Hi Ho Hi Ho It's off to work we go......Lambeth community were off to work at Jubilee Primary School last night where we all got to channel our inner giant (because we were given child sized tools to use!)

There was some discussion in the group before setting off about the AA's description of tonight's run being fast and 'flat' - with Katy insisting the start of Tulse Hill more resembles the foothills of Annapurna. Head over to Strava to see the stats and feel free to leave your opinion on the run page! 🏃

As ever we did our pre flight briefing in Papa's Hall - this week's category was favourite person who identifies as female in your line of work - numbered off and out to warm up. I 💙 Duck Walks (Google it)

Dodging evening crowds through central Brixton we were off for the 1.5kms to Jubilee Primary and having lost no-one to traffic we met Juan who was delighted to have us back. Tonight's task was the super secret Secret Garden hich is on the front of the school on Tulse Hill and we were pulling weeds and dead flowers, sweeping and raking leaves and picking up litter to make it a nice clean space for the pupils.

Leaving behind the wild spring onion scent we headed back to base after a solid 30 minutes and several large black bags of waste disposed of. 🚮

Thanks Tim for being back marker as well!

With everyone back safe and sound we enjoyed a nice stretch and update on upcoming good deeds before heading home.

So there we were 15 GoodGymers and a hall full of chairs, someone said "this reminds me of musical chairs..." and that was it GG Lambeth does Musical Chairs!

The music was nowhere near loud enough and there was some cheating / hovering near chairs to contend with but as warm ups go this was a fun one. 😂

Tonight's task was to clean and paint the hall at Papa's but the course of completing tasks rarely runs smoothly and so none of the cleaning stuff or paint was waiting for us. Not to fear with Katy's help there was a quick dash down to Brixton Poundland to grab sponges (there were no big packs), cleaning spray (got 'em), scourers (multipack), cloths (blue) and tissue (extra absorbent).

We were back just before the hour and the hall was full of expectant runners arranged in circle like a community meeting. ✊

After the indoor warm up came the outdoor one led by Sarah who was being filmed for her Run Leader Training - great job Sarah. We set off on a quick and flat 2kms which took 15 mins including stops for busy roads and then it was back for a scrub down of the walls, skirting and mirrors.

With so many volunteers we split into 2 groups and while one cleaned the other did a four station calisthenics session then after 15 minutes we swapped. 🏋

After putting the hall back as it was only sparkling clean we were done for the evening, a quick debrief of upcoming tasks and missions and home time. ⭐

A big shout out to the first time GoodGym runners tonight Philippa, Pat, Lucy and Inny - great to have you with us and I look forward to seeing you all again!!

It was a chilly Tuesday (despite Shauna's protestations otherwise!) but thank fully the rain held off and so we were off to the far reaches of Pulross Road to help out at the Pulross centre. 🌂

Now given that the Pulross centre is approximately 500 yards away from our base at Papa's that either makes for 40 very uninteresting sprints back and forth or else we needed to strike out around Brixton - which of course we did. Sarah who is preparing for her Run Leader assessment (go Sarah!) got in a practice warm up and then we were off on a quick lap down to Clapham North and back.

After a quick 3k in just over 20 minutes we arrived at the health centre which acts as a recovery and rehabilitation unit for up to 20 stroke patients to be met by Ed Rosen of Lambeth GP Food Coop, who took the group through the tasks that needed to be carried out. Group 1 - heavy lifting and breaking down tree branches to make 3 bug hotels (bienvenue les amis!) Group 2 - Clearing a path of ivy and weeds to access the area where a new planter will be built. Group 3 - more clearing of an area so the existing planters can receive light during the day.

The space at Pulross is fantastic with lots of potential as Ed explained, not only will patients, some who have limited mobility, be able to plant their own fruit and veg (both to learn how to and as part of their rehab) but in the summer there will be drop in sessions and it is a lovely space for the staff who do an amazing job to get out to. 😊

30 mins later the group had cleared, chopped and dumped a herculean amount of organic matter and we were heading back to base - no extra 1km run so we decided (unilaterally....) to end with a short fitness session - after all who doesn't love a good 30 sec squat hold?? 😲