Baby we were born to rain

In a day that started off with blue skies and high hopes, and ended with a complete soaking, it is great to be reminded of just how far people will go to support their local community. The heavens opened just as we were starting our warm up last night, and the heavy rain didn't stop . It didn't stop when we ran down to the community garden, or when we worked cutting back and shifting pallets for half an hour, or when we ran back to base...or even when we finished the night with hill sprints! Yet all that time there were smiles and laughing at soggy trainers, and splashing about and a some good natured complaining - all in the name of doing good for others. GoodGymers - you're brilliant!

Welcome to your first run Charlie and Emily who came for their first group run. Give them a cheer!

Don't forget that...

• There is a community mission coming up for Wandsworth Foodbank Thursday - this vital organisation needs a hand with their annual stock take. Expect lots of heavy lifting, sorting food and other important jobs, and as this is a community mission, you don't need to be DBS checked for this one.

• Clapham Common parkrun is cancelled this weekend so if you're hoping to run your closest options are Tooting, Fulham Palace, Brockwell and Wimbledon.

After a high intensity warm up and a quick discussion on the best things in our life (family, cheese, our beds, the Japanese rugby team), we set off at a quick trot towards Doddington community roofgarden, a local space which has been transformed to be used by people living in the area who might not have access to a garden to grow fruit, veg and flowers and run entirely by volunteers.

Hilaire, the lady who manages the garden, met us with a highly organised list of jobs on the blackboard, loads of tools and the conclusion that 'we were all mad'. Probably!

Jobs ranged from weeding and moving pallets, to more technical jobs such as cutting back loquat and fig trees and vines. We learned what all these things meant before we were let loose with loppers - every day's a school day! The rain was still not showing any signs of letting up so we cut the session a little short and opted to run back to the BAC and do a little bit of fitness there. Partnering up, we tackled three hill sprints mixed with some conditioning exercises, and everybody did a thoroughly good job in the best of the British weather. Let's hope Paul was joking when he told us we could expect snow in two weeks' time!

We finished off the night with some stretches, and headed back into the warm. Well done on putting in the effort on such a miserable night gang - next week I'm sure it will be back to sunshine and rainbows over the BAC. Sign up here for more Monday fun.