Goodgym and the Achilles International UK chapter (visually impaired running group) met at Battersea Power Station Tube on Thursday evening, ready for a glorious evening of social group running. Together, we made our way to the bandstand in the centre of Battersea Park, and paired up for an hour of intervals, chatty runs, tempo sessions and practice for future Runthrough events. We were also joined by 5 adorable working dogs (4 guide dogs and 1 service dog), who were taken on walks around the park or given lots of scruffs by our bag drop volunteers! Well done everyone!

Next week, we will be training at Emirates Stadium, meeting at Arsenal tube station (Thursday 1st August, 6pm):

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-106d8484-2ef2-4a3e-9b1c-13684aa1c4e3

On an beautiful sunny Thursday evening, 10 visually impaired runners and an abundance of guides, supporters and cheer squad met at Paddington Rec Track with Achilles International. Together we completed a full range of social runs, tempo efforts, intervals and good times in perfect conditions. Area Activator Simon and Naqi Rivzi also joined running crew Track Mafia for their weekly structured training session on the track- introducing new runners to the world of VI guiding!

Followed by a lovely catch up at The Metropolitan pub in Baker Street!

We will be meeting at Battersea Park for our next group run session on Thursday 25th July:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/achilles-international-vi-guide-running-battersea-park-8415b4f1-220e-4ae8-bc80-1e54c58b6971

Our Goodgym team were thrilled to be invited back to Metro Blind Sports, along with a lot of our friends at our Achilles International weekly group runs. Metro Blind Sports is the UK's only athletics event hosted primarily for visually impaired athletes, a very important fixture to the sporting calender.

Events on offer included classic track distances (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m and open relay), alongside high jump, long jump, shot put, javelin and discus. An incredible opportunity to witness inspiring performances from athletes traveling from far and wide to compete (experienced veterans and first timers welcomed and encouraged).

Our Goodgym crew were on hand to help with registration for athletes, coordination for events, support for competitors and judges and even guiding the runners, jumpers and throwers! Our Achilles International friends came away with an abundance of medals, PBs and big smiles- great job on a hot summer's day, guys!

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Achilles International Weekly Sessions

If you feel inspired by Metro Blind Sports, you can join Goodgym for weekly group runs with Achilles International every Thursday:

Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!

Thursday 4th July- Stratford Olympic Park

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-d9691e05-e2b6-4232-89a4-c1f8da26a672

Thursday 11th July- Green Park

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-green-park-summer-session-ab3bf2f2-5408-42de-8afc-95ffbe5cea61

Thursday 18th July- Paddington Rec Track

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-7e911e01-1682-4d57-9fbe-fc5eb786ba0e

Thursday 25th July- Battersea Park

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/achilles-international-vi-guide-running-battersea-park-8415b4f1-220e-4ae8-bc80-1e54c58b6971

Thursday 1st August- Arsenal Emirates Stadium

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-106d8484-2ef2-4a3e-9b1c-13684aa1c4e3

Our Goodgym crew were thrilled to meet up with the regular running team from visual impairment and all abilities charity Achilles International. This week, we enjoyed our 700m loops around Emirates Stadium in the glorious sun!

Our running pairs completed a variety of workouts, up to an hour in duration, and all different paces. And we had volunteers on hand to mind bags and to walk adorable guide dogs while their owners are enjoying a run! To celebrate, a few of our VI runners visited The Brook Gate pub on Blackstock Road for surprisingly affordable refreshments and chips! Recommended!

Next Week's Session

Next Thursday, we will be at Stratford Olympic Park, meeting at the Westfield exit barriers for 6pm

Sign up here to get involved:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-a62f62c2-4983-4404-a9fa-075f3a811719

5 awesome Goodgymmers joined the Achilles International UK VI running group for our 3rd official group run in Battersea Park!

Abbie, Jack and Luc did some smashing guided runs with visually impaired runners Mark, Andrew and Naqi (Naqi is in preparation for the Bristol 10km on Saturday- good luck!). Stephen and Simon offered their assistance by looking after bags and playing with adorable guide dogs Max, Mario and Hugo (and Wine, a lovely Peruvian rescue dog).

A wonderful evening everyone- well done!

Next Thursday, we will be at Emirates Stadium, meeting at Arsenal tube station:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-80f59abe-2d99-46bb-99a7-8384ceed2811

Achilles International London, the capital's chapter of the visually impaired and all abilities athletics foundation, were thrilled to return to Green Park for the first time this year. Summer months bring more opportunities for evening running in beautiful Royal Parks, with Goodgym guiding and bag drop volunteers on hand!

This evening, Tom D was guided by Emre and first time guide Sander over 10km total distance between the two runners. Luc run a smashing series of laps with Brendan. Meanwhile Michelle, Charlie and Simon looked after Mario and Hugo, two lovely guide dogs, while their owners enjoyed their running sessions.

Thank you for a wonderful evening everyone!

Next week, we will be at Paddington Rec Track, meeting at Maida Vale Underground Station:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-dabb9655-646a-4c7d-bca8-6b96c43812d2