Goodgym Islington returns one of our favourite regular task locations at Elizabeth House Food Hub tonight. This wonderful food bank project has been connected with Goodgym since the early pandemic months, and we are so happy to keep lending a hand with this busy volunteer team!

Area Activator Simon met Victoria at the Arsenal Community Hub before heading towards Highbury Hill, and down towards Elizabeth House Food Hub. Lots of running and traveling adventures over the weekend- great to catch up! Upon our arrival, we met with the lovely team, who had set out 7 grocery delivery locations for the event. Elizabeth House operates as a supermarket for donated food for local residents in the borough- hundreds of families and isolated people have used their services over the years. Half term holidays tend to be a particularly tough time for families to visit the food hub, so our Goodgym crew have agreed to deliver these essential parcels on foot!

Victoria, Simon and Robin successfully delivered at least 15 full bags of shopping between Hurlock, Twyford and Elwood House estates throughout the evening. We also assisted with closing down the food hub for the evening, by cleaning down and packing up portable tables, ready for tomorrow.

Great job everyone! Next week, we return to The Museum of Homelessness in Manor House for another excellent evening of path building:

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-arbor-projects-finsbury-park

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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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GG Race Team- Met League Hill Training Sessions!

Thursday 26th October, 6.30pm, The Pembroke Castle, Camden

Goodgym Cross Country is back! We will be returning to the Met League in 2023 and 2024!

If you have never tried cross country, it is amazing muddy fun. A definite challenge, but accessible to all who want to give it a go, and are part of a UKA affiliated team (lim Race Team).

To coincide with the events, Area Activator Simon Fitzmaurice (who is a UK Athletics Coach in Running Fitness or CiRF for short) will be hosting a series of hill interval training sessions at Primrose Hill over the Autumn and Winter months.

The Pembroke Castle, 150 Gloucester Ave., London NW1 8JA, and we will run to Primrose Hill together to start our session.

October 26th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-october

November 24th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-november

January 5th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-january

January 26th (aka February fixture session) https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-february

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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions- Emirates Stadium

Thursday 26th October, 6pm, Arsenal Underground station

Every Thursday, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location. This week, we will be meeting up at Arsenal tube station, ready to run around the Emirates Stadium concourse. Open to runners and guides of all abilities! Follow the link to find out more:

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-b89d4839-f54e-42ed-9bfe-46557e6685e9

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Penn Road Gardens- Open Gardens Volunteer Morning (October)

Sunday 29th October, 10am-12 midday, Penn Road Gardens

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!

Follow this link for more info: https://www.pennroadn7.com/the-gardens

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-october-431b9eba-2d5d-4eb5-ac6a-8b794dc13de3

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Ghoulgym Halloween Headtorch Run (Hampstead!)

Tuesday 31st October, 6.30pm, The Bull and Gate, Kentish Town

Fancy an evening of spooky running in North London?

Area Activator Simon will be leading an approximate 10km run through Hampstead Heath, starting and finishing at the Bull and Gate pub in Kentish Town. Running in the darkness of night is a wonderful experience, and really good fun with running friends.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/ghoulgym-halloween-headtorch-run-hampstead-0bf38d65-a437-41e1-97f6-039755a8a1d4

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The Green Classroom Morning Gardening Sessions

Wednesday 1st November, 10am - midday, Newington Green

An open invitation to attend a wonderful gardening session hosted by Lizzy and Decibel of The Green Classroom, a wild cultivation space in Newington Green.

Sessions are available on the following dates:

Wednesday 1st November https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-volunteer-morning-39033162-54b7-4115-bb38-aa4a66b999da

Wednesday 8th November https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-volunteer-morning-dd4a2a57-faca-4d7e-a0f4-623f517a832d

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Queen's Park Harriers Liddiard Cup Cross Country (75th Anniversary)

Saturday 4th November, 1:00pm - 5:00pm, Kingsbury Free Church (Baptist), NW9

Classic muddy running fun in Fryent Country Park!

Queens Park Harriers invites clubs to compete in the annual Liddiard Cross Country Trophy race which will be run under UKA rules.

This will be the 75th running of the event as no events were held in 2020 and 2021 and we hope to see many of the teams who have competed over the years, plus new ones.

There will be a unique, 75th anniversary medal for all competitors.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/queen-s-park-harriers-liddiard-cup-cross-country-75th-anniversary

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Met League Cross Country - Wormwood Scrubs

Saturday 11th November, 12:45pm - 3:45pm, Claybury Park

Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)

Cross Country is for everyone! Wonderful fun- sign up here for more information!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/met-league-cross-country-wormwood-scrubs-de82f7a1-4676-41ea-8d65-e6014ff33989

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After an animal-themed warm-up, nine GoodGymmers ran to the SHP to help them weed and tidy up their front gardens.

With so many volunteers, we were a little short on tools, so Dharmesh fashioned his own broom from leaves and bamboo.

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

It was wonderful to be joined by so many familiar faces and new runners at the Arsenal Community Hub last night- a lovely dry Summer's evening for visiting the Elizabeth House Food Hub. As an introduction, we asked each other what their preferred "frozen iced treat" would be for the upcoming heat wave- top options included:

• Classic Solero (ice cream and passion fruit)- I remember those
• FAB
• Rocket lolly
• A discontinued US popsicle that sounded awesome
• Anything chocolately and in a waffle cone

We were happy to celebrate the 4 year anniversary of Area Activator Simon Fitzmaurice, who has absolutely loved setting up tasks and hosting runs over the years!

Here was Simon's first run report as the replacement for Goodgym legend Paul Bown in 2019:

https://www.goodgym.org/reports/back-to-the-cax-feeling-saw-after-the-gg-olympics

We performed a series of warm up drills together up the Emirates slopes, before setting off as a run-walk towards Elizabeth House Food Hub- a busy and super efficient supermarket style enterprise that provides essentials for families and isolated individuals in the immediate area. We met with Roshni at the main access door for cycle pick-ups and vehicle deliveries, and found a collection of about 9 large parcels of shopping, ready to be dropped off around the Blackstock Estate. In pairs, our crew contacted each household before making short work of these deliveries.

Elizabeth House Food Hub starts to wind down its operations at about 7.30pm onwards, so we all pitched in to get the place ready for more food bank work tomorrow. Ritchie grabbed a broom and got stuck in with sweeping up the hall, and Anne dismantled loads of folding tables. Paul, Adam and Ramona took it in turns to ferry any leftover produce back to the kitchen, while Erayna and Victoria disposed of any overly fresh food in a specific food waste recycling bin outside.

As we finished up our task for the evening, we were invited to bring home any produce that would otherwise go to waste. Between us, we found inventive ways to carry back spring onions, courgettes, bananas, lettuce and oat milk!

Due to the extra weight being carried, we decided to walk back to the Emirates (through the lovely former Arsenal grounds estate off Gillespie Road), followed by a trip to Someday Canteen in Finsbury Park for some celebratory pizza and refreshments. Well done everyone!

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Goodgym Islington News

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Thornhill Square Gardens - Saturday Session!

Saturday 12th August, Thornhill Square Gardens, Islington.

Come and join the lovely crew of resident gardeners at Thornhill Square Gardens! Expect a fun morning of wheelbarrowing, digging, planting and pruning alongside Anna and the team! Super friendly, and always welcomed.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/thornhill-square-gardens-saturday-session-ec747cbb-a157-401d-b00f-2b35b7fd43fb

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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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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