The Deed-y Dozen

Despite Trainer Sarah being off-duty tonight, plenty of sore legs after The Big Half on Sunday, and being blessed with some decidedly English weather; I was chuffed to see 11 of you out tonight for a slightly longer run to help the Marsha Phoenix Memorial Trust over near Hilly Fields.

This included Antonin on his first GG run, and Mathis on his second. We also had some tourists over from Lewisham and Wandsworth. Welcome everyone, thanks for coming out!

After stowing our stuff securely, and a quick warm-up on the immaculate (but wet) grass of the University, we set-off the 3km or so to Brockley. With as many crossings as we had to pass, it was pretty straightforward staying all together, despite the dark and rain.

Comed-deed

At the charity, task-owner Lorraine was able to tell us a bit about the work they do there, and why fundraising is so important to them. Marsha Phoenix Memorial Trust is a supported housing project, which provides hostel accommodation for young women. Their mission is to give young women a secure base from which to develop self-respect, independence, and purpose.

They’ll be hosting a comedy show this month to raise funds for the centre.

'The Scummy Mummies'

On our return trip heading back into Greenwich we split-up and distributed the flyers around any houses or businesses where it looked like the people inside might need a laugh. Amongst those on the bill at the gig will be Arielle Souma, Susie Steed, Cressida Wetton, Sisika, Jenan Younis, Esther Austin and The Scummy Mummies.

Those of us that hadn’t peeled-off on the way back had a thorough stretch on the colonnade before heading off home. Don’t forget, if you fancy it or know someone who may, the gig is next Friday the 13th at the Rivoli Ballroom in Crofton Park.

Before we go, a few news bits I didn’t want to trouble you with out in the cold…

Check yourself before you Rec yourself

Last Thursday some of the GG Greenwich team went over to Paddington Rec in Maida Vale to see Achilles International. We were helping some of their visually impaired runners get some distance in around the open-access running track there. It’s totally straightforward to do, and they’re a proper fun bunch so sign-up here for when it happens again this month.

Also at Paddington Rec this Sunday we’ll be volunteering at the Junior ParkRun. If you’ve never tried it before it’s well cute of course, and a far better spectator sport than seeing adults race.

3 x 1/2 marathons = ?

Sunday gone was The Big Half race, London’s biggest Half-marathon. As one of the host boroughs GoodGym Greenwich are usually at the top of the list for £10 places, so keep your ear to the ground if you fancy it next time around.

London’s second biggest half-marathon, Hackney Half is on 17th May. GoodGym will be operating several aid stations along the route. Sign-up here to be involved, it’s always a good laugh and you’ll get a free bib for a subsequent VirginSport race for your trouble, as well as other loot.

GoodGym are also providing volunteers for adidas City Runs: 1 Hour on 5th April. This time the task is bag check, and the incentive is a free bib for a subsequent City Runs event, including for the FIRST EVER Islington Half-Marathon in November!!! What a time to be alive…

Thanks for spreading the GG word Mathis , Pieter and Stephen for photos and help co-ordinating, and Alex and Steve for helping lead from the other end. ;-)

You’ve another visitor next week, Nicky from over in Lambeth will be leading you down to Christchurch School for some gardening. Sign-up here for that one.

Thanks so much and see you again soon I hope!

Danny

17 awesome runners ran to help move bricks at Ballast Quay Garden!

We had 4 new runners join us yesterday, all from AMOS sport business school and all from France! Welcome guys! Or should I say, BIENVENUE! J'espère que vous vous êtes bien amusé!

After a quick warm up and drills we set off on our little run to the garden. Diane was inside on the phone to Sainsbury's who had failed to deliver her groceries but seeing our eager faces cheered her right up!

Our main task for the evening was to move the pile of bricks from the corner of the garden to the back where they will be used to build a little wall eventually.

It was decided that a chain gang would be the most efficient way to move said bricks so everyone formed one long line and began to pass the bricks from one pair of hands to the next. Arguably the most important job was at the end of the chain where Andy and Pieter would re-stack the bricks in an equally neat pile... no pressure!

After just 5 minutes, the fun levels were soaring. "Are we nearly done yet?" and "how many bricks are left?" were a great indication to how much you were all loving life! It was going to be a longer evening than I thought.......

Anyway we were chipping away at the pile slowly but surely. The further down the pile we got, the more bugs each one had on it. We carefully re-homed a few families of woodlice plus a couple of spiders too, now they can enjoy the lovely London view :)

After half an hour, the 10 brick countdown began, and before we knew it, we were done!!!! SUCCESS. No weak links in this chain.. not even Natalie, former Weakest Link contestant.

We took a photo by our new tower/stack and headed to the boat for a few leg exercises. Some step ups, squat jumps and single leg squats to get those glutes and quads burning was just what we needed on such a cold drizzly evening. But with the Cutty Sark looking so wonderful in the background you can't help but smile.

Message from Diane

I received this email from Diane this morning... "Sarah, thank you so much for the brick ziggurat now in the garden. It is so beautiful, I may not build the wall the bricks were supposed to be for. I'll just put a plaque on it 'Good Runners Feb 2020'. I'm so sorry I was not about much. Sainsbury's got the better of me. The big guns always win. Please come again, you transform my garden. Best Diane"

How lovely is that. Really well done everyone, hopefully you'll have that warm fuzzy feeling about you all day :)

Just a quick one... Here are the details for volunteering at the Hackney Half water station that I mentioned last night. There are 3 spots left and you get a free race entry out of it as well as a fun day out cheering and supporting your fellow GoodGym runners!

See you next week at St Marks church!