Brack-n-ell, we've won an award

Ten dedicated do gooders adorned their best running attire to get their picture taken with the award, hit the streets for a 9.6k run and took on two tasks. GGH in full effect!

smiles a fastest mile wide

Fellow GG’ers arrived at our HQ with a spring in their step while sporting smiles a fastest mile wide. Conversation flowed as we welcomed each other. One by one everyone had a picture or two taken with the community achievement award we had won last week. MAHOOSIVE shouts out to all who've joined as at GG Haringey - this award is yours too! I could really feel a sense of pride and achievement among the team. We also had the pleasure of greeting the lovely Jenna to our group. Big ups to Dashing Dave on the new job, Beth for leading the group on the way back to HQ along with Jenna and Charmaine who ran the furthest they have in a while. Great effort guys! Oh and good luck with the man flu Paul P. Out to Dave for bringing his SLR camera out to play – great pics!

We were headed for Bracknell Close Estate and this week’s light...

We were headed for Bracknell Close Estate and this week’s light - the ever so energetic Ann. Ali had arranged to meet us at the task because she was running a little behind schedule as was Sarah N and Charmaine. While I messaged maps to the handsets of those would meet us there Dashing Dave led a brief warm up. Then as we were about to set off Charmaine appeared, she said we should just go - I was like no way! I hurriedly directed Charmaine to the changing rooms. As Beth was about to dart off I told her to keep going - we’ll catch up. I then text Sarah M and Dave (the unofficial taskforce) with some instructions, just in case we didn’t catch up. With the quick change of clothes behind us we hit the street with a decent pace managing to close the gap between us and everyone else but they arrived just before us.

We hit the ground running once we'd regrouped

Ali had called me to say she arrived at the task before the others. Ann had the necessary tools for the jobs and they had both met previously, they sung a rather long silly number song together if I remember correctly, so I asked if Ali could grab tools etc. We hit the ground running once we'd regrouped. The team split off into two groups. One tended to the leaves that covered some pathways and an area atop of a staircase. The other group followed me over to the White Hart Rec, which Ann uses with a group of visually impaired walkers. This week’s side mission was to cut back some bushes that had become a hazard along their route in the rec.

tribe GG

After getting a few pictures I ran back to see if the other group was doing ok. I was surprised to have bumped into them half way back. They had smashed out their task in no time then started making their way to us using a map Ann had distributed to the group when they first arrived. We all headed back to the rec to pile in on the bushes. We banded together making light work of this, cleared up and headed back to the estate to drop off the green waste and say goodbye but not before telling Ann that we’ve taken a step closer in sorting out a guide runner for the visually impaired so hope to set a date for her soon. Ann has run on a track in the past but after an injury around a year ago she has been unable to take this up. She was very happy to hear we were making progress with this. Unfortunately, we had run out of time. We grabbed a bottle of water each, that Ann our lovely host had supplied, before taking a tribe GG themed photo then hit the streets.

words of encouragement from a group of youths

Due to this week’s distance, which was owned by all, we decided to give circuits a miss heading straight back to HQ. With a brisk run, picture dashes from Dave and a few words of encouragement from a group of youths behind us we had reached our destination but not before a sprint off down the home straight leading into the Tottenham Green Leisure Centre. Great effort all guys!

Miraculous things do happen at GG Haringey

We grouped up for our warm down stretches along with a rather creative plank from Sarah M, took some more pictures with the award. Then as if by magic we had two awards and Ali’s legs had gone walkies all by themselves. Don’t worry Ali returned and she was able to get home just fine. Thank Dave and his photo editing skills for that last miracle of sorts. Although, miraculous things do happen at GG Haringey ;-)

Until next week (or Saturday) folks - Stay fit, do good and look out for the light!

Saturday's mission

Next weeks task