They say a couple week's in to the year most folks lob their heady resolutions out the window, reverting back to the path of least resistance. Not you lot, that's the difference between having a social group, that regularity and structure, something asides from the physical component ie giving back. We had 21 fine folk yesterday helping an under-funded school in Canning Town.

'Twas a fresh one with a lovely clear night sky, not blemished by a cloud in sight. A few shout outs to commence proceedings. Ros' first ever session (massive welcome), Pete's first GGN (down from Stockport on work), Maria's second run (glad to have her back) and the return of Newham's lost daughter, Siobhan (it's been too long). Parkruns were celebrated, Ros' first (the odyssey begins), Victoria hit Mile End, Hilary went to Walthamstow and a clan headed to Wanstead. James also raced, coming 26th in the most competitive cross country league in the country. Decent Saturday hustle team! If anyone is considering their training and wants some help with it, don't hesitate to drop me a line.

Random Weekly Question, seems to have it's own paragraph this week, making the big time. "It's Veganuary, what's your go-to vegan meal?" An apprehensive start, with beans on toast, jacket potato and beans, carrots (!). Moving into roasted veg, tofu something (!), chickpea salad, filo pastry with veg and cheeze, avocado-choc cake, tagine, roasted sweet potato with ginger-chilli grilled broccoli, joloff rice and plantain, with dal and rice to finish. I think we can confidently say that the answers warmed up a fair bit. There's load of delicious stuff out there. Good for you, good for the planet, what's not to like?

Over at Manorfield, we all arrived with a bit more warmth in our bones. Paul had us doing a few bits. Chucking out crates to the bins. Shifting scoreS of chairs. Moving some tables, then rearranging another set of new art tables. Done and dusted with 15mins to spare. Enough time for Paul to share the Big Half details with everyone, it's a super cheap entry and a great chance to experience a big city race (younger sister of London Marathon). He also reminded us of the deprivation in the locality, and the student handicap that comes with it. A useful reminder that your help is significant and well-placed.

Back at base we did a few exercises in pairs. Press up to celebrate every year of Mary's existence on this spinning planet in the Milky Way. We then roared a mellifluous rendition of Happy Birthday - and ate the cake that Mary provided - thanks!

Sign up here for next week's hands on help at a lovely community dock.

Then our starter session on the 1st of Feb, optional parkrun/raft of PB's, walk/jog to task (5mins) and Breakfast Club to finish - sound good? SIgn up here

Here's to a good end of week and a superb weekend

B

Cody Dock our run destination on a 'refreshing' kind of evening in East London.

Our intro chat covered: Hilary's 1st Female placing at Parkrun, upcoming Tree Planting and Fare Share Missions, welcoming Maria and Misbah to the GG lunacy (the runs get easier and easier, stick at it) and our Random Weekly Question. Courtesy of Melissa "what book are you currently reading?" Re reading old favourites from Harry Potter, Hitch Hikers Guide, history fictions and realities, Garcia Marquez Short Stories, Christopher Hitchens memoirs, An Orchestra of Minorities and adventure/travel tales loosely based on Tim's existence. As always, good range there team and sorry for the ones I forgot.

Fast forward 2 miles and we had reached the docks, our man Simon on call to lead from the front. With a distinctly cold rain making a cameo as we arrived - think we all did a silent "get in" when we were told the task was completely under shelter. Deconstructing gazeebos, removing furniture, rolling up temporary floors and rearranging the exhibition hall - all in a day's work, or to be more precise, 40 minutes.

Do checkout Cody Dock's website, we helped set up their Frost Fair, but their Burn's Night is upcoming too, another GGN social on the cards - get it in your diary.

That's all from me this week, look forward to seeing a buzz on whatsapp about your Parkrun target of choice this Saturday. And if you can't make that, maybe a longer more meditative run, keep the pace easy and just keep moving, a bit further than normal - getting fitter is that simple.

Till next week you beauts

B