Olden Wonder

THE NEWS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Hello first time GoodGymmers Poppie, Cal and Fernanda. Poppie was so keen to get started doing good that she turned up with a leg brace and walked/hobbled to the task separately! Didn't stop her using a fork either.

• A few of us had been racing over the weekend, Aidan did his first 10k in Regent's Park, and Paul and Danica also joined in and gained PBs.

• We announced Islington's new Coach Runner Rep Danica. Danica's now the person to speak to in Islington if you're interested in coach running.

• Starter Session/Highbury Fields parkrun. This is happening on Saturday 26th September. Come along and volunteer or run at the parkrun and then join us for the task. Do one or the other or both, but don't do neither.

THE TASK

It was a short run tonight. This gave us more time to spend at the task and made us happy because there was lots to get stuck into at Olden Garden. Olden Garden is a two-acre garden and woodland. It's run by volunteer members and they host several events for the local community. Islington residents are all welcome to join.

One group picked up forks and set about aerating the soil (poking holes in it) and then spreading and raking/sweeping sand into the holes. Another group carried several rubble bags of manure down the stairs to be spread around fruit trees before tackling two giant sacks of the stuff. Simon, Aidan and Patrick M all had a bit of a go at digging out lilac roots and made a little progress but when the mattock broke in half we decided it might be time to call it a night.

Our hosts had put on a lovely spread of chocolate biscuits, apples and still and sparkling water. You don't get that at many tasks.

THE BISCUITS

Continuing the latest trend of bringing in home-made biscuits, this week Gina arrived with a Tupperware container of lemon-flavoured delights. Everybody - even Steve - tried one and they were delicious. Patrick M is doing the honours next week.

THE DEBATE

What's the best mode of transport? A few bike fans. A couple of walkers (especially in London). No surprise that some of us liked running. A bus. Nobody seemed to be a fan of the tube, but we did have a couple of votes for sail boats from Emma and Gina

THE TRIAL

We warmed up with a few dynamic stretches, drills and strides and then set about the time trial. 641 metres around Emirates Stadium and an attempt to break the current record of 2:15 - jointly held by Paul and Ryan. Paul was out of action after a race- and alcohol-heavy weekend and stood at the finish line to see Kyle come blasting round the corner and through the finish line to finish in a new course record of 2:04. Mark was next in 2:17 and Patrick L in 2:20. And worth noting is a speedy result from first-timer Cal in 2:32. A wonderful effort from everybody as usual.

Is sub-2 on the cards? Find out next month.

THE STRETCH

Stretch of the week was delivered by Paul. A nice glute stretch perfect for anybody with "tight buns".

THE PUB

Danica suggested we go to the pub afterwards so a few of us did and had a little drink and passed around Ana's grapefruit hand sanitiser.

THE NEXT WEEK

We're FROGG-ing it next week. Be there.

Au revoir, Simon