Pennie