Goodgym Islington returned for our first group run session of 2026, meeting back at the Arsenal Community Hub. A pretty chilly winters evening, but we soon warmed up by running a pleasant 1km over to Highbury Fields with Alice, Emily, Michael and first time Goodgymmer Sami (welcome!).

Together, we arrived outside the Better Highbury Fields swimming baths to find the official recycling point for Christmas trees. Traditionally, it is recommended to remove a festive tree from your home by the 12th day after Christmas (to avoid bad luck), so our task for the evening was to pick up as many trees as possible around the Highbury borough, and to bring them to the drop off point. In doing so, we hope to reduce the extra work and resources required by Islington council workers to recycle these trees.

Within 45 minutes, our two Goodgym teams successfully transported 15 trees safely to the drop off point, while getting a really great workout for the arms! We took a celebratory photo together, with a beautiful "waxing gibbous" moon lighting up in the sky. Well done everyone!

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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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SESSIONS IN JANUARY

Community Mission - Regent's Canal Plogging and River fowl feeding Monday 12th January, 7.15pm, The Arc Centre, Islington

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/community-mission-regent-s-canal-plogging-and-water-fowl-feeding

Group Run - Camden Estate Gardens Monday 19th January, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/group-run-camden-estate-community-food-gardens-xmas-edition-fa8759b6-3426-4a4c-9369-4b2dfac29cff

Community Mission - Thornhill Square Gardens Monday 26th January, 7.15pm, Thornhill Square Gardens

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/community-mission-thornhill-square-gardens-bulb-planting

Group Run - Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens Monday 2nd February, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/group-run-highbury-quadrant-green-space-garden-maintenance-c550b9a7-5238-44bf-9de0-ba87c43d2872

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Goodgym Social & Area Activator Simon’s Last Session

Monday 2nd February, 8.30pm, The Tollington Arms, Islington

After 6.5 years, Area Activator Simon will be hosting his final group run session with Goodgym Islington this evening.

After our group run to Highbury Quadrant Estate, we will be making a trip to the award winning local pub, The Tollington Arms, less than 200m away from our bag drop location on Benwell Road!

As well as offering excellent refreshments, the pub has been well known for offering delicious Thai food with loads of varied dietary and vegan options available!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/aa-simon-s-last-session-the-tollington-arms-arsenal

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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions

Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations

On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.

Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!

JANUARY

Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale underground) Thursday 8th January, 6pm

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-3535fe44-723c-45f2-a53f-b5479917cd00

Stratford Olympic Park (Stratford underground station Westfield exit) Thursday 15th January, 6pm

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-b284e826-c077-4885-aef5-fb92bb0c0d14

Emirates Stadium (Arsenal underground) Thursday 22nd January, 6pm

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-a5cf5cde-57c4-4111-b675-5c975e917f82

Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale underground) Thursday 29th January, 6pm

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-c8f069b7-bd22-4b46-8487-2995ff23d1b6

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Track and Towpath - January Challenge Edition!

Come and join Area Activator and UK Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) Simon for a fun mixed pace training session

Over the month of January, Simon will be hosting a weekly morning running workouts in various parks in the Islington and Tower Hamlets boroughs.

All paces and abilities welcome!

The intention is to build up fitness together towards the Runthrough Victoria Park 10km on Sunday 1st February.

Thursday 8th January 7.50am, Arsenal Community Hub, Emirates Stadium

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-january-challenge-naqi-laps-at-emirates-stadium

Thursday 15th January 7.50am, Poplar Union, Bartlett Park

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-bartlett-park-belters-6bc739c3-0900-472e-bbad-59e72d3f9e24

Thursday 22nd January 7.50am, Common Ground coffee, Finsbury Park

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-january-challenge-finsbury-park-kenyan-hills

Thursday 29th January 7.50am, Mile End Climbing Wall, Meath Gardens

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-january-challenge-meath-gardens-kilometres

Runthrough Victoria Park 10km Event!

Sunday 1st February, 9am, Victoria Park

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-runthrough-victoria-park-10km-february-2026

(Strava group link)

https://strava.app.link/3aQu4W5ISYb

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Caledonian Park junior parkrun- January 2026

Sunday mornings, 8.45am, Caledonian Park

Junior parkrun is a wonderful free weekly timed 2km social running initiative, with events occurring all across the UK (and now the world!).

Children aged from 4-14 years old are allowed to run this safe looped course in Caledonian Park however they like, with the encouragement of friendly marshals, volunteers and parents.

The core team are always on the lookout for:

Course marshals

Barcode scanners

Funnel managers

Course set-up and close down assistance

A tailwalker!

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Upcoming sessions:

Sunday 11th January

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-4b6af461-77e0-4070-8ae6-dba6d75d95f6

Sunday 18th January

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-0e815b09-0ecb-4f02-ba4f-4993b8a2e969

Sunday 25th January

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-e082674b-e559-41cb-bb6c-8face5a8050b

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Maria's Gardens, Isledon Gardens - Shed Building

Sunday 25th January, 11am - 1pm, Maria's Gardens, Islington

We are planning to lend a hand at Maria's Gardens, a Nature Trail between Isledon Gardens and the Sam Morris Nursery Gardens. One of the key objectives for this session is to build a new tool shed for the regular local gardening team.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/community-mission-maria-s-gardens-isledon-gardens-shed-building-fun

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Green Guardians- Whittington Park Sessions

Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions, Whittington Park, Archway

We have six really interesting gardening session happening at Whittington Park. We'll be planting native wild flowers, hedging and bulbs, creating a stumper and planting fruit trees.

These are relaxed friendly sessions where the emphasis is on spending time outside in nature, whilst learning and sharing skills and meeting new people.

The sessions are free and open to all, though under 16's must be with a responsible adult. No experience is needed. We provide tools, gloves, guidance and refreshments.

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Session Dates

1. Tuesday 6th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Orchard tree planting with the Orchard Project (with optional free volunteers lunch at 1pm)

2. Tuesday 13th Jan 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Wildlife hedge planting

3. Tuesday 20th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation

4. Tuesday 27th Jan, 2026, 10am to 12pm ; Loggery habitat creation

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Next session

Tuesday 6th January, 10am - 12 midday:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/green-guardians-whittington-park-community-gardening-6d711904-bb7a-4e18-ae12-41d415b2788a

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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning

Saturday 17th January, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens

The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.

Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sign-up/goodgym-islington-friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-0566d275-414b-4d08-87d9-67d52c161338

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Penn Road Gardens Monthly Open Volunteer Morning

Sunday 25th January, 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/sign-up/penn-road-gardens-open-morning