We were so fortunate to have 18+ VI runners, guides and bag drop / dog watch supporters on Thursday evening at Emirates Stadium. Our crew met up at Arsenal underground station (along with first timers Sean, Ciara, Michaela and Philip- welcome), before heading to the "Tony Adams Statue" for all different group runs (intervals, steady runs before The Big Half, fartlek and run-walks were on the agenda!).

A great turnout for an excellent evening of running.

See you at Paddington Rec Track/ Maida Vale next week!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-3ae77db9-eb1a-4b57-985e-7a8c44cadbff

Great run, M really helps me to keep going so we did just short of 6 miles which is great!

Our Goodgym Islington crew met up again at The Arsenal Community Centre last night to run towards Elizabeth House Food Hub off Gillespie Road for the final time this Summer. The third of three visits from our team over the Summer Holiday period, offering some relief for the incredible group of volunteers who operate this vital resource. We ran together across the Emirates Stadium concourse, and down to Highbury Hill, before meeting up with Nathalie and the team (and David who caught us at the task).

A large collection of bags full of essential supplies and donated food had been prepared for us all to deliver to at least 7 households in the immediate area (plenty of spots on the Blackstock Estate). In pairs, our Goodgym volunteers methodically dropped off each bag to their respective owners.

Upon our return, we then helped with closing down the centre- collapsing tables, cleaning and sanitising all surfaces and sweeping the community centre floors. Any excess food was then sorted into the kitchen and fresh food storage areas, or collected up for organic waste and composting. But not before being offered to anyone in need of extra peppers, lettuces, courgettes, pears or huge marrows!

We concluded our evening with a steady walk together back to the Arsenal Community Hub. Excellent work everyone! We will return for a Special Bank Holiday group run to Highbury Quadrant next week!

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Goodgym Islington News

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Caledonian Park Junior parkrun - Summer Time Marshal Help!

The team at Caledonian Road Junior parkrun (a free weekly timed 2km run designed for youngsters and families to run safely and independently - ages 4-14) are in need of more marshals and volunteers to allow the event to happen. Many of the core helpers are away for Summer, so any assistance would be hugely appreciated. It's the best way to start a Sunday!

Sunday 27th August, 8.45am:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-summer-holiday-help-4

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Goodgym x Jog On Recycling Clothes Swap and Group Run @ The Running Works

Wednesday 23rd August, 6pm, The Running Works, Aldgate

Come join us for a social group run with Goodgym and The Running Works, in collaboration with Jog On and Athletic Brewing Company! We will be hosting a clothes swap and donation drive for running and athletics kit as well. A great night to be had! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-x-jog-on-recycling-clothes-swap-and-group-run-the-running-works

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Achilles International- Guide Running in Green Park and Picnic!

Thursday 24th August, 6pm, Green Park Underground Station

Goodgym have been collaborating with Achilles International for the last 3 years for our weekly group run sessions with visually impaired runners. On Thursday, we will be marking the end of our summer runs in Green Park with a post-run picnic before reverting back to our sessions at Paddington Rec Track and Emirates Stadium.

Come and join us, no matter your guiding abilities! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-green-park-summer-session-ad1207bd-6b6b-43ce-b86d-7f88f44fc894

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Penn Road Gardens Open Volunteer Morning

Sunday 27th August, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens, Islington

Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road. Local volunteers will be on hand to direct anyone who arrives to offer their help between 10am- midday. Come on down to enjoy a lovely morning community task! https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-august-957f8dd9-aa82-4c3d-bae8-7aeb15bc3798

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Bank Holiday Monday Group RUN- Highbury Quadrant Gardens

Monday 28th August, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub

Back at Highbury Quadrant to build up this lovely community garden space with Octopus Community Network. Please note that although we are meeting at the Arsenal Community Hub, we will not have access to the bag drop or WC facilities this week. Back to normal next week!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-highbury-quadrant-gardening-good-times

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SEPTEMBER SOCIAL- Medal Monday at Victoria Tavern, Holloway Road

Monday 4th September, 8.45pm, Victoria Tavern, Holloway Road

Come and join us for delicious £7 pizzas and refreshments at The Victoria Tavern, to celebrate our achievements over Summer (especially to those racing at The Big Half!)

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/september-social-medal-monday-at-victoria-tavern

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THE BIG LONDON SOCIAL!

GoodGym London Monthly Social (GG Camden), Thursday 14th September, TBC

The first (of hopefully many) monthly drinks in London. Come and meet other GoodGymers and toast each others achievements. We'll be celebrating those on the Heroes Board from August and maybe even deciding which recent puns are worthy of accolade. The venue is TBC but will be somewhere fairly central with good transport links.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-london-monthly-social

Area Activator Simon caught up with 4 other Goodgym runners at the Arsenal Community Hub last night, prepped and prepared for a group run over to The ARC Centre and Canalside Gardens near De Beauvoir and Packington Estate. After a short warm up, we ran together past Highbury and Islington station, Compton Terrace Gardens, Canonbury Square (all previous Goodgym Islington tasks!) and down to St Paul's Street.

Frannie, the main coordinator for Octopus Community Network had already set up some tasks for Kim and Victoria, who had arrived earlier. Between us, our project was to:

• Soak all of the tree trunks around Canalside Gardens using a hosepipe, to ensure that moisture permeates through to the roots.
• Wheelbarrow as many bags of compost and mulch as possible from the glorious Riverside Gardens (next to Regent's Canal) up to Canalside Gardens.
• Spread the mulch around the plant beds and in proximity to the tree trunks to enrich the soil where necessary. Hoes and spades to be used!

Between the 8 Goodgym volunteers, we successfully prepped all of the trees ready for the possible heatwave next week! It was incredible to see such a transformation over the course of 45 minutes. Luke wheeled up the hosepipe at the end of the evening, and the rest of our team assisted with guiding the hose back the reel without any kinks or twists.

Another successful group run, concluded with a pleasant trip back to Emirates Stadium via Highbury Fields on foot. Great job everyone!

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Goodgym Islington News

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Extra Goodgym Islington Wednesday Task! The ARC Centre and Canalside Gardens

Wednesday 16th August, 6pm - 8pm, The ARC Centre.

Come and help Frannie from Octopus Community Network with some great green maintenance and tree care.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/wednesday-evening-extra-canalside-gardens-near-the-arc-centre

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Caledonian Park Junior parkrun - Summer Time Marshal Help!

The team at Caledonian Road Junior parkrun (a free weekly timed 2km run designed for youngsters and families to run safely and independently - ages 4-14) are in need of more marshals and volunteers to allow the event to happen. Many of the core helpers are away for Summer, so any assistance would be hugely appreciated. It's the best way to start a Sunday!

Sunday 13th August, 8.45am:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-summer-holiday-help-2

Sunday 20th August, 8.45am:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-summer-holiday-help-3

Sunday 27th August, 8.45am:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-summer-holiday-help-4

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Weekday Community Mission- Housing21 Aftercare and Retirement Home Gardening, Mildmay

Wednesday 16th August, 11am-2pm (flexible with times)

We had a referral through Goodgym Islington from the team at Mildmays and Housing21 regarding an ambitious gardening project for their residents. The community gardening spaces are in need of some attention for anyone who would be up for some digging, lifting and shifting! Super satisfying task!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/weekday-garden-fix-up-at-mildmays-housing21

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Goodgym x Jog On Recycling Clothes Swap and Group Run @ The Running Works

Wednesday 23rd August, 6pm, The Running Works, Aldgate

Come join us for a social group run with Goodgym and The Running Works, in collaboration with Jog On and Athletic Brewing Company! We will be hosting a clothes swap and donation drive for running and athletics kit as well. A great night to be had! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-x-jog-on-recycling-clothes-swap-and-group-run-the-running-works

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Penn Road Gardens Open Volunteer Morning

Sunday 27th August, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens, Islington

Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.

Local volunteers will be on hand to direct anyone who arrives to offer their help between 10am- midday. Come on down to enjoy a lovely morning community task!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-august-957f8dd9-aa82-4c3d-bae8-7aeb15bc3798

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September Social- Medal Monday at The Victoria Tavern, Holloway Road

Monday 4th September, 8.45pm, The Victoria Tavern, Holloway Road

As Summer is closing in, we thought we would take the opportunity to celebrate the running or exercise achievements we have completed during this time, especially with The Big Half over the weekend.

Come and join us for £7 pizza and refreshments after our group run to The Rose Bowl Youth Club, and bring the running medals you are most proud of!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/september-social-medal-monday-at-victoria-tavern

On a grey and slightly moody Monday evening, 8 Goodgym Islington Runners joined Area Activator Simon for an excellent group run to Elizabeth House Food Hub on Hurlock Street, Arsenal. Before setting off, we enjoyed a discussion about who was going to see the new blockbuster films, Barbie or Oppenheimer (or possibly both, but probably on different days...). We engaged on an active and dynamic warm up around the concourse of the Emirates Stadium (dodging skateboarder, tiny dogs and CrossFitters on route), and then ran up Highbury Hill and through the original Arsenal estate (a housing complex that still uses a lot of the original aesthetics of the stadium in its design). Local volunteer coordinator Roshni was on hand to welcome us all at Elizabeth House Food Hub.

Our objective for the evening was to deliver approximately 6-8 households worth of food and essential supplies to our Islington neighbours, all donated and allocated by businesses and supermarkets in the area. Many of the recipients are not physically able to pick these up in person (during the Summer holidays, or otherwise), so our contribution can make a huge difference!

As we completed the final deliveries of the day for the food hub team, our Goodgymmers assisted with the close down process as well. This involved cleaning, sanitising and wiping down all of the work surfaces at the centre, and putting away all of the chairs and tables ready for tomorrow. Luke and Patrick also helped with adding some of the over-ripe mangoes, nectarines and courgettes into a specific compost bin at the back of the hub. John, Louise and Michelle gave the whole hall a really solid sweep up to close out the night. We were also encouraged to take home as many nectarines and mangoes as possible, to limit any further food waste where possible!

As we made our way out of Elizabeth House, we spotted a free community outdoor gym, and decided to test it out for the benefit of "Move the Masses", an interactive map for fitness classes and equipment across the country. Expect a new submission very soon! A long climb up Highbury Hill to complete our workout before a steady slope back to Arsenal Stadium and to the community hub to complete a great group run. Well done everyone!

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Goodgym Islington News!

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Dartford Orienteers- Parkrace Series- Wick Woodland

Tuesday 25th July, 6.30-8.30pm, Lord Napier Star Pub, Hackney Wick

The London orienteering community have been setting up some really great events in different boroughs of the city- "localised" social challenges that are particularly good for new starters over summer. The series is concluding with a final event in Hackney Wick, and you are very welcome to give it a go!

Sign up in advance using the link below for either a long course (5km total distance for a perfect line) or a short course (2.5km), and a rental for a chip card for recording your times.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/x

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Penn Road Gardens Open Morning (July)

Sunday 30th July, 10am-12 midday, Penn Road Gardens

An invitation to help this lovely community garden space near Caledonian Road over Summer. Often complimented with mugs of tea and coffee!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-july

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Orion Harriers Forest Five Summer Series: Race 3

Saturday 5th August, 10:00am - 12:00pm, Orion Harriers Club House, Chingford Come and join the Orion Harriers for this awesome and affordable trail race (concluding the Summer series in Epping Forest). 5 miles through fields and greenery (and friendly wildlife)- highly recommended!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/orion-harriers-forest-five-summer-series-race-3

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GROUP RUN- Elizabeth House Food Hub Helpers- and 4 years of AA Simon

Monday 7th August, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub

On Monday evening, we will be helping with deliveries to families and isolated individuals around the Islington borough for Elizabeth House- a super busy hub near Gillespie Road. https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-elizabeth-house-food-hub-summer-holiday-helpers-2

And afterwards we will be celebrating Area Activator Simon's 4 year anniversary as the leader for Goodgym Islington, with a trip to Someday Canteen in Finsbury Park.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/post-group-run-social-august-someday-bar-finsbury-park-4-years-of-area-activator-simon

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GROUP RUN: Goodgym x The Running Works - Marvellous Morph Map!

Saturday 12th August, 5.30pm, The Running Works, Aldgate

A social run starting and ending at London's largest independent running shop, passing as many "Morphs" as possible! Aldgate Connect has set up a local art collection, featuring over 70 sculptures of the famous Aardman character, and we are planning on visiting as many as we can!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-x-the-running-works-marvellous-morph-map

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Goodgym x Jog On Recycling Clothes Swap and Group Run @ The Running Works

Saturday 23rd August, 6pm, The Running Works, Aldgate

Come join us for a social group run with Goodgym and The Running Works, in collaboration with Jog On and Athletic Brewing Company! We will be hosting a clothes swap and donation drive for running and athletics kit as well. A great night to be had! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-x-jog-on-recycling-clothes-swap-and-group-run-the-running-works