Great to have such a good squad out for our Wednesday Community Mission with Rhythms of Life helping London's homeless charity.

After many weeks of chipping away at the mass of stuff the Christmas fairy had been to clear 80% of the space to finally allow the area to be a efficient work and food preparation facility.

We were topping up the good work shifting crates, sorting out food into the right areas so they can be used in the coming days.

Great team work cleared all the areas in quick time!

thanks so much for coming along and we will be back in a couple if weeks to keep the space nice and clear!!

On Monday evening, Area Activator Simon welcomed 11 Goodgymmers at The Emirates Stadium (including first timer Sara and a few familiar faces from a few years back- good to see you all!) for one of our first sessions back after the Christmas break. We had spend our Xmas breaks in lovely places like Croydon, Yorkshire, Sussex and Oxford, staying away from the ominous lurgee to the best of our abilities!

After a warm up on the slope connecting to the stadium concourse, our crew made their way towards Highbury Fields via the Whistler Street slopes, and down to the Better Leisure Centre on Highbury Crescent. Upon our arrival, we found an official Islington Council Christmas Tree drop off point, ready to be filled with discarded trees. Our three teams (Tree-mendous Troop, The North Stars and The Tree Team) arranged to cover the North, East and West of the Highbury and Islington borough to find trees and to bring them the drop spot within 40 minutes.

Christmas trees are like buses. Nothing for ages, and multiple ones come at one! Within the last 10-15 minutes of our session, our teams were able to dispatch 18 fully grown and very heavy trees into the official drop point with the power of team work. Great job everyone!

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NEWS & UPCOMING SESSIONS

Achilles International VI Guide Running Group Runs

Every Thursday, Achilles International (an all abilities running charity) host their a group session for visually impaired runners and guides of all abilities. These sessions are in mostly hazard free locations, easily accessible via public transport, and a great way to try guiding on a regular basis!

During the winter months, we run our sessions at Paddington Rec Track in Maida Vale, and The Emirates Stadium concourse in Islington, alternating from week to week. In Summer, we will also run in Green Park.

Our next session will be at Paddington Rec on Thursday 12th January, meeting at Maida Vale underground for 6pm:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-3c41fc0d-e6d5-426a-a2f3-fd9723d1bdbd

And then The Emirates Stadium on Thursday 19th January, meeting at Arsenal underground for 6pm:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-session-44af828e-a2d6-42f3-9fb5-75fb9aa7d946

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January Starter Session 1: Caledonian Park junior parkrun volunteering / Crouch End Open Space

On Sunday 15th January, Area Activator Simon will be leading a weekend group run opportunity between two of our favourite community missions! 3-4 miles of social running between Cally Road and Crouch End.

Task 1: Volunteering at Caledonian Road junior parkrun

Junior parkrun is a 2km free weekly time trial designed to allow youngsters aged 4-14 years old to run independently and safely in a social setting. The team are always looking for course marshals, time keepers, barcode scanners and tail walkers to help out on a Sunday morning!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/january-group-run-starter-session-caledonian-park-junior-parkrun

Task 2: CREOS aka Crouch End Open Space

After our task in Caledonian Park, we will run to Crouch End Open Space to help the local volunteer group (Friends of CREOS) with building and repairing the forest paths between Highgate and Muswell Hill, ready for spring time. The team are known for finishing a volunteering day with a picnic and refreshments in the Hanley Tennis Club Carpark, so worth signing up just for this!

11am - 1pm in Hanley Tennis Club Carpark, Crouch End:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-january-2023

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January Starter Session 2: Highbury Fields junior parkrun / Penn Road Gardens

On Sunday 29th January, Area Activator Simon will be leading another group run between two of our favourite regular weekend tasks. 2 miles of social running between Highbury Fields junior parkrun and Penn Road Gardens.

Task 1: Highbury Fields junior parkrun volunteering

The Highbury Fields junior parkrun team are looking for keen helpers to assist with the running of their free weekly timed 2km run for youngsters and their families. A great way to start a Sunday morning!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/january-group-run-starter-session-highbury-fields-junior-parkrun

Task 2- Penn Road Gardens

The residents of Penn Road Gardens will be hosting their monthly open volunteering morning just off Caledonian Road. The team have been maintaining a beautiful green spot over the winter months, and preparing fresh compost throughout the year ready for Spring. Come on down for a lovely green fingered Sunday morning task!

10am-12pm on Sunday 29th January, Penn Road Gardens.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-january-97bec309-d5d3-40ae-9539-c161ed2c4b05

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Goodgym Islington January Social!

On Monday 30th January, after our group run to Thornhill Square Gardens, we will be visiting Mesi's Kitchen Ethiopian Restaurant for some delicious warming and wholesome food and refreshments. A great opportunity to catch-up and wrap up the January Challenge!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/january-challenge-social-mesi-s-kitchen-holloway-road

7 GoodGymers ran all around Town collecting 30 massive Christmas trees off the street and to recycling depot.

Great to get 2023 up and running (and dragging!!). An energetic session to raise our heart rates and work our all body functional strength!! Carrying Christmas tree after Christmas tree to the recycling depot from as far as a mile away to create a massive tree mound to keep the pavements, communal bins, roads clear and safe.

Massive effort and a lot of fun!!

see you next week for a running fitness session!!