A spritely bunch of GoodGymmers gathered at the Print House, where we welcomed Paige back for her 2nd run and Nick for his first ever group run with GoodGym Newham. We were honoured to be his task of choice to celebrate his 500th good deed, particularly as Nick is not so often spotted running with GoodGym groups, having mostly worked his way to such a substantial number through various missions to help older isolated people. Shopping for example – he now knows the Waitrose at the Brunswick Centre like the back of his hand. Anyway, very well done Nick!

On to tonight’s Random Weekly Question: “If you won AU$20,000 worth of travel vouchers in a raffle, where would you go?” South East Asia seems pretty popular, with Paul expressing an interest in going to Thailand and just staying there for a year. Paige and Rosa were quite similarly inclined, but with a bit more travelling in the region and maybe over to Australasia. Graham wants to go to Japan and Nick would like to see more of South America. I’d love to do the Trans-Siberian Railway, but maybe not right now… Later on the run Eugene told me he’d like to go to Tanzania, and then work his way down to South Africa. All sound great – we just need to find a half marathon in one of those places and away we go!

Then we were off down the Greenway (sadly now with diversion in place ☹) to Plaistow Primary School where we were met by Deputy Head Rosie. Two main tasks to get on with (some compost turning will have to wait for another time) – to move a pile of mud from one place to another place, and to weed some of the beds that the children have been using to grow veg. Eugene, Rosa, Graham, Nick and Paul got on with the former – the mud pile was used for play by the children, but it had been there for a while and now they need some fresh mud to play in (or something like that). It was a lot, as the pictures show! Paige and I cleared out quite a few of the beds so that they’ll be ready for planting again and it was great to hear that the kids do actually like eating what they’ve grown. Rosie, of course, did a bit of both tasks and supervised.

We pottered back to the Print House for a celebratory OJ and lemonade, well done everyone! Hope to see you at next week’s task, where we'll be heading up to Hackney Marshes Adventure Playground, or if any of you fancy a parkrun on Saturday, I’ll be at Mile End.

Hilary led tonights and after weekly briefing it was random weekly question time we are truly global group...Canada,Spain,Netherlands,Australia,England and Wales....sorry to those I missed. We headed along the greenway,lots of cyclists and runners out tonight. Hilary took the lead with Kevin and I making sure nobody was left behind. Richard and Bernadette who are part of the Bart volunteers coordination team met us and let us know the task for the evening. We split into two teams and headed to the two of the hospitals tranquility gardens which needed weeding,dead plants removing,shrubs cutting back and sweeping up. Time does go so quick when your busy and in no time we had several bags of dead plants and leaves cleared. Some final photos and off we went and of course now its September that sun had disappeared and we headed back down a darker greenway,head torch season is here. Some top quality streches to finish the session before heading inside for quick oj and lemonade to finish of the evening.

Just awaiting confirmation of next weeks task,see website for details later in the week.

The start of a new era at GoodGym Newham with our first group run as a community led group.

Paige joined us for her first group run which was excellently led from the Print House by Hilary following completing her fitness leader training.

We have retained the random weekly question and this week was ' favourite weekend activities ' answers included trip to seaside,city breaks,cinema,brunch,being out in nature and Im sure some you can guess who gave these replies paintball and parkrun.

A gentle evening run to Emmauel Church where we meet Sybil and some of the parish leadership team.

Planting was the job of the evening,some of the plants had seen better days but looked better after a good water and we are sure Sybil will look after them.

As usual refreshments had been provided by the Sybil some fruit and ice lollies.....a welcome cool down before we headed off into the setting sun.

Next week we are heading to Newham Hospital to help tidy their Globe garden

Swansong session yesterday, with a tremendous turnout of some of my favourite people, a lovely conclusion to a job that gave me so much.

It transpired that I've run out of Random Weekly Questions, trying to refrain from a deeper enquiry about change or anything of the tear-jerking variety, hence I was blank; so we rolled a positive and somewhat sentimental question: "Favourite GoodGym organisation ?" Turns out there were loads, no clear winner, an indication of how broad our church is and how many remarkable local projects there are.

I then proceeded to say a few words, delving into what GoodGym has given me. For those who know me know that discussing and interrogating my emotions isn't what I consider a night out, I'm a huge advocate for the dated practice of bottling things up, but the occasion was worthy.

To reiterate what I may have mumbled, I'm mostly grateful for the lifelong friendships, enforced by the experiences of volunteering, running, British weather, travelling, racing and drinking. With a special nod to a lovely couple, whose relationship was forged by a series of Wednesday evening connections. Proud, for the impact we have had on the locality, the number of messages I get saying "how amazing your volunteers are". Equally, proud for the transformational change many of you have undergone through running. Loss, because I will miss you all. But I always end with this positive feeling; I think because it's now left in a very capable set of hands; arise Task Force.

Amongst this milestone, we did actually do some good yesterday, in the form of my least favourite task, flyering. The morale was high, so it was hit easily absorbed. With the return of some long-serving sisters, Mel and Ruth (and later Charlotte), it felt like 2019 again, what a treat to see you, appreciate the effort to come. With big numbers comes big effect, and we managed to get our flyering done in no time, leaving many moments to loiter and talk curb-side.

With the realisation I can't summarise nor do justice to my thoughts on my tenure, I'll wrap this up now. But not after a huge thanks to my lovely photo-book compilation.

It's not bye, but see you later.

Till next time,

B

The Fitness Session; some love it, some reluctantly oblige and some detest it, but we all get a physiological boost, and a dose of endorphines not found on an easy social jog, you got to earn that buzz baby.

We booted off proceedings with an ice breaker in the form "shite inventions?" inspired by a wifi secure tap I came across, what in the thames-water-tech-hell is that about? Non-waterproof plasters, command strips, hotel chocolates, hotel towels, hotel mini-mugs, wide section bike racks, two-tier bike racks and the plethora of iphone chargers.

We jogged down to the little park, or Three Mills Park, as Rosa corrected me, where we were to explore multiple running paces in the sticky evening air. 8 laps, about ninety second recovery after each - and an objective to only get faster. With a 4 rep practise, then an elimination for the second half to put some skin in the game.

Early reps nice and comfy, got a bit punchy by rep 2/3, before tapping back into a more reserved flow, and then cranking up the heat on the final 3. A great session that lends itself to a fast last lap, exactly where our man Euge muscled past me with tremendous power, where everyone dug in and nailed the finish. And a hats off to the Princes who kept the circuits alive energetically in the rest period.

Next week we head to Cody Dock, as you all know it's my last session, so I look forward to raising a glass to you; for making my job so damn easy, for transforming your neighbourhood and for some quality craic.

Till then,

B