Given path a chance

Our warm up last night featured a challenge to both brain and body. First we got our heart rates up and tested our reactions and directional skills - they may have been a little patchy at first but we were soon jumping, squatting and dropping like a finely oiled machine. After a quick round of naming London stations that started with the same letter as our name (harder then it sounds!) we were ready for the off.

Our task last night was an ongoing one at Cavendish school. We have been asked by a group of parent volunteers to help totally transform a disused area of the school grounds. The aim is to develop the neglected pond area into an outdoor classroom where children can engage with plants, pondlife and wildlife. As the school has a high number of children with additional needs the hope is that the garden will improve their wellbeing through hands on experiences with nature in a space to learn and connect to the environment.

Last night we had instructions to begin clearing a path which will eventually be laid with bark chips, so after much consultation with the design we had been sent in advance, we grabbed tools and started raking, digging and hacking. Before long, a beautiful, windy walkway started to emerge. This was our third session at the school and we have seen it go from an unused, overgrown plot to a space which is being cared for and will soon be able to be enjoyed. It's amazing what can be done in just a few short sessions with so many enthusiastic, happy pairs of hands! I wish I had photographic evidence of the work we did, but as you'll see from the selection above the dark was a bit of an issue! The 'jump shot' speaks for itself...

After a short run back to base it was time for fitness, and this week we played the people/place/object game. While Alanna won with her choice of a notorious Colombian drugs lord, Michelle opted for chips, and Jon was caught out when the group guessed Japan correctly. To finish off the night we activated our glutes of steel, before stretching ourselves out. Great job everybody.

Good luck to all of you heading off to Amsterdam for various races ranging from 10km right up to marathon, we will be rooting for you! Enjoy those post run pancakes.

Next week we're back at the Chiswick House community kitchen garden after a long hiatus. We've got an ace task planned moving a load of old broken compost bins and compost to make way for a shady community seating area in the Kitchen Garden. You can sign up here for more Wednesday night fun, fitness and maybe even a game or two (although probably not featuring Pablo Escobar as much next week.)

Until then, have a happy week, GoodGym!