A Lesson in Geometry

This evenings intended mission to the Hollybush Estate was unfortunately cancelled, as Margaret and Michael were struck down with terrible stomach bugs that meant they could not venture far from the bathroom.

Instead, 17 GoodGymmers headed out to London Fields for an evening of strength building exercises & training routines.

We began with a gentle jog from the Arch Gallery to London Fields, where we continued with a series of stretches that tested our balance ability – poised on one leg like flamingos, we worked our calves, glutes & adductors.

Then we warmed up with a fast game of bulldog-tag; we selected Hassan to be ‘it’; the poor man was charged with the task of ‘tagging’ as many of us as possible whilst 16 GoodGymmers charged at & tried to dodge him. Those who got tagged joined Hassan in the front line, whilst the rest of us lined up again ready to dash & dodge. One by one we were all caught out until only one woman was left standing –Lisa. The Winner!

We moved on to a strength & speed exercise. The group formed a large circle and we all got into the squat position. We held the squat position whilst one member of the circle ran up to the second farthest tree & back, then we switched from the squat position into the plank position and, moving clockwise, the second member of the circle ran to the second farthest tree & back whilst we held the plank; when they returned, we changed position again from plank to squat, and off runs member number three... this cycle continued until we had gone around the whole circle, changing position each time, until every one of us had made the run to the second farthest tree & back. We changed position a total of 16 times.

Next, Tom laid out three cones, each at a further distance than the last. We paired up, and one of us waited at the start line whilst the other ran firstly to the first cone, where they performed one squat-jump & ran back to the start line; then run to the second cone, perform two burpees & run back to the start line; run to the third & furthest cone, perform three warrior jumps & run back to the start line; then high five your partner who runs to the first cone, performs a squat jump... Repeats all that you just did! Fairs fair at the GoodGym.

Our final exercise in the park was a 4x4 pyramid, or, “a flat pyramid” as Will described it, or “a pyramid with the top blown off!” as Tom called it. I had no idea what a pyramid was, but we ran first for 30 seconds, then walked for 60 seconds, then ran for 1 minute, and walked for 60 seconds; ran 2 minutes, walked for 75 seconds; and ran for 4 minutes before going back down the whole lot again - 4, 2, 1, 30. I may have got those timings wrong, but it was okay if you forgot your timings because Tom blew his whistle each time we switched from running to recovery walking.

We did a gentle warm down in the park with some stretches before starting out on the run back to base at the Arch gallery. The jog home was taken at a gentle pace, the same as on the way out, except we were all slightly faster due to being fabulously invigorated from the workout we just shared together in London Fields tonight. We might have had no task to perform, but it’s safe to say that this GoodGym team had a public workout that felt just as satisfying.

Warrior jumps, Pyramids, and some brand new stretches, it seems I learn something new at every GoodGym session I go to, task or no task.

Andreana Sutherland