Camden Olympic Games

20 GoodGymers braved the sizzling weather, helped Skip Garden and took part in the Inaugural Camden Olympic Games!

OMG it was hot, you guys did well last night - certainly not WR (World Record) conditions but it was COR (Camden Olympic Record) conditions. More on that later, now onto the news:

• Well done George Bright for becoming an Ironman in Kalmar last weekend, he finished in 10:28:44 - what an amazing achievement! Read his final blog post here.
• Also amazing great work to Danica who became a Viking over the weekend after completing a half marathon in Iceland! #DanTheViking
• GoodGym Monthly Drinks will be in Brixton on Thursday 8th September, Pritesh is putting the page together today and the link will be in the weekly email at the weekend.
• Lastly some fitness news - I will be organising hill training on Thursdays from September 15th, details TBC - this is all about the gym!

We had three new people this week, welcome to Jesse, Nick and Matt.

After a quick game of 'tag' to warm us up we headed to Skip Garden, this is an amazing project in the middle of Kings Cross. Here is a bit more of information:

This sustainable urban garden really is a charming oasis with wild flowers, vegetables and herbs, beehives and chicken coops. What started as a moveable vegetable garden built in skips, has grown into a community project that provides all kinds of opportunities for local young people.

We met the lovely Gwen and she instructed us we needed to do the following:

• Water all the plants around the garden entrance and in the green house because they need water as well as us!
• Shiv and shift turned compost to make into mulch, which was then spread around the vegetable plants growing in the Skips!
• Lift bags of sand, some wooden pallets, sweep up and weed!

Water, mulch and more!

All of these jobs are essential to keep the garden sustained and this amazing community organisation going!

While you lovely people were doing all the above and Polly was taking some cracking photos I was clearing a grass area for us:

• I asked some lovely garden workers to move their truck
• Asked the opinion of three people having a picnic about the staging area.
• And apparently did a rain dance because it start spitting which cleared the area nicely for what was about to take place!

Are you ready though?

To keep the Olympic Grass Stadium clear and safe, those finished with their Skip Garden jobs were sent to reserve it for us. Essential work!

Now onto the Camden Olympic Games - this has been DAYS in the planning! Corrrrrrrr

• PB - Refereeing, Coaching, Judging and stuff.
• PSB - Coach/Judge Assistant
• 18 Athletes who've trained hard to be here.
• Team 50-50 - Freya, Alex, Nick, Ben, Sarah and Frances
• Team WON - Isabelle, Matt, Jesse, Danica, Becky and Morag
• Team FastSlow - Vicki, Neil, Jess, Sophie, Liz, George.

Sophie Hedges writes from an Athletes perspective:

The Olympics in Rio may be over, but last night the Olympic spirit took over Camden with the inaugural GoodGym Olympics. We established our Olympic arena near to the Skip Garden in King's Cross, and were sorted into teams of 6.

The first event was the 100m sprint, so each team selected their speediest members who lined up on the start line. With a sprint to rival Usain Bolt, it was a photo finish on the first attempt. However, with no cameras to hand and everyone being far too polite to claim victory, a second round was needed. This time, a decisive victory was won by Ben putting Team 50-50 into the lead.

Ben Basically Bolting

Then it was onto the second event- each team had to choreograph a synchronised stretch/drill routine lasting 30 seconds. After 5 minutes of discussion the teams took the floor to perform. Team 50-50 went first with a strong performance featuring a stretching Mexican wave. Team Won got off to a rocky start and incurred a penalty for having to start again, but managed to pull off a technically challenging routine involving planks and lunges. Last up was Team FastSlow, with an unusual 2 by 3 arrangement, and a jazz hand finale which secured them the gold medal position, with silver going to Team Won and bronze to Team 50-50.

Jazz Hands!

Then it was time for the final event of the Games - a 4 person relay around Granary Square. As we took our places at the corners of the square, the sky clouded over and the rain began to pour, adding an extra challenge. It was a tense race, with Team WON leading initially, but a strong sprint finish from Neil wrested back first place for Team FastSlow.

Sprint finish!

Then it was time for the closing ceremony and a damp run back to Somers Town. Thanks Paul and Polly for organising a great evening! Over to Paul for the final results:

• Gold - Team FastSlow - 12 points
• Silver - Team 50-50 - 11 points
• Bronze - Team Won - 9 points

Well done to everyone who took part - amazing work!

Wow what an amazing evening, there will be more Camden Games of different kinds in the future. Next week we are going to help at the Antrim Grove Allotments, it's going to be a very special NEW BIG TASK! Sign up here

PB out.