Nettles...too much of a good sting? You’re taking the biscuit!

20 GoodGym'ers voted with their feet as they ran 3km to help spruce up a local election venue

What a beautiful evening for a run it was yesterday evening, wonderfully mild and a stunning pink sky as the sun was beginning to set.

A big welcome along to Jen on her first ever GoodGym run, and to Amy, once a GoodGym Camden runner now along on her first GoodGym H&F run! Thank you for all joining in tonight!

You snooze you news!

Well done to those that raced or volunteered at the Hackney Half, and to Tom on his parkrun PB! 🥳🙌🏼

1. Woking Trail Run - Fancy joining Tom on a lovely trail race down in Woking? There are distances of 5k, 10k and 21k for you to choose from. For all the details and to sign up, click here.
2. Fulham Palace parkrun GoodGym takeover - Saturday 29th June! - I think you may all have heard, but...GoodGym will be helping out with a BIG takeover event & need some volunteers and pacers! - Sign up here & please fill out the spreadsheet on the sign up page with your preferred volunteer role or pacing time. Join the WhatsApp group here.
3. Unofficial Unofficial GoodGym Socialising - Join the Facebook group here.

Crumb here often?

With Johnny and Sarah meeting us at the task rumours were rife that Johnny was there to make a start on the hobnobs that Berni had kindly promised us tonight...turns out we needn’t have worried as hobnobs aren’t his favourite biscuit?!

To ensure Johnny wasn’t left alone with the biscuits for too long we had a very quick warm-up, and I went a touch ‘rogue’ as I included some alternate elbow to knee touches and backward lunges which seem to leave a few puzzled...I’ll mention no names...Bex! 😉

Andrew kindly led the way on our short run up to Springvale Tenants Hall. A sea of red t-shirts and bobbing heads graced the streets as we stuck nicely together. Taking the seemingly very scenic route I suggested that we take a right and head towards Blythe Road. As we approached Springvale Tenants Hall, we spotted the distinctive GoodGym tees of Sarah and Johnny who were executing a perfect wall sit on a power cabinet, electric! ⚡️

Garden of the jobs

As we headed inside we were greeted by the ever smiley, Berni who ran through the list of jobs for the evening:

• Weeding in the garden area between the path cracks 🌱
• Emptying of bins 🗑
• Netting of plant pots to protect the flower seedlings 🌺
• Cleaning of the sink and trolley 💦
• Washing of the windows 🧼

Lots for the team to get stuck into! There was also the wall of photos from our last visit to admire that Berni has created as a thank you from all the residents - it will soon be finished off with a red GoodGym tee!

Gloved up and tools in hand - some innovatively home made and slighlty more 'deadly' than others! - the team split into smaller groups and beavered away for 40 minutes, stopping only briefly for a break of the biscuits and liquid refreshments which were kindly provided by Berni and handed out by Catriona.

On a stinging streak

Unfortunately, those weeding in the garden area in t-shirts and shorts got no thanks for their hard work and committment as they many were struck by the pesky hidden nettles, especially poor Tom who had an arm full of white lumps...if only there were dock leaves around!

We really pushed the vote out

With the wonderful transformation of the Hall’s garden area complete, just in time for the hosting of the elections - DON’T FORGET, VOTING IS ON THURSDAY! 📝 - the team posed for a ‘game face’ and jumping photo, two very contrasting photos!!

Keeping cup appearances

We said our goodbyes and thank yous to Berni and headed over to Brook Green for tonight’s fitness session. A take on the well known classic, “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”. When I shouted “head” everyone touched their head, and so on, except instead of toes it was “cup”. With everyone partnered up in the squat position, with a shot cup was placed directly in the middle, the game began. Some very close, and dare I say fiercely fought battles took place with Lucy emerging victorious - and she only crushed one shot cup! 😜

What’s squat to like?!

We rounded of the session with some pistol squats, spotty dogs, bicycles, leg raises and planks before we called it a night and headed off on our short run back to base for a cool off and stretch. Excellent work this evening team!

Next week, Catriona is in charge and she'll be leading you up to Askham Court to help with some gardening work for the residents, sign up here. Have a great week and Bank Holiday, see you in a couple of weeks! AND good luck to those running the Vitality London 10,000!