A wonderful turnout for GoodGym Lambeth tonight, IT WAS FREEZING. I’M STILL FREEZING.

Still keeping with out New Year focus on getting faster, fitter or going longer, there was a choice of two runs.

Half the group took on the long run down to Portico again ... This meant covering a good 5 miles in total and a nice bit of hill action on the way there. Becca reports…

“A group of us took on the long run up to the Portico Gallery. Dodging the crowds, we made out way out of Brixton and up towards the hill.

In no time at all, we arrived at the big yellow storage company and met John, who led us through the labyrinth of passage ways to the right yellow door. He talked us through the tasks and we got to work. We split into two to get the jobs done- one group moving tables and the other sniffing gazebos (I think I know who had the most fun..)

The first group left the storage place to start the run back. We discussed methods of how to get rid of a stitch (and all made it back without one.) The final group sped back and made it in time for the cake Katie had made for Alex- a glittery masterpiece!” Becca N

The other half chose the shorter run to Myatt’s field to help Guy at Streetscape. Unfortunately this was cancelled at the last minute which was a shame, but it did give people another chance to get in some strength and speed training. We jogged a mile to Clapham Common, where the guys set about 300m reps as fast as they could with a mere 30 – 45 seconds rest before going again. 5 sets were completed before we jogged on again to the bandstand for some strength circuits which basically involved a shit load of press ups and squats on every bench. Everyone looked like they had got a good work out (especially Dan who admitted he’d drunk tow pints before the session… hero) as we jogged the mile back to Papas for Katie’s magnificent cake. It was a bloody great cake despite being vegetable based.

Who knew vegetables could taste so good? I certainly didn’t. Feeling pretty smug that I got one of my five a day through cake. My other portions of the day are from the Terry’s Chocolate Orange I’m currently eating whilst writing this, and the grapes in the wine I’m drinking.

I’m absolutely nailing my healthy January.

Tower Hamlets celebrated the end of Christmas in charitable style this week. When our planned task was cancelled, Tom discovered that the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park wanted discarded Christmas trees to make an area for wildlife to enjoy. This request turned into an unconventional but really fun night with fourteen trees in total taken from pavements, front yards and kerbsides. We carried these trees to the Cemetery Park and made our way through the spooky maze of gravestones to drop them off.

Our route home included hill sprints and three different paced groups running back so that there was something for everyone.

I only wish we were going to be there to see the park ranger's face tomorrow morning when they realise they've been visited by the Goodgym post-Christmas angels!

Gabrielle.

After a misty morning a clement evening brought 20 GoodGymmers together to move compost. A short run to the Orchard School (almost, but not quite, getting lost on the way) we make it to our task, some trepidation in the air as the last task here involved 16 tonnes of compost... This time however we were lucky… only 4 tonnes! After orders to split up into lifters, diggers and spreaders our job was easily under control, and looking like we may finish early, however early-finishing is not a word in Tom Craggs dictionary and so a fourth group of circuits was created. Even with Tom’s extra group we completed the task with enough time to run a few laps of Well Street Common to get our heart rates up and attempt to blow away the smell from the compost, then back to home for stretching. Another great run and excellent task well done to the 20 hard working runners!

Stephen.

Tonight we didn't have a task so instead 14 intrepid runners set sail for a scouting run over the border into Hackney to check out Well Street Common and explore it's advantages asa site of future GoodGym sessions.

After about 2km of running to the park, including a stretch of 'threshold running' to Lauriston Road when then got tot he park and did a range of drills, intervals and team running before looping back via Victoria Park. With 7km of running, including lots of faster intervals we were all happy to get back to base for a good stretch!

15 Runners headed out from the Town Hall Hotel (this week using their spa and swimming pool as a base!) for the short jog over to Hollybush Estate. Afer a series of active stretches and warm up drills we met up with Michael and Margaret who led us into the dark of the estate garden where we spent 30 minutes shifting composted, raking leaves and creating a new flower bed under the bright lights of two head torches and one iphone (other brands also have torches).

After the task we headed off on a 1.5km run to London Fields via a short sprint along Broadway Market. When in the park Tom set us off on a series of short 'pyramid intervals' - 2 minutes fast, 1 minute faster, 30 seconds very fast with minimal lung recovery time in between.

After we have hammered around the park several times we headed back to base for a stretch and to retrieve our bags from our luxurious temporary home.

Doing good

This weeks doing good was helping Christine from Clean, Green and Highways clear a plot of land besides a factory on Belgrave road. The strip of land was over run with weeds and has been regally used as a dumping ground. Christine has arranged for new raised beds to be put on the plot and after 45mins the Good Gym had the rubbish collected and the weeds removed. It was really nice to see the local residence so happy with our efforts. Three people from separate homes came out to thank us and say how happy they where the plot was finally being used for something good. One lovely man even ran to the local shop and brought us all water. Good work gang!

Getting fit

As well as the 3k run there everybody was still full of energy after the task so we headed round to the canal side for some hard running. Splitting on the canal side we had choices of straight back to Victoria park, Bridge one and back or all the way down to Limehouse canal and back. We re grouped at Victoria park for a team get breath back before a light warm down jog back to the hotel.

Thanks to everybody who came despite the rain.

I had much fun, hope you did too.

Until next week.

BYEEEE!