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

Kicking off 2020 twenty two strong. Pleasure to be back gliding down the canals and taking a little bit of individual come social action with you superb human beings.

Lots of returning personalities came back to enliven and enrich our collective. Chris back from hols, Muyiwa returning for an aerobic top up, Misbah defeating a dodgy ankle, Andy making it count, Melanie back where she belongs and the lesser spotted Tori. Not only does this mean we get more done, but we get it done with you lovely peeps.

As my mum used to say "New Year, old warm up", so we whipped through our tried and tested dynamic moves (mum never said that). We discussed the January Challenge, currently 10th in the Silver League, let's start hauling some ass and climbing it guys! If you ain't signed up to Strava then get on it and log some runs for us! It can be motivating seeing what others do plus useful for exploring running routes and different ways to train - sign up. We also need to keep our group participation high and get as many good deeds as we can. May I remind you we are the moral winners of GG Olympics 2019 (officially 2nd place - that's what the haters would say). Anyway, let's have a pop at this and as a by-product boot of January in style. Come on GGN!

There were plenty of impressive runs over the break, stand out is Helen's PB, I believe on xmas day, that's the only present you need, am I right? A few other double Parkruns on NY day. I saw a returning to her best, Victoria, graceful gait apparent at Highbury Fields Parkrun. I was lumbering along trying to catch a young prodigy, not to be.

RWQ, "Highlight or lowlight of your festive period?" Some warming answers we had - spending time with the family, seeing new babies, seeing the new twin babies! We also had the foodies - enjoying the cakes, the xmas dinners. The al fresco go-getters enjoying their walks and runs. Plus the naked uncles aimlessly wandering through the house.

It was a bit longer than 'normal' this week, 2.2 miles to our task. Litter picking our adopted section of canal in Clapton. Think it went pretty well, whilst it was relatively clean, we still reeled in a fair bit of crap. I saw Corey essentially fishing, with remarkable success I might add. A true outdoors man, reckon he can catch a hammer head shark with that mechanical hand. He did get a helmet, and some other disgusting plastic stuff out the canal. So we finished up with a cleaner stretch, and that's a good thing. Mel brought it to my attention that we should use less bags as we don't fill them, good point, let's please remember to do this next time.

When we got back Paul had stealthily brought out a selection of doughnuts and other confectionaries to share. He not only arrives under the cover of the night, but he clandestinely reached 50 good deeds too. Paul was there on GGN's first ever session, 7 + years ago. That's an exceptional bit of loyalty and longevity, getting back into a regular routine now. An awesome team player and never afraid to take the run out hard. Hat's off for your milestone mate.

I'm going to set up a Parkrun and starter session on the 25th of Jan. Keep your calendars open, this is to bring in new members to the club, so the more of you guys the better.

Next week we are at Manorfield Primary School to receive a deliver of tables, sign up here as we need a big team for this.

See you beauts next week

B

Cody Dock our run destination on a 'refreshing' kind of evening in East London.

Our intro chat covered: Hilary's 1st Female placing at Parkrun, upcoming Tree Planting and Fare Share Missions, welcoming Maria and Misbah to the GG lunacy (the runs get easier and easier, stick at it) and our Random Weekly Question. Courtesy of Melissa "what book are you currently reading?" Re reading old favourites from Harry Potter, Hitch Hikers Guide, history fictions and realities, Garcia Marquez Short Stories, Christopher Hitchens memoirs, An Orchestra of Minorities and adventure/travel tales loosely based on Tim's existence. As always, good range there team and sorry for the ones I forgot.

Fast forward 2 miles and we had reached the docks, our man Simon on call to lead from the front. With a distinctly cold rain making a cameo as we arrived - think we all did a silent "get in" when we were told the task was completely under shelter. Deconstructing gazeebos, removing furniture, rolling up temporary floors and rearranging the exhibition hall - all in a day's work, or to be more precise, 40 minutes.

Do checkout Cody Dock's website, we helped set up their Frost Fair, but their Burn's Night is upcoming too, another GGN social on the cards - get it in your diary.

That's all from me this week, look forward to seeing a buzz on whatsapp about your Parkrun target of choice this Saturday. And if you can't make that, maybe a longer more meditative run, keep the pace easy and just keep moving, a bit further than normal - getting fitter is that simple.

Till next week you beauts

B