A massive thirty three of us gathered for a brand new task this week: a trip to Sunnyside Community garden up in Archway. Sunnyside is a community-led garden that is open to all, but specialises in therapeutic horticulture for people with physical and mental disabilities.

As well as ten newcomers Samah, John, Dami, Mariam, Chris, Toby, Fedja, David, Jade and Emma we had tourists Kevin from Hackney (soon to be Bristol) and John and Jackie from Camden and a few journalists included in the mix as well!

After a round of applause for Graham for completing 50 good deeds and another for Patrick for completing 150, we travelled up in three separate groups. Simon and Graham led the speedsters, with Patrick and Aidan taking a medium-paced group and John and Ama looking after the philosophers.

Up at the centre we were greeted by Yvonne and Alan, who were delighted to see so many keen faces and tooled us up ready for the evening's work.

We got stuck in for a good half hour. One group tackled shrubbery around the side of the centre with choppers, loppers, secateurs, scissors and all manner of cutting tools with a couple of the team being led back and forth with wheelbarrows by the enthusiastic Alan.

Round the corner muscle-bound volunteers were ripping rotten logs out the ground with their bare hands (and a mattock) while a third group tackled some very stubborn roots.

All this while Mariam & Dami and Chris carried out their interviews. We’ll post links when the video and article are out. Looks like they got some great material from us all.

The really amazing thing was we managed all this without stopping for a biscuit. This is unheard of in Islington (Simon is obviously a bit rusty after being away for a while and had left them back at the pool). Oh well, a good reason to run back quickly.

And it was FOUR groups for the run back. The original fast, medium and philosophers, plus a special “press” group led by Graham after we realised that having people carry back lots of recording equipment with the fast group might be a bit of a struggle.

The fast group worked extra hard with secret surges, the “lunge, skip, run” game (what could that involve?), stair running, hill running and a little obstacle running. Chris was desperate for some core work to offset the aerobic insaneness. Next week, Chris (and everybody will now know who to moan at when our abs are shot to shreds).

Back at the pool just a little bit later than planned we multi-tasked by holding stretches while receiving biscuits: a true test of balance, agility, coordination and greed.

Finally a vote on the evening’s hot topic of debate. Mice: vermin or cute adorable little critters. Definitely a few votes for vermin and a few stories of cats bringing them in in various states of mutilation, but the majority thought they were delightful creatures and just wanted to give them a mouse-sized cuddle. Next week: Are cats complete psychopaths?

A great first task at Sunnyside. We’re heading back there in a few weeks, but in the meantime we have another brand new task next week. We’re visiting West London Mission for some more gardening joy.

Great to be back. See you next week,

Simon

P.S. Should have a few more photos later on.

Wow, an amazing 31 Goodgymers met on a cold February evening to tackle two tasks and run 5km.

Good news all around, well done Jess Cowan for her 1hr 44 Richmond Half Marathon at the weekend and Francis Powrie for heading 50 good deeds!

After an active and well observed warm up we headed to our tasks.

Alara Run Report:

Group 1 led by Paul and backmarked by Frances headed to Alara which is a wholefoods project which makes lovely products, including muesli and granola! They also manage and maintain Kings Cross Orchard Project. Our tasks were simply splitting into three groups and weeding around the various orchards to keep them protected, we filled 10 buckets full of weeds.

Mmmmm Yacon!

Due to our hard work we were very happy to collect a box of Yacon Granola each. Yacon is a species of perennial daisy traditionally grown in the northern and central Andes from Colombia to northern Argentina for its crisp, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots. Alara grows the only Yacon plants in the UK - wow! With our boxes in hand we headed off to meet Becky's group.

Skip Garden Run Report written by Emily Morrissey (first time at GoodGym):

Group 2 led by Becky, and supported by Meredith and Jess headed on a short and steady run to the Skip Garden (which is a community garden with a twist - it's moveable... This sustainable urban garden really is a charming oasis with wild flowers, vegetables and herbs, beehives and chicken coops.)

Wood x Fire = Pizza

We were welcomed, shown around and introduced to all the fantastic work that takes place there. The team was then presented with a huge amount of freshly cut firewood (used for the pizza oven, fire pit and the tipi stove!) which needed moving to a more convenient location. Two groups loaded and pushed the trolleys and one group re-stacked the wood, lasting about 20 minutes.

Progressive Running

After smashing both tasks we met at Granary Square to do some progressive running. Splitting into two groups the aim was to progressively get faster on each corner of the square, this training is regularly used by Kenyan Runners to develop their pacing.

Lucia (LG) Gobbi looked very involved - just look at her face - see photo above.

Just look at that face!

Everyone did 2 laps and 6 more brave soles did a 3rd lap - corrrrrr nice one!

We all jogged back to Somers Town together and had a nice stretch before heading to the pub and/or home.

Next Saturday we are off to Kentish Town City Farm, it's a starter session but everyone is welcome.

In April we are heading to Regents Park 10k - join us!

See you next week.