Mud, sweat and cheers!

Leaping into April, 14 runners took on an 8km run and helped in the garden at Ewart Community Hall.

What a weekend! We had Caireen over at a community mission at the Wildcat Wilderness, Bradley smashing another speedy half-marathon in Paddock Wood and Chris, Eleanor and Vic taking on the challenge of the Manchester Marathon. Really well done all of you, so much energy! A special mention goes to Vic, who not only grabbed herself a 45 minute PB in the marathon, but completed her 100th good deed last week. What a week she's had !

FUN RACE ALERT! Last year, a few of our runners joined together for the Dino Dash Relay in Crystal Palace Park. It's such a great race, with three per team, each running 3km. As it's right by the start point of our neighbours at GoodGym Bromley, they have listed it as a race here and will no doubt invite you to the Bridge House for a refreshing drink afterwards. The entry page should go live in the next couple of days, so don't forget to enter the race itself (keep an eye on Twitter for updates @GGLewisham)!

Community Mission Alert! This Saturday, at Manor Park in Hither Green, gardening fun, sign up!

This week we were delighted to welcome Grace for her first ever GoodGym group run and Ian, who was visiting us from GoodGym Croydon. Lewisham Love to you!

Before we run, we must warm up! Tonight saw some top triangular action (sort of) and a frenzied game of 'Everyone is it', before Kim took the lead on the longer run over to Ewart Road Community Hall (thank you!), with Rebecca very kindly keeping us together at the back. Teamwork at its best.

At the task, Dominique showed us the various jobs that needed our attention and energy this week. Around the raised beds were lots of pretty tough weeds, so one team took these on with gusto, pulling up the cow parsley and a spiky triffid-like thing, clearing a path for people to access the beds more easily. In another area of the garden, a massive sack of compost had been lowered, but now posed a problem, being far too heavy to shift in one go. Enter TEAM BARROW! Lucy and Adam shovelled the compost into the wheelbarrow, Hannah wheeled it round to the beds and Ian and Rebecca spread it on top of the existing soil, giving it all a lovely fresh appearance (and a delicious treat for the worms). Before long, the sack was deemed 'light' enough to be dragged around to the main garden - excellent work!

As the evening became dark and the weeds were gathered and taken to the compost heap, Clare mentioned hearing about the word for that lovely smell you experience after rain on a warm day. The word I know is 'petrichor' but Clare thought there was another word too, any ideas? Last words at the task though, go to Vic who, a little tight from yesterday's marathon called out, 'I've never known such joy as a toilet with a handrail!'

Next week is another longish run, this time over to our friends at Seniors, time to venture into the garden again! I will be away, so Kim will be flying solo, with all your support. Sign up here to join in the fun.