Running Start

Starter sessions! We love starter sessions!

13 rolled up to Highbury Pool for this special Tuesday GoodGym.

As well as briefing everybody on group runs, what we'd be up to this evening and the famous Islington biscuit and debate, we also described missions and coach runs. Check out these links for more info. And can you spot the Islington regular?

• Missions

• Coach Runs

So, off we ran on the 2k to Barnsbury Community Centre as a big group.

There were two main jobs for the evening: Remove a large computer table that was attached to the wall in the seminar room and paint the skirting boards in the toilets.

Bianca, Lina, Heidi and Saba took care of the painting. Well, they took care of it once we had managed to open the tin of paint. Here's how you do it for future reference:

1) Try to prise open with a screwdriver
2) Get mildly irritated that it doesn't prise open. Work your way round the edge with a screwdriver
3) Decide that the screwdriver isn't strong enough and start using a scraper
4) Have somebody hold the tin while you try to get it open with a claw hammer
5) Give up and pass the job to somebody else
6) Other person tries random tools
7) Other people start holding tin and trying to prise open with other tools
8) Grab a pair of pliers and tear open in a paint-fume-fuelled rage

(to close the tin you jump on it)

That was the hard part. Well, Bianca and Lina drew the short straw and ended up painting the mens'. All was going well until they accidentally activated the flush sensor on the urinal, which was clogged with toilet paper (?!) and started to provide a shower!

In the computer room, screwdrivers, hammers, saw and cordless drill were used to work away the table from its fixings. We even had time to fill in all the holes in the wall ready for painting AND to hoover up.

And during the task Patrick provided choons and also fuel in the form of Salted Caramel Chocolate fingers. Delightful. And there are rumours, strong rumours, that Patrick is baking for us next Monday.

On the way home we split into a couple of groups. Patrick took six for an Indian File while Simon gathered some for secret surges and an elbowy relay.

Debate for the evening: what's the best hangover cure? Suggestions included:

• Carry on drinking
• Fry up
• Some weird vegetable juice/fruit juice concoction
• Go for a run
• Ibuprofen

Great job everybody and it's wonderful to see so many first timers to enthusiastic.

Two chances to do good with us next week as well: Usual run on Monday and another starter session on Tuesday.

See you there,
Simon