36 Goodgymers ran between 5-11km to collect up a massive 125 Christmas Trees for recycling!!!

Welcome along to Emily, Natalie and Mel whose first time it was last night. Plenty of regulars and tourists around too.

In the news this week:

1. It's GoodGym Islington 4th birthday next Monday, come along for Thai food and drinks next Monday after the group run.
2. There is a GG Islington Starter Session on Saturday 26th January - sign up here.
3. Chi is doing a training session this Sunday in Islington and Olivia is leading a long run in Richmond - join in.

Corrrr blimey what a welcome to 2019, we not only had more attendances than we've had for 18 months but we arguably broke a GoodGym record with 125 Christmas Trees collected on a group run.

GG's Angels

After a big old intro we warmed up and split into our four groups to cover as much as Islington as possible, looking for those Christmas trees. It is technically fly tipping leaving them out on the street and of course it's a real hazard. Therefore we are helping the community in lots of ways getting them collected and recycled.

We had four teams and there final scores were:

• Team Steve - ran 11km to Crouch End and collected 8 trees
• Team Paul - ran 6-8k around Highbury and collected 29 trees
• Team Paradise (Graham) - ran 6-8km to Paradise Park, Callie Road and Holloway Road and collected 40 trees
• Team James - ran to Barnsbury and collected 48 trees!!!

This is an insane amount of pulling, carrying and tossing of our piney friends - good work all.

Next week we will be helping St Lukes Community Centre and doing another round of Christmas Tree Collections - sign up here.

PB out

32 Goodgymers ran 5km to help Caxton House decorate a Christmas Tree and do some gardening!

Thanks to coming to Islington's Christmas Edition! It was spectular :)

The main news this week is to remember we are back from Monday 7th January, I don't expect to see you on Christmas Eve or New Years Eve - make sure you have a fun holiday!

Back to what happened last night - after our intro Huw (New Leicester Trainer) led a warm up with the theme of 12 exercises of Christmas. We splitted into two groups as we headed up hill 2.5km to Caxton House Community Centre, with James leading a faster group doing a lap of the Emirates. This fantastic centre provides a hub for community activities; including gardening, education projects and even a credit union.

Upon our arrival at the centre we were presented with a very large Christmas tree and some gardening to do. Splitting into two groups we got started with both tasks. Group One put the tinsel, lights and some stars on the tree. Meanwhile Group Two weeded the front garden and dug for bamboo. With Christmas music playing inside and out, joy was in the air!

Switch over the Elves

The teams switched tasks, with Group Two continuing the garden efforts, adding in some chopping back bushes. Meanwhile Group One put baubles on the train and of course Santa at the top of the tree. Nice! Once all the tasks were finished we had a mince pie, switched on the tree lights and took a lovely group photo.

After saying our goodbyes to Rose and Sue we ran home, and then stretched before going to the pub and for pizza #XmasParty.

Sign up for the first group run of 2019 (7th January) here.

See you in the New Year! Merry Christmas Everyone!

PB out

19 GOODGYMERS ran 5km to help Single Homeless Project and Mildmay Community Centre!

Welcome along to Sarah and Carly whose first time it was last night!

In the news this week:

1. A massive well done to Steve Coman who recently hit 300 Good Deeds and has now completed 60 months straight of GG, that's 5 years! Amazing!
2. The GG Islington Xmas Party will be on Monday 17th December after our last group run, full details here.
3. There is a North London Long Run this Sunday led by Graham and Alix - all the details here.

Back to what happened last night... After warming up we split into two groups one going to Mildmay Community Centre and the other to the Single Homeless Projec.

Mildmay Report:

A team of 9 of us headed east, around Highbury Fields and through Canonbury to Mildmay Community Centre.

Once arrived at the centre Teena showed us what needed doing, we were continuing our work from two weeks ago. Now with the beds cleared of roots and hedges we could get to stage two.

Armed with gloves and forks we dug out any weeds and twigs, and turned over the soil. Once that was done across both beds we emptied fresh bags of compost into the beds, this will be ready for spring planting. After taking a group picture we headed home to meet the other group and eat bourbons.

Double Tasking, double fun

SHP Report by Steve Lee:

The team led by Kike and Steve with Alix kindly back-marking ran a similar distance to Paul’s team on an unusually warm and thankfully dry December night. On arriving at the Single Homeless Project we were presented with our challenge - a mini-mountain of mulch to be moved.

After a quick ‘before’ photo we distributed tools and set about filling wheelbarrows and sacks with increasingly warm and steamy mulch, which will make their lovely big back garden even lovelier. Alix and Steve got all zen with some raking, as delivery after delivery of mulch was ferried from the huge pile in the driveway to the back of the garden.

Big shout to those who got their workout on and opted to carry sacks when the wheelbarrows were in use, meaning that by the end of the session we’d made a substantial dent in Mulch Mountain.

Tools down, a quick ‘after' photo and a brisk jog around the Arsenal stadium before a stretch and being reunited with Paul Bown’s team, and, of course, the biscuits. Well done all!

Sign up here for next week when you'll be off to a different Single Homeless Project site, I'm on holiday but Steve Lee will be leading.

PB out

20 Goodgymers ran 5km to help the Rose Bowl sweep leaves - plus finished with a time trial!

Welcome along to newbie Tim whose first time it was last night, lovely to have you join us!

In the news this week:

1. GG London Xmas Party - it's this Saturday down in Southwark! Get your fancy dress costumes out and get ready to sing wham! If you haven't signed up please do and if you haven't paid the £4 please also do that - both ASAP.
2. GG Raceteam has two London Marathon places, you need to be part of the raceteam and have your name down if you'd like a chance - email graham@goodgym.org for more details
3. GG Islington Xmas Party will be after the last group run of the year on the 17th December, we'll be going for an Italian - bring your Christmas hat!

Back to what happened last night, after warming up we split into two groups. James led a team of 6 to leaflet for the This Girl Can Running Group in Islington, they dropped the leaflets on the way to the Rose Bowl.

The rest of us went straight to the Rose Bowl Community Centre via Higbury Fields and Balls Pond Road. This is a fantastic centre that looks provides education programmes, activities and counselling services to young people in the community. They've got a fantastic quad area and garden that is well used but at this point covered in leaves!

Party Ring Nostalgia

Our job was simple but big, to collect up as many leaves as possible across the space. Armed with brooms, rakes, shovels and bags we split into groups to get the job done. While everyone filled bags upon bags of leaves, a team of 5 was cutting back bamboo, trees and weeds - nice! Fuelled by hob nobs and party rings everyone smashed 30 mins of hard work. Well done!

After taking a group picture we headed back home slightly a different way and then did our monthly time trial!

Sign up for next week here when we will be returning to Mildmay Community Centre

PB out