With bright blue skies and a nice big group of us, we were all set for our monthly trip down to Doddington roof garden last night. We kicked off the night with strides. This exercise is 20 or so seconds of running, growing incrementally faster, and are a great warm-up to help get the blood flowing to your legs and your heart rate elevated. Wee did four sets of these, with some of the group opting to increase the intensity by including a bit of hill - great effort!

We took a nice steady run down to the garden, which is a huge space run entirely by volunteers for the benefit of local people, so there was no time to lose! Malissa met us at the bottom of the stairs, giving us our first job of bringing up some heavy tiles for use in the garden. We then took a whistlestop tour round the space, with tasks being given out as we passed the relevant spot.

There was loads to do, but the main job was getting the raised beds built up with top soil and compost so that vegetables could be grown. There are big plans to increase the produce, which will include carrots, brassica, potatoes, tomatoes and so much more, all to feed the community.

The place was soon a hive of activity, sped along by the discovery of a lightening quick way to crack into compost bags. No more fiddling with trowels and keys trying to break into the sacks!

The beds were filled, cardboard laid, compost shifted, and we even learned about a new planting process called the Milwaukee method. Every time we come we learn more and our fingers get just that little greener!

There was just time to shift that infamous marble table a few inches before we waved goodbye and headed downstairs for a fitness session that focused on glutes. That's right, it was all about that bass last night! We did sets of exercises focused on the major muscle group, which will not only help our form when running but prevent injury. Mixing it up between time based drills and reps, we gave those glutes and good work out.

It was also the monthly quiz last night - well done to our elite quizzing team!

Next week we have an earlier task at lunchtime helping a community association to empty and restock a storage cupboard. Hope to see you there.

We also have a really impactful mission coming up on 11th May to create a therapy garden at a nearby hospital for patients in rehab.You can find all the details and sign up here] (https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/support-a-therapeutic-gardening-initiative-for-the-rehab-ward-courtyard-at-springfield-hospital).

Have a happy week, GoodGym!

We packed so much into such a short amount of time that I'm not sure how we're still standing today! Don't believe me? Read on for a run down on our brilliant Monday night at GoodGym Wandsworth...

First we met and welcomed Chris to his very first session - brilliant to have you join us Chris, and we definitely appreciate your green-fingered expertise!

We said a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jordan, who got given the task of choosing the weekly question after our warm up. As it was Earth Day he went for a plant based one, and we all chose our favourite flower.

Then we had our run up to Paradise Cooperative garden, a beautiful space for local people to grow and for educational programs for children. We divided up into two teams - one to tackle the turning of the compost, and one to saw up wood into pieces that could be used on the bonfire.

There is zero wastage at Paradise, so the wood was going to be used for community bonfires and the compost, which was rich with all sorts of beasties, was destined to be spread on the flower and veg beds.

Jobs done, we then popped over to the common to take on the three minute plank challenge, before racing to a local restaurant to make our reservation for 2 for 1 burgers!

To finish off a very busy but very joyful night we were treated to the most magnificent three layer cake with incredibly special icing courtesy of super baker Catherine, and some squidgely fabulous brownies from Sophie who had also tracked down the burger deal and booked for us. Team work truly does make the dream work!

Next week we're back at Doddington roof garden followed by our monthly pub quiz. See you there. And another very happy birthday to Jordan (and Paul and Catherine for recent celebrations too!).

There was a bit of a party vibe in Wandsworth tonight. What with recent birthdays past and more upcoming, Jordan bringing along loads of plants to get into the ground at the GoodGym garden, Kevin joining us for his first group run and a discussion about our favourite crisp flavours, there was definitely a feeling of celebration in the air!

After a warm up we headed off on the run to the garden. We have been working here for the past few months, gradually turning it from an overgrown and unused plot into a space which will hopefully produce lots of nice things for us to donate to the kids' program at the theatre.

After a couple of wins at our local pub quiz we had some funds to plough back into the garden, and we made the decision to buy some plants. So into the garden tonight went potatoes, courgettes and more seeds to join the rhubarb, tomatoes and fruit trees already in.

Everybody mucked in with the trench digging, watering and sowing and before long the jobs were done. There was just time to pop over to the square to knock out a tabata workout which featured plyometric movements, jumps and power lunges. Great work everybody. We were blown back to base by the growing wind and finished off the night with stretches.

Next week we have a special birthday social after the run, so let us know if you can make it for for 2 for 1 burgers and more fun! We also have a whatsapp group where a lot of the planning happens so if you haven't joined already and would like to then drop me a message and I'll send you a link.

If you're planning on heading to the marathon on Sunday GoodGym has a cheer squad that could always do with some extra energy! Next week we'll be at Paradise cooperative garden followed by our social. Hope to see you there!

On a very sunny Saturday five goodgymers met at a community garden to help out. There were plenty of jobs to do. Some, such as planting strawberries and weeding, were more fragrant than others, such as turning over the compost (and discovering more worms than we’d ever seen before!) but they all made a big difference for a much loved local space. A big welcome to Leanne, Kevin, Carmelina and Phil, all of whom came to their very first session. Great to have you along and hope to see you again soon - hopefully for a less wormy task!