The Goodgym crew were back in full force for the 5th edition of the Camino Ultra London Epping Forest races. We have been lending our help to our fellow runners (over the 25km and 50km distance) since 2021 (the original Lea Valley 50km after lockdown), and we are thrilled to support accessible local grassroots endurance events whenever we can!

https://www.caminoultra.com/

The majority of our team assisted with setting up and managing the Butler's Retreat aid station in Chingford (a few paces away from the Epping Forest tourist information hub). Daz and Simon were up before 6am installing a gazebo, arranging nutrition and food and filling up water canteens for over 500 runners making their way along "The Green Corridor". Half of the runners were running from The Golden Fleece in Wanstead Flats for the classic 50km distance, while the other half were running the equally competitive 25km distance from Epping Cricket Club to Wanstead.

As our first runners reached the aid station, Lorna, Ramón, Emma and James were on hand to help with filling water bottles and providing care for their journeys. Eslam and his lovely family formed a cheer squad near the Butler's Retreat café, and alerted the runners about the upcoming road crossings. It was an absolute blast and a lovely way to catch up with our running friends!

As the day started to draw in, superstars Louise and Sam helped with running the 8.8 miles to Wanstead Flats while removing all of the course markings on route. An essential task (especially for the future of this wonderful race), and left in capable hands. Well done!

Thank you all for your efforts today. Keep your eyes peeled for future tasks at the Camino Ultra London Lea Valley Races on March 2027!

This lovely group made their usual fabulous difference.

As this summer's annual London Permaculture Festival approaches, we made the venue feel spic and spam ahead of the big day :)

Thank you, everyone!!

9 GoodGymers nearly attend a Camden country and western gig!

The Greenwood Centre in Kentish Town is tucked away. The railway line rumbles behind. And the Kentish Town Forum is usually far enough away to be completely unnoticeable.

Usually...

But not on Wednesday evening! When the Forum's queue snaked far and long, so far that it stretched in front of (and beyond!) the Greenwood Centre!

Amidst a mass of stetsons and cowboy boots, this lovely group — of Gary, Giulia, Helen, Lydia, Pritika, Siobhan, Steve, and Thierry — arrived ready to make a lovely difference for this communal green space!

And they did a bucket load!

💚 One (pretty huge) compost bin was emptied, washed, and aired, leaving the fertile mulch ready for use!

💚 One bay tree was delicately trimmed and pruned ready for spring and summer to come!

💚 Countless weeds were cut and scraped, leaving healthy wildflowers free to thrive!

Thank you, everyone! See you next time!

12 GoodGymers caught sixty spring–sun–shining minutes in Camden!

Under bright blue skies — and as rush hour pushed into twilight — lovely people started arriving at the Cecil Sharp House garden yesterday evening.

Some were dressed in red and everyone looked locked and ready for some form of altruistic action!

First we said a big hello to our three new faces 👉 welcome to the group, Giulia, Maggie, and Sarah!!

Second we said hello to our regular faces 👉 great to see you Ariane, Helen, Jackie, John, Karen, Siobhan, Theo, and Thierry!

And third... we played Simon Says!

Which loosened our limbs and prepared us perfectly for the wonderful difference this group made:

💚 Every yard and metre (even every inch!) of pathway was swept free of litter and blossom

💚 Sackfuls of weeds from nooks and crannies were plucked ready for composting

💚 Bundles of leaves and debris disappeared leaving the greenhouse space spic and span

Thank you, everyone! See you soon!

P.S. Thank you to Ariane for the many photos!

P.P.S. Thank you for Theo for taking the group photo!