A bit of drizzle and a last minute change of plan didn't stop a group of GGers meeting to do some good at a regular task of ours. Before we set off we welcomed Joe to his first group run- lovely to meet you Joe! We then did some warm ups where the group showed off our fancy footwork and got our heart rate up before talking about the nice things that had happened to us over the weekend. Lovely meals, new nephews, birthdays and flats to ourselves ad all made us very happy!

We then ran down to meet Malissa at Doddington roofgarden, a former carpark which is now a huge growing space for the local community. While we thought we were moving up donated pots, in fact Malissa had another job in mind for us - and one which gave us a good work out thrown in! First we got stuck in widening the trench we had started the week before. The area is going to be used for wild flowers and pumpkins which will be planted by local children, and is sure to look fabulous. next up was more digging, this time in a different area which is going to be filled with potatoes and other veg. With lots of chat and tips from Malissa on how to grow the perfect veg plot, the time flew by and we got ourselves a little horticultural education too!

With all that upper body work it was important not to neglect the legs, so after waving goodbye we headed down to Doddington Square to knock out three minute mountain legs - the perfect quick leg strengthening exercise when you short on time and hills!

Next week we'll be helping out at a local community centre - you can sign up here for more Monday fun and fitness. We also have loads of missions this week, including urgent help needed to sort donations for the Ukraine. Find a mission here.

Until then, run happy!

After a slightly chaotic warm up and a discussion about out favourite places to run - which included by and into the sea, along the south downs, by the Thames and anywhere with GoodGym - we set off for Doddington Rood Garden.

This is a lovely area which has been turned into a huge and well loved community garden which depends on volunteers, and lead volunteer Malissa met us at the gate to let us in and tell us what needed to be done.

While Sophie and I went off to collect an olive tree, the rest of the team got stuck into digging a big trench around the geodome so that eventually kids can plant pumpkin plants in it which will grow over the structure. While the diggers were getting muddy and making amazing progress, Sophie and I were struggling with finding the right place in the maze that is Doddington, but eventually tracked it down (while Sophie gmapped and I got distracted by a cat). By the time we got back the rest of the group had done an amazing job and the area was ready for planting.

By this time though it was getting pretty chilly so we decided to forgo the whole body workout for several fitness station stops on the way back to base - not forgetting finishing on that mean old hill!

Some dates for your diary!

This weekend we have two missions happening

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/prepping-and-or-delivering-hot-meals-for-vulnerable-families-079216f5-fea8-4df5-8d1c-4c3889f19fbe

and

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/help-wandsworth-welcomes-refugees-sort-donations-for-refugees-from-afghanistan-e2b67f3a-68c9-4385-9e6e-30d37dd6177a

and we have the GoodGym on parkrun tour in Brockwell:

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/parkrun-on-tour-south-london-edition-brockwell

So there really is no better reason to get out there, use your workout to have fun and do good! Next week we are back to help Malissa move loads of donated pots back up to Doddington garden so get ready for another upper body workout! Until then, run happy.