A dozen of us saw off our last session in February last night, clock change is springing up on us (I only pun by mistake) and that's something to perk up for, not long now folks, hang tough. Soon we'll be doing tasks under superb twilight skies, with a warm radiant tanned glow, glistening modestly in the sweat of good deeds, eating pizzas fired up alfresco, clinking drinks on the deck of a boat. Let's play the long game.

Alex's firsts session and Richard's second, a decent medium length run to get your teeth into, there's much more variety coming your way, hope to see you both next week for more. Our Random Weekly Question was "You're an all powerful autocratic dictator for the day, what one thing do you?" Humorous to earnest answers flowed, in that order, I want to live under this benevolent collective dictatorship. Creating the world's largest cookie, doubling train carriage lengths, giving free lunches to everyone, offer affordable housing, get rid of all politicians, ban e-scooters, make all flying environmentally friendly(!), banning all cars and this week's winner: moving away from a linear economy to a circular one. Yup - that was Hilary, though feel free to claim it.

3.2k later and I was faffing around with a padlock in Clapton, eventually cracking the code like somes sort of litter picking magician. We were in, equipment was dished out, only the three bags used this time after feedback from January. Two teams assembled, one headed into the urban north the other into the desolate south, with an objective to collect as much crap as possible. Think we did pretty well, considering it's unbelievably clean, it's actually more of an eye-training exercise than anything, honing night-vision for the apocalypse, perhaps. Note to self, must buy more tinned food. Anyway, we came back to the start point and compared bag weight though an unbiased independent referee, there was a barely a few grams in it and impossible to judge with current weighing technology...it was a draw.

We had a jaunt back and wrapped up with some stretching, a few of us ventured to the pub for our end of month social. Pretty good midweek by my estimations, cheers for the efforts guys. Good luck to all our guys on Sunday at the Big Half, make us proud.

Till next week, where we're helping out a local school, sign up here

Have a good one,

B

Newham's finest assembled like clockwork yesterday, on another fresh February night.

Corey, Sharon, Graham and Rosa raced hard on the weekend, a doffed cap to Corey's PB and everyone's get up and get it done attitude. RWQ this week, "if you could take out any one for a date who would it be?" With the condition that it can't be "barmaid Sue from the local" or "my girlfriend's sister" ie it needs to be a known person. Kicking things off we had Jennifer Lawrence, a strong blonde start. Then an Ant Middleton/Lucy Lusardi and an Attenborough/Tom Hardy combo next, brawn and beauty, brains and buff, as we clawed at the hypothetical. Greg James to keep you entertained. Jess Phillips a refreshing stimulant and surely a good night out. Jacinda Ardern for a lofty all in one. My main man George Monbiot an eloquent, knowledgeable and moral man (should've picked him!). A famous drag queen to keep it lively and Aaron picked three 90's babes like he's been mulling the question over that very morning.

Cody Dock, the site of much development at the moment. A new visitor centre, new funding for plumbed toilets, a rolling bridge and GGN's own project - a new office. We sanded the down the empty 40 foot shipping container last month, this time round we jumped into suits appropriate for a quarantine in the Wirral and lay on some bright white paint. Tunes started pumping early doors, a gristly grime number about dealing drugs and street life, was all a bit surreal in the container. Didn't have Simon down for that genre, turns out you guys requested Spice Girls and there was a glitch, quickly amended and Girl Power was thumping through our tin box powering strokes and rolls.

We finished up with about 75% done, which suggests we could've done with about five more folks to get the job done. As it was still a cracking task and job done, we overstayed our alloted time, in the zone and wanting to do more. Wonder what we'll do in there next time? Maybe installing double glazing and laying the flooring? Easy.

No cake to finish off this week, which felt unusual, but from a nutritional perspective maybe for the best. Next week Ange has some fun in store for us sign up here. The week after I'm hoping to get a new task locked in.

Have a superb end to your week and nail in some weekend training to your diary. Weather looks mildly atrocious on both days - but don't let that stop you - take it on.

See you beauts next week

B

Our regular meeting of minds and muscle yesterday was just the midweek antidote. Funny story, I only recently learned that 'hump day' refers to the middle of the week, I used to think it meant glute day at the gym, I'm not joking, maybe a cue to widen my sphere of thought (I don't have a bum fetish FYI, I was talking about training). I digress, anyway - hump day with GoodGym - bisecting your week with the best of them.

Our set in stone warm up done and we moved onto a little chit chat and then RWQ, courtesy of putting Charlotte on the spot, nothing gets the neurons firing like an annoying enforced countdown "you've got 5 minutes, think funny". This week it was "what's the latest you've been for something, whilst still making it?" Arriving at your folks for a long weekend on a sunday night, handing in your thesis very very late (but still nailing it), showing up a day late for a job interview, getting to GGN late, showing up to Parkrun late and then blending in and sweeping through, multiple airport/travel stories and this week's winner, Kev: "I don't, I don't do late".

Callum joined on his first session, spotted us outside on a warm up and signed up, love that. Hope your first session was a good one. We strung out along the canal and compared weeks and weekends. Shortly thereafter it was time for some task action at Manorfield. Moving those peculiarly awkward desks with an almost fluid and shifting weight distribution, you never know whose shin it's going to kiss. Then onto some box shifting and miscellaneous bits, we were wrapped up with time to spare. A no holds barred basketball game materialised in the sports hall. Ros unfortunately turned an ankle but stoically jogged it off back on our back, hope all good today, might be tender for a few more mornings.

All in all, a splendid eve, another night of movement, socialising and giving back. Next week it's time to return to Cody Dock. Sign up here to assist with the next stage of office renovation for the community hub in Canning Town.

Make your weekend's count guys, there's a storm coming in on Sunday, so fair weather runners get it done on Saturday.

Till next week

B

Exuberant exhibition of people power over in Canning Town yesterday, where twenty folks logged some social miles and commenced the early stage of a shipping container refurb.

We had the pleasure of welcoming Rebecca for her first ever sesh (great to have you) and normalcy hath returned as Queen Bee Alice returned to her hive. Normal ramblings ensued, with a doth of the cap here and clapping there. Few Parkrunners out doing there thing last weekend, from Mile End to Wanstead to Hackney, spreading the aerobic effort all over the manor.

Random Weekly Question this week "what makes you feel young?" Not having kids, playgrounds, milkshakes, shaving off your rugged kiwi beard, partying, getting ID'd, running downhill, playing with nephew/niece, being the bambino in the family, christmas stockings, jumping into the waves and bouncy castles to name a few. I thoroughly enjoyed these answers - age, just in the head, glad we got that sorted that.

Two miles later we were getting straight into a new task at Cody Dock. Sanding off old paint in their new office, a forty foot shipping container. Tunes boomed, energy flowed, elbows pumped. T'was a thing of beauty. A task that was designed for a GGN flash mob. The results were epic, 35mins and you guys basically did the whole darn thing.

Next week it's a longer one, coming in at 9k, helping out at Newham Hospital. Sign up here

Then, on the 1st Feb, we've got a delightful morning of variation. Kicking off with Parkrun at Hackney Marshes (sign up here), then a 5min walk to a (starter) task at the playground (sign up here), concluding with Breakfast Club debrief. It turns out, yes, you can have it ALL. Get involved.

That's enough from me - have a cracking weekend. Burns Night folks dance the night away, pictorial updates always welcome.

Till next week

B

They say a couple week's in to the year most folks lob their heady resolutions out the window, reverting back to the path of least resistance. Not you lot, that's the difference between having a social group, that regularity and structure, something asides from the physical component ie giving back. We had 21 fine folk yesterday helping an under-funded school in Canning Town.

'Twas a fresh one with a lovely clear night sky, not blemished by a cloud in sight. A few shout outs to commence proceedings. Ros' first ever session (massive welcome), Pete's first GGN (down from Stockport on work), Maria's second run (glad to have her back) and the return of Newham's lost daughter, Siobhan (it's been too long). Parkruns were celebrated, Ros' first (the odyssey begins), Victoria hit Mile End, Hilary went to Walthamstow and a clan headed to Wanstead. James also raced, coming 26th in the most competitive cross country league in the country. Decent Saturday hustle team! If anyone is considering their training and wants some help with it, don't hesitate to drop me a line.

Random Weekly Question, seems to have it's own paragraph this week, making the big time. "It's Veganuary, what's your go-to vegan meal?" An apprehensive start, with beans on toast, jacket potato and beans, carrots (!). Moving into roasted veg, tofu something (!), chickpea salad, filo pastry with veg and cheeze, avocado-choc cake, tagine, roasted sweet potato with ginger-chilli grilled broccoli, joloff rice and plantain, with dal and rice to finish. I think we can confidently say that the answers warmed up a fair bit. There's load of delicious stuff out there. Good for you, good for the planet, what's not to like?

Over at Manorfield, we all arrived with a bit more warmth in our bones. Paul had us doing a few bits. Chucking out crates to the bins. Shifting scoreS of chairs. Moving some tables, then rearranging another set of new art tables. Done and dusted with 15mins to spare. Enough time for Paul to share the Big Half details with everyone, it's a super cheap entry and a great chance to experience a big city race (younger sister of London Marathon). He also reminded us of the deprivation in the locality, and the student handicap that comes with it. A useful reminder that your help is significant and well-placed.

Back at base we did a few exercises in pairs. Press up to celebrate every year of Mary's existence on this spinning planet in the Milky Way. We then roared a mellifluous rendition of Happy Birthday - and ate the cake that Mary provided - thanks!

Sign up here for next week's hands on help at a lovely community dock.

Then our starter session on the 1st of Feb, optional parkrun/raft of PB's, walk/jog to task (5mins) and Breakfast Club to finish - sound good? SIgn up here

Here's to a good end of week and a superb weekend

B