We rose to the challenge and popped a few cherries along the way

10 do-gooders hit the Tarmac and ran hard over the 9.4K distance, smashed out the task and felt blooming great for it.

keep the GGHaringey spirit alive

With one of my toughest study days yet at it's halfway point I received word from Joseph at our planned task reading "bad news give me a call" once again I got that sinking feeling. I instantly went into fight mode (goodgymmers only fly when hitting the Tarmac) searching my contacts to seek out a new task with a matter of hours before the meet. Thankfully I was able to secure a task and keep the GGHaringey spirit alive. Our lovely friend Jackie at the Cherry Tree House sheltered accommodation scheme came to the rescue with the task of weeding and turning a flower bed in the residents communal garden. There were also a pile of old chairs that needed breaking down to fit in the bin. As you can imagine I felt great, knowing that I hadn't let my fellow do-gooders down by sorting this however, there was a kink in the plan. As it was late in the day Jackie was unable to provide tools. On went the thinking cap as I delved back into my contact list. I was so grateful to have had such an outstanding pillar of the community within those contacts who goes by the name of Sandy from Living Under One Sun. She was kind enough to borrow us the tools needed and the icing on the cake was that she offered to drop them off at the task for us too, once she had her car returned after an oil change. Nothing worth doing is ever straight forward in this world and this phrase seemed to slap me in the face at every turn. I hoped Sandy would get her car back and make the drop without getting stuck in the peak time traffic.

in need of a little GG TLC

Thankfully Sandy text ahead to say she would be arriving 5 minutes after us so with only 30 minutes to get stuck in we gained entry to the housing complex. My contact was the super helpful and very accommodating Brenda who is one of the lovely residents at Cherry Tree House. Brenda whisked us through the lounge area and into the communal garden which is a lovely space but the flowerbeds were in need of a little GG TLC. Everybody got stuck in with the weeding and before long Sandy had arrived with her charming little boy and some pitch forks to turn the soil.

the longest distance GGHaringey have run together

Jackie who manages the site had mentioned to Brenda that it may be a little late to start breaking up the chairs due to the noise which was unfortunate as a few of the lady's and lads were looking forward to that but they seemed content with the jobs at hand. We carefully plucked the weeds from the ground without removing any of the prised rose bushes or borage that Dashing Dave discovered (Pimms O'clock then). Everybody busied themselves and in super-fast time the whole bed was weeded along with half of it being turned too. Time was of the essence by now as we still had half of our run aheads of us. It is actually the longest distance GGHaringey have run together yet.

removing our muddy trainers

Unfortunately our 30 minute window had come to a close but not before we had finished the task set out for us. After clearing up, dumping off the green waste and removing our muddy trainers to walk back through the lounge; we were met at the front entrance by Brenda and a lovely little west Indian lady, who's name I'm not at liberty to share. She was ever so friendly and reports have come back that everybody who lives at Cherry Tree House are over the moon with the work we did. Well done guys!

After a round of high fives

After a round of high fives and a photo bomb by Ali who had to dash off to meet her father, I think she was looking to achieve a PB for the distance she had to cover and the time she had to do it in. Hope you made it in good time Ali. The remaining GG Haringey members set off on the 4.7k run back to base. Seeing as it was a long run and time had run out we didn't do our usual circuit.

I, however, doubted no one!

I took this moment to congratulate everyone on their running efforts - and I'll say it again. Well done guys, you ran from the heart and we made good time in getting from Tottenham to Bounds Green (nearly). I'd like to send a special shout out to Comfort who joined us for the first time two weeks ago on our starter session and told me previously that she had not really run before so thought she may struggle running with us. I, of course, reassured her that she would be fine and that we would support her as a team. Massive thanks to all who were supportive along with Sarah who took good care of Comfort. This week we had planned to run 2k which Comfort managed just fine last week but of course the task dropped out and we were pretty much forced to run 9.4K. Some were happy with this while two or three others were a little unsure of their ability. I, however, doubted no one! This is the longest distance run by both Paul P and Comfort - ever. Well done guys you did an ace job. Looked like you could have continued for a few more k's if I'm honest. I'll sort out some extra distance for you both next week- syke. Big respect to Ollie Phoebe and Beth too, y'all smashed it!!

With a few stretches and a bit of banter the group dispersed with a well deserved feeling of accomplishment.

Until next week folks - stay fit, do good and look out for the light.

Next weeks task