11 runners ran 7km to help promote new public garden.

We started the night off chatting about the shindig in July. A fantastic weekend away and an annual opportunity for Goodgymers feedback on how goodgym has been for them and help shape how it grows over the next 12month through workshops and discussions. (Runners check out your email if you want to know more).

After the intro speech we headed outside to do a proper warmup as it was another chilly night.

This week we were running to help out Nubian Life. They wanted help generating awareness in the local area for the natural remedy garden they are going to build and open to the public. To promote this idea they are hosting a free natural hand lotion making workshop that would also double as a consultation with local people. This will enabling them to find out what the community wants and needs to grown in the garden.

To cover nearby houses we spilt the 11 runners into three teams, armed them with a map, highlighters and flyers for the workshop, plus Goodgym ones too. Meeting back at the day centre 20mins later we had covers all of White city Estate and flats down Bloemfontein Road. It’s amazing the amount we can get done in that time.

After that we dropped off the surplus flyers and highlighted maps then headed over to Shepherds Bush Green to do some running gear practice. This exercise helps us get familiar with the different speeds we can run at - learning what it feels like going from a jog all the way up to a sprint. One lap around the green was enough to tire everyone’s legs out, so then we headed back to base in gear three.

After a warm down we went to have well earned belated Shrove Tuesday pancakes and have our February social.

Yellow weather warning

Despite the mad weather, a very brave troop of 10 GGers assembled for a mammoth gardening task at Nubian day care centre .

After a much needed warm up, we headed north; dodging the super-sized raindrops on route.

A warm welcome

Jazz welcomed us into the warm at the other end and told about some of the amazing and diverse things the charity provides and does for the African-Caribbean older residents in the area.

"blimey, that's a big weed"

The gang then set to work taming all the overgrown bushes, weeding the pavements and flower pots. The latter was a especially important as the day residents were going to be taught to mix their own herbal teas from the herbs in the garden.

Becca helped guide us on what was a weed and what wasn't - pulling out one weed the size of a small tree! Victory photo above for scale. Give her a cheer.

A just reward

The sun shone on our way home as we went via Ravenscourt Park. Incidentally, this is meeting point on this Saturday for H&F's monthly social. Do come along - details here.

Happy running,
PSB out.