What a surprisingly hot run that was. But what can I say, GG Haringey are a hot bunch!

Paint It Black

Big love for everyone but special shouts for: Hetty, returning for her first run after a well deserved break; Rita, joining us in spite of having a sore ankle; and last but certainly not least, GG legend Nurjehan who took her beautiful 50 good deeds black t-shirt for her first spin. Go and give them some love!

14 wonderful GGers congregated in the Green outside Tottenham Green Pools where Rita took the lead on a very holistic and interesting warm up session, mainly centred on breathing exercises and erm... checks notes ... tickling.

We then talked about the exciting celebrations in store for GoodGym's 10th birthday - including our long group run next Wednesday, our take over of the Ally Pally parkrun, and our exciting mission painting a homeless shelter on the 21st. Sign up for all of them please!

We then headed towards Cafe Connect at a brisk pace, whilst Dave led a small walking contingent.

At Cafe Connect, the always-wonderful Leyla welcomed us with a plethora of gardening tasks, and we plunged into them with aplomb. It's always a pleasure to visit Leyla. Last night, this community hub was hosting a group of young people taking part in a retro video game tournament, whilst being fed lovely home cooked food made with the produce grown in the grounds. Community work in action - Cafe Connect are definitely the kind of heroes we need and we're lucky to have.

All this meant that our GGers watered, tidied, scrubbed, and weeded with added motivation.

Interesting oveheard conversations included one particular GGer describing herself effectively as The Hulk (apparently, you really don't want to make her angry) and another GGer's very interesting theory about mosquito decoy procedures. Feel free to enquire further in the comments below.

Then Leyla brought out the by now legendary Cafe Connect oranges and we knew it was time to go home. Not often do we need to be pushed out of a task, I tell you.

Oranges were followed by a very well organised, in no way shambolic, and totally 100% successful plank relay race and then we headed back to HQ.

After Sarah's great stretching session and our high fives we headed into the night in search of pizzas and drinks with the memory of those lovely oranges still present. Great task.

Don't forget to sign up for our Community Mission in Somers Town this weekend.

Peace!

Another cracking task this week for GoodGym Haringey - we are truly living our best GG lives!

11 wonderful runners gathered at GG Haringey HQ for a much needed warm up session as we bantered/complained/despaired about how cold it was. Very soon though we were all warmed up and raring to go, so we did!

We ran the scenic way through Downhills Park towards the Westbury Banks Nature Reserve. Our friends at the reserve are about to receive 420 (!) new trees so we will be helping them through September and October to get the site ready for planting.

At the reserve, task owner Mr Cool Luke had a variety of excellent tasks for us. Some people got on with a much needed weeding session of the lower path, whilst a litter picking team set out to leave the roadside edge of the reserve spotless. Finally some of us got on with filling the pond with rainwater. Towards the end of the task, we also got on with clearing some ivy that's overgrown around a lovely sycamore.

We managed to do around 40 minutes work and we think we did great. Thankfully, Luke agrees!

We agreed to come back soon on a couple of community missions and perhaps another group run in early October. Luke told us about a local community garden being looked after by some local neighbours so on our way back to HQ we stopped by to have a look. It's beautiful! And it's great to see communities being inspired to make their communal homes better. If you're ever in the area, feel free to water it!

Then we headed to Belmont Park for some speed training as this very clued on Run Leader had very cleverly spotted a 100 metre track. Isn't he great? Alas, there was no track, it was cold and dark, and I'm just grateful everyone was very polite to me after sending them on a wild goose chase.

Instead of sprints, we did some backward running (good training for something, though none of us could agree what for) and also stopped along the way for squats and some burpees. Well, some of us of did burpees.

Back at HQ, Sarah led a very thorough stretching session.

Like I said, living our best GG lives!

Next week, we're visiting Cafe Connect - it's a short run and a great task, so you should definitely join us for some fun. AND please come to our birthday run on the 18th of September, and bring a friend or five. It's going to be great!

#DFYBGGH

Kudos, Kudos, Kudos

Loads of new faces this week! Yes! Send some love to Liz, John and erm John who were joining us for the first ever GoodGym run. They were aces. Also special shout out to Rhiannon, joining us for her maiden Haringey GoodGym run. She was a Haringey natural! Boom!

Scythe Of The Times

Our 16 wonderful GoodGymmers congregated in the last sunny patch of grass in Tottenham Green Pools, where Nurjehan crowned her triumphant return from holiday by leading a very spirited warm up session, peppered with praises for Goodgym tourism.

We then took the scenic route to Lordship Rec, running through beautiful Downhills Park, before meeting Sally from Friends of Lordship Rec outside Broadwater Farm Community Centre.

We were dismayed and incredibly relieved in equal measures to find out we would not be using super sharp scythes but Sally armed us instead with a multitude of wheelbarrows, rakes, forks, and gloves and put us to work.

A couple of sections of the Rec had been scythed earlier in the day and our task was to collect the hay left behind and use it to create doghnut-shaped nests around a number of baby trees and some more mature trees that might need extra moisture over summer.

Our GoodGymmers split into a few groups and set to work. These doughnuts might not have been covered in sprinkles but that didn't stop us from digging into them with gusto and about half hour of work later, the fields looked great, if we say so ourselves.

Having put the tools away and bid farewell to Sally, we had an easy-peasy uphill squat relay race, and we then dashed back home with a spring in our step.

Next week, we'll be saying hello to the turtles and cacti at Wolves Lane Centre - join us!

Brand new task for GoodGym Haringey and what a lovely task it was. Part art installation, part Haringey babies' no.1 ally, the Pram Depot was amazing.

Do you come here often?

GG Haringey was at its best behaviour as we had Olivia and Gaynor joining us for their first ever run, as well as Emily (of GG Slough fame) running with us for her first GG Haringey visit ever. They were absolute rock stars and we can't wait to see them again - send some love their way, please!

Getting buggy wit it*

A nice short run down the road at a very easy pace this was NOT! Last night was one of the longest runs we've done in a while but our intrepid GoodGymmers threw themselves at it with aplomb and the kilometres just rolled by. Once at the Pram Depot, we were welcomed with plenty of cups of tea and biscuits (Yes!) and a multitude of just-donated prams that needed cleaning. Our GoodGymmers steam cleaned, hoovered, washed, and scrubbed until those prams were left looking as good as new. Alas, we couldn't tackle a mountain of baby clothes that needed sorting but the Pram Depot had run out of boxes, although that just gives an excuse to come back. Yep, that's why we want to come back, not the Jaffa Cakes ;) Back at base camp, both Sarah and myself led two small but much-needed stretching sessions. You could say we were pushed to the limit* but it was an enjoyable evening overall.

Olympics!

Don't forget the GoodGym Olympics are taking place this Saturday at the Parliament Hill Athletics Track from 12:30 onwards. Even if you haven't signedup for any events, there are manyother ways to join in the fun, not least by cheering your fellow GoodGymmers on. Details here.

Next few weeks

I'm signing off for a couple of weeks but that doesn't mean that GoodGym Haringey gets a break.

Our action-packed Taskforce is trying to arrange a community mission with the Friends of PrioryPark early next week as they need help sorting out their sandpit. That's right, you might be able to play in a sandpit. Watch this space.

Also next week we're visiting Lorenco House in Tottenham and our wonderful Sarah will be leading the run. Join her! The week after our also wonderful Dave will be leading the Westbury Bank Nature Reserve run - you can sign up here too. I'll then be back for a visit to the Lordship Rec. JOIN! JOIN! JOIN!

Until I see you all again, don't do anything I wouldn't do!

Peace