Turn The Tables

A bit of a chill in the air last night, felt like we rewound time 3 months, although we still managed to get out a solid number - shows how much GG Newham has grown in last few months.

Did a touch of dynamic warming up before some higher tempo knee drills (if it ain't broke...), then some congrats in order for Kev and Sharon - doing their longest run ever! Rosie - rolling out a HM on the canal. Brad - getting his running consistent prepping for a 2018 marathon. Rodrigo - smashing out my pyramid intervals. Alice - trotting out 16 miles, not pleasantly, but doggedly getting it done. Another mention has to go to Jenny and Tim. Jenny for her second run on the trot (and her honesty for past love of jaffa cakes!) and Tim for quietly doing a beastly 150mile ride with his club, that's pretty monstrous mate.

We discussed which biscuit we "would be" but really this just meant "start salivating over your favourite biscuit". From shortbread, jammy dodger, chocolate digestives, custard creams to oreos...reckon we covered the lot. I actually just remembered/googled the name of my fave - Grisbi. Bit expensive if I recall correctly, but worth a purchase, has a gooey chocolate centre and is damn decadent.

Just under 3218m (2miles) to our task. A local primary school down the canal. Basically the same route as last week, with a different fork on the waterway...and what a great route it is. A small diversion cost us about 300 metres, but asides from that it was smooth sailing. Rosie had her primary education antennas on 'locate and enter' mode...and led us to the door.

Headmaster and runner, Paul, greeted us warmly. Told us all about the work they are doing making this a better environment for the kids. He then got straight to the task instructions: moving 13 tables and 30 chairs to another classroom, this happened to be quite far. Upstairs and through the labyrinthine corridors.The second part of the task was more cathartic and less safe! Throwing furniture off the first floor stairwell into smithereens. Where it was collected and put away tidily. As tasks go this was a corker. Lots of strength work carrying tables and chairs...plus childish thrills from lobbing furniture from a floor up. What's not to like?! Paul reckoned it would've taken him a whole day, but they had to get the classes ready, kids needed to study the next morn. That's where you heroes come in...just quietly running around in the dark, helping schools run smoothly, making gardens, decorating community bike shops...and much more. Local saviours.

Once again I was genuinely surprised how much we got though. We left just past 8 and jogged back down the traquil moonlit canal...no complaints.

Social next week, ping over any more ideas you guys have.

Ps. Big shout out to Alice who made this task happen, we're always looking for new ways to help the community...so let me know if you hear of anything.

Sign up her for Thursday session I changed the time and day so that it work a bit better for you guys.

Next group run - sign up here

Catch you'll next week