5 Runners ran 3k to help keep the Children's Garden in good shape.

4 of us met up at Blue House Yard and found we were split into 2 groups. Team 5k Helen and Yann vrs team Ultra Dave and Duncan. Duncan having recently done a proper cross country one!

After some quick dynamic warm ups we then wove our way through the Russell Park and Belmont Rec over to Lordship, where we finished with a single hill sprint. Focusing on Heads, -shoulders,- knees, and toes. Straight spine, high knees, and looking 3 steps ahead.

Once we got to Harmony Gardens, we split into 3 teams. Weeding, Mulching, and the local kids and honorary GoodGymers were on fruit clean up duty.

When I was last in the garden, there was loads of tadpoles in the pond. I was really pleased to see the pond hadn't dried out in the drought, and we managed to find loads of tiny frogs hiding round the edge. He even coaxed one into sitting on his fingernail!

Despite the wildlife breaks, we still managed to smash out all the weeding and remulch the paths, and squeezed in a quick driving elbows drill to improve running efficiency.

Today's group run started in a new location and a new time - 6:30pm in Finsbury Park. And, in fact, run leader Sarah decided there would be no run as it was still 31⁰ and we were in the middle of an amber heat warning ⚠️.

The first excitement came when a fire truck arrived to douse a smouldering tree stump next to where Sarah was waiting.

Gradually, Team GGH filtered in, clutching various homemade and makeshift eclipse-viewing apparatus. Not being of these isles, Sarah asked - "would you say this is Blue Peter?" Paul confirmed that yes, it was very Blue Peter. "Shame there's no badge though". "We could MAKE them!" Sarah suggested.

The park was full of other people, some of whom also had homemade devices. The group gradually moved around the park, chasing the best viewing angles to see the tiny pinhole (or colander) projections as they changed shape and the sky darkened - and was that the wind changing?

Once the eclipse had peaked it was time to make our way to the task - conveniently located close to the park. The aptly named Olive Tree House is a sheltered housing scheme with a garden dominated by a large olive tree.

No tools, no problem!

Unfortunately today's task owner had forgotten to drop off tools at the task - but as the team were already in a mood to improvise nothing could stop us. Utility knives were found, muscles were flexed and before long the bins in the bin store were full and there was a pile of black bags full of weeds and prunings at the side of the garden.

After some quick refreshments, it was time for our team to leave, with a promise to return to do even more.