Last night, a group of eager GoodGymmers earned their community service badges by tidying up the outdoor area of a local scout hut. With the space being underused and overgrown, it was our job to make sure it was in tip-top shape!

Warming Up with Some Badges of Honor 🏅

Before we set off on our mission, we kicked things off with a lively warm-up. And to add some fun, we shared what our own personal scout badges would be – and lets just say, they were deliciously varied! From cheese eating to flapjack munching, it is clear that we have varied tastes and skill sets! Some of us had niche talents, like dog grooming, or the coveted town crier badge. Of course, we also had some practical talents in the mix – shout-out to those aiming for the Excel spreadsheet badge, a real hero in any modern taskforce. And let’s not forget the classic carrot crunching badge!

We gave a shout Out to Paul! 🎉, who was fresh off the back of the Vitality 10K on Sunday! Despite his race efforts, he still joined us to lend a helping hand. 🏃‍♂️👏

Let's Scout It Out 🏕️

Once our imaginary badges were awarded, we marched over to the scout hut, where we found the outdoor area in need of some TLC. Armed with loppers, gloves and bags we got straight to work. We cleared away litter and debris from the pathways, pulled up weeds, swept the area, making it safe for little people, and dispatched overhanging branches. With everyone working together, the transformation was remarkable. The outdoor space was soon scout-ready, ready for whatever adventures lie ahead for the small community heroes.

Mission Accomplished! 🎯

With the outdoor area looking better than ever, we wrapped up our session feeling pretty pleased with the change. Another mission completed, another good deed done. As always, it was great to chat, laugh, and get stuck into the task together. The scouts will now have a clean, safe outdoor space to enjoy – and we can all feel proud about that.

We had time to squeeze in a leg based workout before we headed back for stretches, with exercises including crab walks, squat/oblique crunch combo, pulsing lunges and more - making sure to dodge the buses at the same time.

Next Week: Our next Monday GoodGym adventure will take us onto the streets of Wandsworth in aid of Foodcycle, a charity which helps those struggling with food insecurity. Don't forget about our upcoming community mission at the GoodGym garden which we will double up with optional parkrun and coffee. There are plenty more badges to be earned!

Until next time, keep running, keep doing good, and keep dreaming of that cheese-eating badge! 🧀💪

Last night, the Wandsworth GoodGym team gathered for our regular monthly visit to Doddington Community Garden. We were thrilled to welcome Nancy on her first group run in Wandsworth. The group loosened up with some light jogging, and dynamic moves, shaking off the day’s stiffness. After a guess at when the first Paralympic Games were held (answer: 1960 in Rome!) we set off, unaware that we were about to be greeted with a very sluggish reaction at the garden!

The run to Doddington Community Garden was a breezy 2km, filled with chatter and upon arrival, Malissa expertly assigned tasks, making sure everyone had a chance to get their hands dirty.

Jordan and Sophie tackled the jungle-like overgrowth, showing those stubborn weeds who was boss. Jasmin, Beth, and Catherine handled the unruly jasmine plant, with Jasmin taming her namesake. Steph and Nancy took on the bindweed, binding it up for good with some serious teamwork. Kevin kept the garden hydrated, ensuring that our leafy friends got a good drink, despite the slugs trying to take them down. Meanwhile Malissa was walking round the garden dispatching every slug and snail she saw with a steely determination. After various jobs, Jason was still on a mission to empty that water butt. The team worked with precision, not letting any slimy distractions slow them down. By the end, Doddington Garden was looking even more tidy and fabulous.

With the main jobs done, the group shifted gears to a fitness session that focused on a intense mountain leg workout designed to replicate a hard hill session. Despite the challenge, everyone pushed through, legs burning but spirits high.

The evening wrapped up with a cool-down jog to the pub, stretching out those hardworking muscles. It was out monthly social featuring our regular pub quiz. Proving that GoodGym Wandsworth isn’t just about physical strength, the team came in a strong 2nd place, showing off their mental muscles too.

Our next Monday session will be at the herb garden in Battersea Park, which will feature even more beautifully scented medicinal plants, and hopefully fewer slugs! You can find out all the details and sign up here.