Wet & Wild

It was a fun and fair adventure with Harlesden Community Gardens, complete with log flumes and rapids - runs that is.

Easter Bank Holiday Monday 2016, a day that can only ever be remembered as the wettest on record! Despite the ghastly conditions, half a dozen "Good Eggs" rocked up to The Queensbury for some running and do-gooding in Brilliant Brent.

Welcoming the team, coach Ellie explained the task ahead; A request from our old friend Gabriel at Harlesden Town Gardens, for a Spring into Action now the light was creeping back. The Gardens, once a derelict dumping site, have been re-claimed by the community for the past 2 years now and turned into an amazing facility for locals equipped with children play area, wild flower and allotment site.

Without a moment to lose the team stepped out into the rain and with the light beginning to fade, the freezing cold was biting. It wasn't long before the first hill on route, had the team huffing and puffing heated up enough to fend the cold winds away.

After a 2mile jaunt, into the face of the rainy mass, before long the destination was in site and as always we beamed at the appropriately named Challenge Close. Walking in and raring to go, it was onto the allotment, where we had our Tree-mendous task - Shifting the logs that Gabriel had felled not 2 days before.

Without a moment to spare the team got stuck in, lifting and heaving like a real set of Canadian Lumberjacks, as always accompanied by some classic old school garage tunes - Ellie's Fav Craig David.

After 30 minutes of lifting and shifting and with some compost tipping just to finish off, the team (after 10minutes) managed to work out how to padlock the site back up and get on the move once more, just as our good friend Mr Storm Cloud was making an appearance.

Like the warriors we are, we got straight to business, heads down, smiles on and laughs all the way back to camp.

With 3 hills tackled, 1 dead pigeon hopped over and 2.5miles licked, there was only one way to finish the session............. Squats of course So as coach Ellie explained the different muscle groups used in each phase, the gang got busy, knocking out 2 sets of 3X10 Narrows, Wide and Sumos. Strength training is of the upmost importance when endurance running and strong muscles are a necessity, so you must cross train to support overall health, fitness and keep injury free! Stretches to finish and beers in for Hannah and Zeena, the night had come to a happy end.

After a horribly wet day, a beautiful red rainbow shone over West London and that's GoodGym Brent out for another week.

Until next time!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE.