When the rowing gets tough the tough get rowing

It was a special night in Hounslow yesterday, and 22 runners came to celebrate!

• The excellent Thames Tradesmen Rowing Club had invited us for a land based session at the clubhouse, which we were very happy to accept. A club and a charity, the rowers encourage disadvantaged young people to be active, and improve their physical, social and mental wellbeing. They help develop crucial life skills, and enable young people to participate in rowing regardless of background, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability or ability.

• We welcomed some lovely GoodGym tourists from Lambeth, Brent, Hammersmith and Richmond, and cheered Sonia who came along for her very first group run – give that lady a high five!

• It was Matt and Eloise’s last session before they run off into the sunset to get married – we wish you all the best you lovely pair. Maybe your future be filled with PBs!

• On Saturday a load of GoodGymers will be helping out at Gunnersbury parkrun by filling in the volunteer roles there. Sign up here for a great opportunity to help out at this local community event.

While leading group Michelle and Sonia set off ahead of us for the rowing club, the rest of us did a warm up to get our heart rates going (with loads of squats)- and then we all told Matt and Eloise something that makes us happy ahead, just in case they wanted to introduce it in their marriage! Puppies, dancing in the kitchen, singing, more running, getting drunk together, more GoodGym – of course!

We then set off at a good steady pace towards the river. It was a beautiful night, everybody was chatting away, we were having a lovely run….I blame all of that on the reason I missed the turning and took us all on a much longer route than intended. Sorr-y! Eventually, almost 5km later, we arrived to find Pete waiting for us.

Thames Tradesmen is a very community minded organisation, as well as working to make rowing for everybody, they are also introducing loads of exciting new things including yoga on Tuesdays and even a new parkrun which means those chasing the elusive ‘X’ on their parkrun alphabet will be happy! It’s open to everybody, so have a look here to find out what’s going on.

We split the group in half, and while one group got stuck into a good litter pick around the club, the second went with Pete for the fitness session. And what a session it was! We were surprised to find out that rowing isn’t as much about the upper body as we might think, but the legs come significantly into play – good news for runners! Focussing on team work and form – both things we love at GoodGym! - the groups were taken through their paces, and Georgia and Johnny both got a chance to lead their crew as ‘the stroke’. After the groups swapped over, and bags of plastic bottles and other rubbish had been collected from around the club, Pete brought out two rowing machines for the grand finale.

The two groups had a machine each for the Great Oxford V Cambridge GoodGym boat race, and the tensions were high. The whistle blew and the two teams gave it everything, swapping members in and out. It was a very tight race – check out the video here to see who won!

We took a shorter route back in the last of the light, and finished off a very fun night with stretches. Next week we’re off to Cultivate London to help with various jobs at this charity which repurposes destitute land for good. Sign up here for all the details. Until then, happy running – and rowing!