21 GoodGymers rounded off their London Marathon preparations with a 6k run to Hollybush Community Garden in Bethnal Green.

Sunshine has arrived!! Making an amazing change from the months of running in the Ice, sleet and snow we had a warm spring evening to have a running play.

Amazing location to meet in the London Marathon Store and great to have so many runners out in force finishing off their race day preparations and getting to chat to others embarking on the same challenge.

Amazing to have our own amazing running paparazzi taking amazing shots of us as we zipped around London’s inner City. Thanks James!!

With Ivo leading the way with some intricate back street, under/over bridge, through park 2.5k route East to Weavers Field. Where we were able to mobilise, activate and coordinate with some key running warm up and form drills before letting loose with a series of relaxed running strides to finish off.

With our heart rates elevated and our bodies ready to go we took the short run over to meet Margaret at the multi award winning urban community garden that is Hollybush.

As always Margaret had plenty for us to do and set us to work on a range of tasks to get the Rocky Garden prepped and ready for families to plant in.

With 40 mini allotment beds which are used by the Estates residents as a way of having their own green space to clear of all debris we had a big job to complete. Working in pairs we dismantled, de cluttered, weeded, removed wood and even untied netting to get the plots clear and free ready to grow!

The the plots clearing nicely and the mound of debris ready for collection growing we had just enough time to daisy chain 50 long planks of wood to complete the wood Mountain!!

With pictures taken and really warm thanks from Margaret and the Hollybush team we set off back to the London Marathon Shop chatting through marathon fuelling, pacing, injuries, clothing to make sure we are prepared as possible for the 26.2 Mile Challege ahead.

Best of luck and enjoy every stride on Sunday!!

Be great to see you again at another GoodGym run at one of the 42 areas nationwide.

Smooth Running

Joel

Woohoo, Waltham Forest GoodGym is up and running. We had a fabulous turnout for the launch as we welcomed 35 beautiful people to the plush art deco surroundings of Mirth, Marvel, and Maud. With such burgeoning support, we decided to split the group and accomplish not one but two tasks both of which helped to make Walthamstow a slightly better place by the time we returned to base.

GoodGym team one headed to The Limes a fantastic activity and community centre for children and young people. Taking a direct 1 km route to this quaint original William Morris building sleeves were rolled, trays were filled, and fifteen fantastic females grabbed rollers and set to painting a large room from top to bottom.

Meanwhile, the rest of The Limes Crew cleaned the children's play area including the ball pit and sensory area.

After packing away, we regrouped and took the scenic (3.5 km) route home. There was some pretty impressive running on the show, particularly the way everyone conquered the hill at the end of the run.

GoodGym team two headed out with Ed, and ran an impressive 6.5 km to spruce up the area around Lea Valley Riding Centre. A designated site of special scientific interest and home to rare plants, grass snakes and toads the area has a less welcome visitor - litter. Armed with some serious litter picking tools we got to work filling over ten bags full of trash. Horses looked on as we worked and in the cool evening, it was a surprisingly therapeutic experience!

40 minutes later we were cruising back. It wouldn't be GoodGym without a bit of a workout so naturally, we had to stop for some jumping jacks, squat jumps and Lunges. Easy peasy for this lot.

A final sprint up the High Road saw some sweaty faces safely back, and the two teams mingled back to one to enjoy a well-deserved drink.

5, 6, 7, …14 steps (That's what it took to build a table tennis table).

Wake me up*

After a warm-up we set off on a riverside route to Transforming Lives for Good (TLG for short). Our run to the river was almost as long as the queue to see Evanescence* at Hammersmith Apollo.

Deborah and James greeted us once we arrived and gave us a rundown of what TLG do. They provide support, care and education to children in need. The TLG school we had come to help out at offers holistic 12 week programmes to help excluded teenagers aged 11-16. These centres are a lifeline, giving them the chance to catch up on missed qualifications, raise their aspirations and provide building blocks for a better life.

Divide and conquer

Our tasks for the night were to put together a new ping pong table and clear a store room of old furniture. A team of four took on the table and the rest quickly demolished the other.

Keeping out of mischief

Both Deborah and James were blown away by the speed the store room was sorted in. James then set about finding other things for the team to help with. This included fixing a shelf to a coffee table and starting to organise another cupboard.

I had planned to take this group off for a fitness session, but suddenly the table tennis team needed extra eyes and hands to find stray screws, washers and attach the table top securely.

Finishing later that usual, but with a brand new ping pong table finally complete we dashed back the short way to home and had a warm down.

Thanks to Debs and Jo for your GG touristing, it was lovely to have you along!

Happy running,
PSB out.