Turf wars

Throughout our task last night we got several perplexed comments from passers by wondering why we were digging in the dark, in subzero temperatures on a Wednesday evening. Fair comments! We're pretty much used to them now, but it is just a reminder to feel proud of yourself, GoodGym, for doing what nobody else is prepared to do to make your local area a better place to live. So well done you, GoodGym.

• Here comes the News*

Please give a big GoodGym welcome to Matt and to Eloise who joined us for their very first group run last night - great to meet you both!

A big shout out to all those joining is from other GG areas too - we love seeing you in Hounslow!

Although the deadline has officially closed, I hear on the ggrapevine that there are still some spots available - GoodGym has some £10 community entry places for the Big Half happening in London on Sunday 10th March. If you're interested please email bighalf@goodgym.org today. Names will be drawn at random from those who want a place. It's a great race, and very well organised, so if you're after a good half marathon, whether it be your first or if you're chasing that PB, then why not give it a go.

The January challenge officially comes to an end today, and although we didn't quite make our targets, we did clock up 73 good deeds and 735 kms in January - which is think is pretty ace. So well done to each and everyone of you that helped make it happen.

• Snow holding us back*

After a quick run down of the news and a huge cheer for Luis who reached that excellent 50 good deeds milestone (fantastic work Luis, well done!) we headed outside to warm up and to find out everybody's favourite sweeties. Because this is very important.

In a change to our advertised task, we had been asked last minute to help create a piazza opposite Turnham Green station by Abundance London - a local community project based in Hounslow, run by volunteers on a not-for-profit basis. They run environmental, and educational projects, tackle the wastage of fresh fruit and guerilla garden abandoned patches and flower beds in the borough.

So after a quick run down there we found a pile of shovels, forks and bin bags, and two big jobs to do. The first was to clear the area near the bike stands of litter, grass and weeds before digging it over ready for planting. The second was a massive task digging over the lawn to that it could be transformed into a beautiful flower bed. There were several different techniques deployed in this particular job, and one very expert turf artist, but either way, after 40 minutes of hard graft, the area was at least half down and ready for the next step. The turf was perfectly preserved, and the area will no doubt be a blooming vista of floral loveliness before long!

We opted for Turnham Green back common for our fitness session, which has been helpfully marked out ready for our paarlauf. This drill involves pairing up and seeing how many half circuits each pair can do in a set amount of time. The idea was to do as many circuits as possible, but I was so blown away by the fantastic sprinting that I forgot to ask at the end! Oops. You're all winners, anyway. There was just time for a little conditioning before a run back to base, stretch, an for some, pub. A fantastic and productive Wednesday evening, gang. Sign up for more next week here - and a new task!