A blustery yet mild day in 'East Landan'. A strong and dedicated bunch met me in the Aquatics Centre. A brief warm up with some knee drills and hip swings. Then a quick-fire topical question blast about the Olympics. It was quite illuminating to hear of people's favourite events.

Mine and Peter's were obviously middle distance track events. The 1500m and 800m respectively. We also learnt of Greta's interest in gymnastics, those guys do have some tremendous physiques. Rodrigo's enjoyment for volleyball, which is not a sport commonly played in the UK. A pebble beach on a cold drizzly day does not lend itself to this game! Alex's desire to watch people dance underwater in the synchronised swimming event, a highly technical sport and strangely hypnotic too. Alice was another one to chose swimming as her event, but the racing variety - maybe we can do some swim specific drills in the canal next week?! Finally we learnt of Tim's passion for the steeple-chase, which surprised me at first. But when he explained he "enjoys watching them fall over" it all made sense. Indulging in a bit of schadenfreude? We're all guilty of that, aren't we?!

We zipped down to Mobile Garden City in record time, to meet the informative Alex, our task instructor. He's part of a project to build energy efficient gardens all along the Ginger Line. In these gardens they grow hops (amongst other things), they use the harvest to make beer and keep the gardeners merry and mildly inebriated. I personally think it's a cracking idea. Always thought I'd make a good gardener.

Anyway, our job was to plant and pot hops. We got through quite a few, or more precisely, as Tim put it "2, 4, 6 ............loads". Classic. I think we all learnt a little something too. You may never look at a beer the same way, knowing all the hard-work that's gone into growing those hops.

We finished off with a kilometer run to the canal...and a taxing full body circuit on the steps. Short yet efficient, working almost all the big muscle groups, your metabolic rates should be spiked up for a while. Very impressive efforts.

All in all, a lovely productive session in Newham.

Can't wait for next week and the social after the task.

See you all then

B

A swelteringly hot Wednesday, yet with a cooling westerly breeze. Just enough blowy air to make a bit of running, tough gardening and core work manageable but not too tough.

Joined by the superbly scientific duo of Radha and Greta. A doctor and Neuroscientist to join our ever erudite ranks of GG Newham. We welcome you with a warm aerobic embrace.

Abbey Gardens was this week's task, almost exactly a mile...perfect training for the upcoming Mile relays. Curious to find out how fast you can run a mile? Then sign up! Sounds like great team fun. Will be loads of GG people and it's almost on home soil. Including Alice who happens to be running for her club...we shan't hold this against you Al!

We got to our task in good time, without too much perspiration as well. However there was much time to create some hard earned sweat. A mixture of compost turning (a hard deltoid, bicep and tricep work out) some weeding (hand and forearm strength, plus much squatting) and also some water can carrying (a super arm and core workout).

There was even time for me to pull the guys away for a little agility and core work. As local residents sat and enjoyed a glass of white wine in the background, we beavered away. With the knowledge that we're getting a little fitter, doing something pretty good for the community....and that there was cold beer in our fridges at home waiting our return (oh, just me then?!)

We downed tools at 8ish, made our mile journey back and finished with some interval running. An up the pyramid session. As the reps get shorter and shorter, and you get faster - a favourite. Combining speed and strength together. Now all valuable minutes deposited in the bank of fitness...accruing physiological interest as we speak. Great work guys.

Hope many of you can make next week...Super Simon will be covering as I race 3000m in an attempt obliterate an old pb. You guys will have a lovely task lined up!

Happy training

B