GoodGym Islington
Gibbous All Your Christmas Trees!
Monday 5th January
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Goodgym Islington returned for our first group run session of 2026, meeting back at the Arsenal Community Hub. A pretty chilly winters evening, but we soon warmed up by running a pleasant 1km over to Highbury Fields with Alice, Emily, Michael and first time Goodgymmer Sami (welcome!).
Together, we arrived outside the Better Highbury Fields swimming baths to find the official recycling point for Christmas trees. Traditionally, it is recommended to remove a festive tree from your home by the 12th day after Christmas (to avoid bad luck), so our task for the evening was to pick up as many trees as possible around the Highbury borough, and to bring them to the drop off point. In doing so, we hope to reduce the extra work and resources required by Islington council workers to recycle these trees.
Within 45 minutes, our two Goodgym teams successfully transported 15 trees safely to the drop off point, while getting a really great workout for the arms! We took a celebratory photo together, with a beautiful "waxing gibbous" moon lighting up in the sky. Well done everyone!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
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SESSIONS IN JANUARY
Community Mission - Regent's Canal Plogging and River fowl feeding Monday 12th January, 7.15pm, The Arc Centre, Islington
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/community-mission-regent-s-canal-plogging-and-water-fowl-feeding
Group Run - Camden Estate Gardens Monday 19th January, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
Community Mission - Thornhill Square Gardens Monday 26th January, 7.15pm, Thornhill Square Gardens
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/community-mission-thornhill-square-gardens-bulb-planting
Group Run - Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens Monday 2nd February, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
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Goodgym Social & Area Activator Simon’s Last Session
Monday 2nd February, 8.30pm, The Tollington Arms, Islington
After 6.5 years, Area Activator Simon will be hosting his final group run session with Goodgym Islington this evening.
After our group run to Highbury Quadrant Estate, we will be making a trip to the award winning local pub, The Tollington Arms, less than 200m away from our bag drop location on Benwell Road!
As well as offering excellent refreshments, the pub has been well known for offering delicious Thai food with loads of varied dietary and vegan options available!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/aa-simon-s-last-session-the-tollington-arms-arsenal
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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
JANUARY
Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale underground) Thursday 8th January, 6pm
Stratford Olympic Park (Stratford underground station Westfield exit) Thursday 15th January, 6pm
Emirates Stadium (Arsenal underground) Thursday 22nd January, 6pm
Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale underground) Thursday 29th January, 6pm
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Track and Towpath - January Challenge Edition!
Come and join Area Activator and UK Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) Simon for a fun mixed pace training session
Over the month of January, Simon will be hosting a weekly morning running workouts in various parks in the Islington and Tower Hamlets boroughs.
All paces and abilities welcome!
The intention is to build up fitness together towards the Runthrough Victoria Park 10km on Sunday 1st February.
Thursday 8th January 7.50am, Arsenal Community Hub, Emirates Stadium
Thursday 15th January 7.50am, Poplar Union, Bartlett Park
Thursday 22nd January 7.50am, Common Ground coffee, Finsbury Park
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-january-challenge-finsbury-park-kenyan-hills
Thursday 29th January 7.50am, Mile End Climbing Wall, Meath Gardens
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-january-challenge-meath-gardens-kilometres
Runthrough Victoria Park 10km Event!
Sunday 1st February, 9am, Victoria Park
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-runthrough-victoria-park-10km-february-2026
(Strava group link)
https://strava.app.link/3aQu4W5ISYb
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Caledonian Park junior parkrun- January 2026
Sunday mornings, 8.45am, Caledonian Park
Junior parkrun is a wonderful free weekly timed 2km social running initiative, with events occurring all across the UK (and now the world!).
Children aged from 4-14 years old are allowed to run this safe looped course in Caledonian Park however they like, with the encouragement of friendly marshals, volunteers and parents.
The core team are always on the lookout for:
Course marshals
Barcode scanners
Funnel managers
Course set-up and close down assistance
A tailwalker!
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Upcoming sessions:
Sunday 11th January
Sunday 18th January
Sunday 25th January
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Maria's Gardens, Isledon Gardens - Shed Building
Sunday 25th January, 11am - 1pm, Maria's Gardens, Islington
We are planning to lend a hand at Maria's Gardens, a Nature Trail between Isledon Gardens and the Sam Morris Nursery Gardens. One of the key objectives for this session is to build a new tool shed for the regular local gardening team.
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Green Guardians- Whittington Park Sessions
Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions, Whittington Park, Archway
We have six really interesting gardening session happening at Whittington Park. We'll be planting native wild flowers, hedging and bulbs, creating a stumper and planting fruit trees.
These are relaxed friendly sessions where the emphasis is on spending time outside in nature, whilst learning and sharing skills and meeting new people.
The sessions are free and open to all, though under 16's must be with a responsible adult. No experience is needed. We provide tools, gloves, guidance and refreshments.
Session Dates
Tuesday 6th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Orchard tree planting with the Orchard Project (with optional free volunteers lunch at 1pm)
Tuesday 13th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Wildlife hedge planting
Tuesday 20th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation
Tuesday 27th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation
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Next session
Tuesday 6th January, 10am - 12 midday:
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning
Saturday 17th January, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens
The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.
Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.
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Penn Road Gardens Monthly Open Volunteer Morning
Sunday 25th January, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens, Islington
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road. Local volunteers will be on hand to direct anyone who arrives to offer their help between 10am- midday. Come on down to enjoy a lovely morning community task!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/penn-road-gardens-open-morning
Portal Kombat II - Kornered
Thursday 1st January
Written by StephDucat
Just 10 days after 2 warriors defeated invaders in a deadly tournament at Ms E home, we saw a solo warrior adventure into the portal to try and defeat the invaders of the left crusade. A small wall had settled in after the previous warriors left, so I had to tame the already cut brambles and prison them in black bags. Once the path was cleared, Steph snipped, cut, pulled the brambles of the left crusade who also tried to strangle/tangle Steph...but with no success!!Then Steph noticed a massive piece of plastic or a door on the floor underneath the leaves and brambles. Was this another portal or a back door to defeat the crusaders??!!It was an escaped side panel of the garden which was probably pulled down by the invaders. The solo warrior relentlessly fought back and cornered a few remaining invaders in the far corner. The left side was free and Ms E also had some light coming into the patio, but could see the end of the garden. Forgot to say that the invaders had allies in the trees above who were throwing acorns during the Kombat - green parrots joined forces with the invaders but flew away when they saw the brambles retreating to the corner. Brambles were caught in 8 bags today which joined the others bags that Kash and Sevan put a side on their last battle.
The Achilles International Christmas Catch Up!
Monday 29th December 2025
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
It was a joy to join the Achilles International UK crew for a special Monday evening group run at Emirates Stadium. Since Christmas Day and New Years Day both settled on Thursdays in 2025, Area Activator Simon suggested a collaboration for the Goodgym Islington "Betwixtmas" task.
8 VI athletes (and 1 lovely guide dog) ran loops of the Emirates Stadium concourse with new, returning and experienced guide runners and walkers. An awesome get together during the festive period. We were super motivated to hear about future training objectives and races planned for next year!
Our next session with Achilles International UK will be at Paddington Rec Track (meeting at Maida Vale underground station) on Thursday 8th January, 6pm
Ace of Spades One Hundred
Friday 26th December 2025
Written by StephDucat
The title already exists somewhere on our reports, but when you see and read this report you will understand that it could only be that as a title. I originally was registered to this mission 2 weeks ago and it was cancelled last minute when I was near Ms D flat as we found out she didn't have tools. This time we were assured she had bought tools. I arrived at Ms D and she lead me to the back garden, which was or looked like snakes all over her back garden and invading the slabs and the side of the shed. I asked for the tools and she gave me massive black bags. Then I asked for tools to cut the massive brambles : she said I only have a spade. Oooopppsss!No tools to weed or cut brambles, but not convinced to be defeated, I took my special bramble gloves(super thick and made for this type of task). Pulled weed, dead branches, dead bamboo, brambles and then used the spade to chop the brambles against the concrete near the back wall. Then as I had my bramble gloves was able to fold/bend so that it could fit in the rubbish bins. The spade was Ace or was i the Ace of Spade today.90 minutes in and the garden looked totally different. So you can sort out a garden without tools or the wrong tools. Ms D was over the moon! This was mission 100 since I have started doing missions just 2 years ago. When i mean missions : it is missions at elderly or isolated persons and not good deeds. Now its time to get more missions in before the end of the year and complete more in 2026.
Where the wind blows.
Wednesday 24th December 2025
Written by Islington runner
Leaves and apples from nearby trees had fallen into Mrs C's back yard, and needed to be cleared up. On a crisp, sunny and windy Christmas Eve, I swept up as many leaves as I could find. At times this felt like a Sisyphean task - as soon as I had made a pile, a gust would distribute some of them across the garden once more. But persistence won and, within an hour, both front and back yards were clear, leaving the house looking more tidy for Christmas.
Goodgym Islington's Christmas Snoop Loop
Monday 22nd December 2025
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Area Activator Simon met with Goodgym runners from all different areas outside the great doors of St Paul's Cathedral on Monday evening. This week, we set up alternative festive get-together around the Fetter Lane and City Mile boroughs. Wild in Art, an arts collective who set up urban sculpture trails for charities across the UK, worked with the Fleet Street Festive Quarter to create the Xmas Snoopy Trail. 12 "Snoopys" designed by artists and creatives to find across Central London.
Our crew did a smashing job of orienteering around the beautiful Victorian streets, vast office blocks, grade 2 listed buildings and bright neon installations to find all of the figures (some were definitely more tricky to find than others!). Well done, everyone!
To celebrate, we visited Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub on Fleet Street for food and refreshments (rebuilt in 1667 after the great fire of London, frequented by Charles Dickens, and even featured in "The Tale of Two Cities"!)
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