🌞 GoodGym Wandsworth in the evening sun

On a sun-drenched Monday evening, still basking in the post-London Marathon glow, an energetic gang of GoodGymmers ran to St Mary’s Church in Battersea for a brand-new task. Not just any church—this is Battersea’s oldest, where William Blake tied the knot and J.M.W. Turner once whipped out his paints to create his iconic river scenes.

A massive shoutout to all those who ran the marathon on Sunday, and kudos to the spectators, who undertook the noble task of clapping, shouting and creating signs that Turner would be proud of. Respect.

An even bigger Wandsworth welcome to Kate, who joined us for her very first GoodGym adventure! She picked an absolute banger of an evening: blue skies, a route bursting with blossom, and a riverside scene straight out of a Richard Curtis movie. There were geese waddling past wisteria in full bloom as the sun set over the Thames- all that was missing was Hugh Grant himself.

Our mission for the evening was to weed, litter pick, spruce up paths, and hang bunting. Within minutes, the area was buzzing with the sounds of gardening, laughter and debates over where to hang the next bit of bunting.

Among the more curious discoveries: a small religious plaster figurine and what we concluded was a leg tag—left behind by someone who was in a bit of a hurry...

As the sun dipped lower and the geese gave us side-eye for disrupting their evening stroll, we gathered for a few lovely group shots and admired our handiwork. But we weren’t done yet...

On the way back, we hit up several fitness stations (because one plank is never enough) and made a detour to check on the bulbs we planted earlier in the year. And guess what? Just like GoodGym Wandsworth, they were blooming beautifully 🌷💪

Next week it's a bank holiday so we'll be having a lunchtime run on the Monday over to the GoodGym garden.

This weekend we need help protecting the trees in Wandsworth, and if you fancy a double header of tasks you could op down to Streatham to beautify the nature reserve there - what a bank holiday weekend!

With a last minute task cancellation last night we had to pivot quickly but that didn't dampen our enthusiasm in the slightest! Maybe that was because it was our fitness leader Catherine's birthday so we were feeling festive (and energised by the prospect of cake) or maybe it was that spring was in the air, or perhaps it was just those Monday GoodGym good vibes!

We kicked off with a warm up and a quick round up of what we'd be wishing for if we were blowing out the candles. From new houses, to more dogs in the world, to be able to fly, to fewer candles on the cake - our dreams are certainly varied!

We set off on our run to Bramford Gardens, a community green space run by a volunteer, Shah. Unfortunately when we arrived we found that a contractor had been in and pulled up a load of carefully thought out plants. We needed to jump into action to tidy up the place as best we could - and fast.

We divided up into teams. There was plenty to do - collecting and transporting pallets, litter picking, strengthening the raised beds which had been knocked down, scrubbing graffiti and picking out that sticky weed - which seems to get everywhere!

After a good stint we were done, and moved onto party game themed fitness. There was freeze tag and a plank waterfall, with just one team emerging victorious, although it was a close run thing.

After a run back it was time for stretches and cake - lots of cake! Next week it's Easter Monday so there will no group run - but don't worry it wil be scheduled for later in the week. There is plenty to look forward to, including this mission to beautify a nature reserve and a task to dig lots of holes in Southfields!