3 Month Streak
0 Month Streak
1 Month Streak
Mon 18th Nov at 6:30pm
Wandsworth Report written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
It takes a special kind of people to make it out in the freezing rain on a dark Monday night to rake leaves and chop wood. Luckily GGers are made of tough stuff, and a group of 14 of the toughest were not put off by the conditions last night.
Special kudos goes to Stephen and to Veronica who came along to their first GoodGym session - give them a huge welcome! We also cheered Paul and Dylan for smashing the Fulham 10km this weekend. Amazing stuff.
We kicked off with a much needed warm up, discussing the upcoming missions such as this amazing one to sort donated coats for Wrap Up London on Thursday in Morden. There is also a great session helping make the nature reserve in Streatham more accessible on Saturday. Lots of fun stuff to choose from! We also debated the most important issue of the hour - what is the best condiment. It turns about we are passionate about our favourites, from mayonnaises including truffle and garlic, various mustards, olive oil and BBQ - and in a shock twist no one went for ketchup!
There was no time to waste before setting off in the increasingly heavy rain for Paradise community garden. Through the puddles we splashed, arriving not long after to meet even more GGers.
We divided up into two teams; one to take on the challenge of clearing the leaves that were clogging the pathways and transport them to be turned into mulch, the other to chop the wood into manageable sizes.
The leafers got busy, fueled by Steve and Dylan's kind contribution of sweeties, while the axers were contemplating the best method of effectively breaking down the wood. Ali and Pritesh copied what they'd seen in the films to great success, while Beth guided using her recent impressive axe throwing prowess!
It soon got too damp to continue, but we'd made a big dent in the jobs, so all that was left to do was vote on fitness (no surprise on which way it went) and then head off back into the night for warm cups of tea and hot showers.
Well done everybody! Next week you'll be in the super capable hands of our newest run leader Catherine, who will be taking you to help out at Waste Not Want Not for a warm inside task!
Mon 16th Sep at 6:30pm
Wandsworth Report written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
We piled the posh poo perfectly at Paradise plus some post project PE!
If you think it's hard getting your mouth round that tongue twister you should have seen the challenge we took on last night during our Monday session! Yes, the puns were well and truly flying as we shoveled our way through a mountain of horse poo which had been kindly donated by the posh horses at Richmond riding school.
It was a pleasure to be back at Paradise Cooperative after a little time away. The positivity began early as we met to do our warm up and discuss all the nice things we had done over the weekend. From trips to the dump, football with family, fleabag binging and STP it sounds like everybody made the most of it.
It was a glorious evening for a run which was topped off with a minor miracle. For the first week ever we cracked the code for the gate and the shed first time!
This meant we could get straight on with the mane task at hand. With one team making sure the barrows were filled in a strong and stable manner, it was up to the group to giddy it all up into the compost bins. While we worked we covered lots of conversation points, including the fact that yesterday marked 100 days until it's a very mare-y Christmas! Thanks for all the punspiration team, and especially to Annabel and Sophie for this run report title.
After the task we ran over to Wandsworth common to make the most of the last of the light and knock out a quick tabata session. It was fast and furious and covered all our major muscle groups - well done team!
I mentioned a couple of upcoming sessions that might be of interest, including this one tonight handing out food and other resources for rough sleepers in Trafalgar square and also this one on the following Tuesday in Leicester square sorting donations for a refugee centre that could really do with some more help if you're free!
Next Monday in Wandsworth we're going to be helping out at the Scout Hall, hope to see you there!
Mon 16th Sep at 6:30pm
Help support this beautiful community space in Wandsworth
Read moreMon 9th Sep at 6:30pm
Wandsworth Report written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
There was lots to celebrate last night, from Catherine's victory at the Great North Run yesterday to welcoming Ammrs to his very first group run - give him a big cheer!
Unfortunately not everything went quite go to plan, as when we turned up to Battersea Park's lovely therapy garden, our task owner for the evening was nowhere to be seen! However, that did not stop us getting to work. After a quick phone call for the code to the shed we got stuck in to a spot of weeding along the paths.
The garden is used as therapy for adults with a variety of conditions such as autism, physical disability, mental ill health and learning difficulties. It also offers various programs such as vocational training and support to enable unemployed disabled Londoners to overcome their barriers to employment and access job opportunities, and helps stroke survivors improve their mental and physical health by working with horticultural therapists. There are workshops for adults whose mental health means they need an environment designed to minimise stress and anxiety and also women only gardening programs.
It may not have seemed like we had loads of big jobs to do while we were there, but with the garden being used for such impactful activities on a day to day basis, helping keep it weed free and welcoming really does make a difference. And we also got to admire the huge courgette flowers and opium poppies!
After half an hour of work we found a nice spot in the park for our fitness session, which last night focused on upper bodies. Our traps, lats, biceps and triceps all got a thorough workout - and we even got joined by a beautiful dog keen to get involved!
It may feel like Autumn is drawing in, but we've got plenty to keep you warm over the coming months! Why not join me for a plog along the river tonight helping collect polluting litter? Next week in Wandsworth we're going back to Paradise cooperative garden and then on Tuesday we have a great task at Trafalgar Square handing out food and sorting donation for rough sleepers. Hope to see you there!
Mon 9th Sep at 6:30pm
Mon 19th Aug at 6:30pm
Wandsworth Report written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
There was just the slightest sense of seasonal change in the air as we met for our group run last night in Wandsworth. Maybe the back to school feeling was because the summer heat wave seems to be behind us, or perhaps it was because we were heading back to Sacred Heart for the first time in a while for our evening's task.
We started off the session with our usual warm up, and this week we tried to think of movie stars with whom we shared our initials. Among us last night were Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson and Patrick Swayze!
We ran down to the school and had a bit of an adventure trying to find the right entrance. Luckily Jared the Head came to rescue us and explain the jobs for the evening.
There were two main tasks - sanding and undercoating the planters, and dismantling the one that was in a state of disrepair. We split into teams and got started. It didn't take long for us to finish taking off the flaking wood and start getting the paint on. Meanwhile the wreckage team were busy breaking the wooden structure to bits and transporting the wood and its contents across the playground.
Jobs done, we waved goodbye to the school and headed next door to the park to do a mobility and strengthening session. We knocked out lots of different moves aimed at stretching and conditioning our muscles before running back - just in time as the heavens unexpectedly opened! Great job tonight everybody.
Next Monday is a bank holiday - we'll still be having a session but it will be earlier int he day so that you can make the most of your day off! Sign up here for all the details.
On Saturday there will be a community mission to help out at our GG garden with an optional 5km together beforehand - the details of which will be in our whatsapp group so if you haven't been added and would like to be then let me know.
Sun 18th Aug at 10:45am
Hounslow Report written by Anastasia Hancock (she/her)
This past Sunday saw teams compete in the inaugural GoodGym Scavenger Race. GoodGymers raced miles (some more than others) across West London to find all the clues that would lead them to the final location and GoodGym glory!
We started off by meeting at a park in Hammersmith to form teams, and at 11am it was time for the off. The instruction sheets had been handed out, so with everyone ripping open their envelopes, the different strategies emerged. Some teams were straight out of the blocks to the first location, while others took a more methodical approach, plotting all the points out on a map first. There may have been some teams who didn't quite get round the reading the whole document first...which may explain the varying distances run between all the groups!
Clues included blue plaques, chalk letters hidden under benches, statues of local heroes, colourful doors - and even a mellow yellow mystery man by a bridge giving out clues....
Special shout outs go to Steph and Paul for the cracking photos (and for showing us all how races should be done by stopping for a pint half way through!), to Michelle and Dave for covering an epic distance, to Remy and Chris for doing it all with a four legged friend, to Dylan for turning the race into an international competition with his friend, to Tish and Lucy for beating the organisers back to the final location, and finally to Catherine, Jonny and John for winning the event outright!
We finished off with a prize giving, drinks and food at a beautiful spot by the river. Thanks for all the fun and enthusiasm everyone. Apologies to those who covered more miles than they anticipated! Same time next year?
Tue 20th Aug at 3:38pm
I'll put it in my diary...
Tue 20th Aug at 4:31pm
Yes please! Team Gun(ners) and losers have to redeem ourselves somehow
Tue 20th Aug at 10:46pm
We stopped for half a pint to match our team name 🍻. Great event and ready for the next one please.
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