THREE TASKS!

We enjoyed a whopping three tasks tonight in Tower Hamlets!

Isabelle headed up our new task, to see Khanh & co at the Columbia Road Youth Hub. Writes Isabelle, "The team was split into two: 5 of us were given a leafleting task, to head out to local areas where the youngsters the centre is targeting, can be found. The remaining runners were tasked with painting the centre, to the sound of Sean Paul. And, IMO, this was one of the best tasks we've been on!"

Yes, having visited the Hub several times, I can confirm it's a lively place, with a huge drive to do what it says on the tin. And we must thank our great friend, Bablu Miah, of Trapped in Zone One who created this task for us, and got the ball rolling with Khanh. Thanks, Bablu!

Meanwhile, Leo took another big team to Cranbrook Community Food Garden where new task owner Freya had lovingly prepared a lot of leaflets and amazing maps for the team to distribute around the estate. The team were busy in and out of the garden, and dropping fliers and blitzing all the work laid out for them in record time.

And I led a smaller crew to Catherine at the Parkview Estate where she too had lovingly prepared hundreds of crocus bulbs to be planted, and had pruners ready for raspberry bush trimming too! Our small team of four blitzed the gardening tasks and had a little time for some post-race stretching in the squished office space too.

TWO TEACHERS...

And so we headed back to the base where the others had already congregated and Sarah had got the team off to a splendid fitness start with high knee jogs and jumping jacks! Lucky team - two teachers! We continued our fitness work in the rain, eeking out every last fitness component ("One last nice calf stretch") until Charlotte, speaking for the entire team, wailed, "Can we stop now, Laura? We're freezing.") Good call, Charlotte.

Ad so we headed inside to warm up and prep for the pub.

Big thankyou's & shout-out's tonight...

Tonight we must thank our wonderful task force yet again. Leo and Isabellewho enabled our three tasks to go ahead. Your Task Force team are always in the wings, advising, planning, and helping lead and carry the area. We get a growing number of task requests and it's because of our Task Force we're able to fulfill them all.

Thanks too to the entire group tonight, for getting so much done in horrid weather and with such big smiles. You're amazing, and it's no wonder our task owners speak so highly of you.

Thanks for our report contributors, Isabelle and Leo; to Bryon for pun-assistance and to Katherine, Leo and Isabelle for pics.

Thanks to Leo for leading and heading up tonight's social.

Let's not forget a huge shout-out and pat on the back to our very own Martin who tonight reached his 100th deed. Thank. You.

And a big warm welcome to Jessica, whose first run it was. You did splendidly and we hope very much you'll join us next time!

And what's coming up...

• Next week we're back to the Royal London to join Nancy & co for some more hospital high jinx.

• And don't forget the GG legend that is Danny Cane has lined up some fabulous race volunteering for you, in exchange for free race places! Yes, you can join Danny’s new Hackney Half Broadway market aid station or volunteer with him at one of the Adidas City Run bag checks.

Right, that’s me for another week. Stay dry, everyone; enjoy your week, take the greatest of care, and hopefully we’ll see you very, very soon.

A chilly, two-task start to March

23 runners gathered this evening for two tasks to local community gardens.

We were lucky enough to have brilliant task force member Bryon leading one of our tasks to a new task, the Poets Corner Community Garden where task owner Tahera had prepared the task very carefully, complete with a fine array of snacks. The runners wasted no time in getting stuck in to the gardening task which included clearing, weeding, leaf-collecting...a mixed bag of gardening tasks. Said task owner Tahera of the runners after they'd finished, "They covered so much ground, you can really see the difference."

Meanwhile I led a group to Rocky Park on the Hollybush Estate where Margaret, Michael and Basil the dog had a wonderful selection of tasks for us all, including wood shifting for the bug house (as it sounds); clearing leaves and branches and redistributing various bits of plant debris to another part of the garden.

As the evening got chillier, the runners didn't stop and they worked tirelessly for 45 minutes.

We gathered for some final pics before being joined by Bryon's team at Middleton Green's basketball court for tonight's fitness session, where the runners performed even more amazingly, whizzing through a long session of marching tricep dips, v-sits (on a cold wall), skipping shuttle runs, prisoner lunges...and that's just to name a few.

And then we ran back to base, after a few finishing stretches, to say cheerio for another week.

What a start to March.

What's coming up

So, here's what's coming up...

• On Thursday, the phenomenal Redbridge are hosting the GG social in the centre of town. Details can be found here

• And next week, we head to Columbia Road Youth Hub for a brand new, indoor, decorating task. Followed by our monthyl social! It's all go. Details and sign-up are here.

And not forgetting...

And a big shout out to Bryon tonight for leading our second task, and taking some good pics, and to Polly for backmarking.

Have a brilliant week, everyone, and hope to see you soon.

Two teams; two truly magnificent tasks

Two teams headed out to two tasks tonight, with two totally brilliant task owners.

Our wonderful task force member Leo was heading up the big crew to Limehouse Town Hall, where the fabulous Brian had all manner of tasks for the GoodGymers to enjoy.

Writes Leo, "We set off promptly, very aptly led by Dave choosing to take us on Kat's special scenic route making excellent progress to Limehouse Town Hall, where we were met by task owner Brian who was ready & prepped for our arrival with a tasty line up of tasks to tackle.

The 23 of us split into two groups, with Chi especially keen to tackle the moving of the magnificent bar. He was joined by a group so enthusiastic, it was deconstructed and carefully transferred to the other end of the room in no time.

The rest of their group turned their hand to moving the stage in the opposite direction (yes, you read that right). It was exceptionally well coordinated, with the group making it look very easy despite MANY moving parts.

Remaining runners were tasked with cleaning some particularly grubby skirting boards; removing errant wall plugs and covering up the resulting holes with sufficient polyfilla to prepare the walls for a future paint job. The group enjoyed their tasks: in particular, Tracey, Becky & Emily seemed to get an inordinate amount joy out of cleaning (and the results were blindingly good).

As time drew to a close, we gathered for a photo behind the majestic (and successfully reassembled) bar before some very appreciative closing words from Brian to send us on our way back to the hotel - another fun and fulfilling evening."

Meanwhile, I took a small team of 5 to the local Parkview estate where Catherine had boxes of leaflets for us, lovingly prepared by the small TRA for the residents, with not just the monthly newsletter but also details of the exciting Climate Conversation Cafe taking place this weekend, in the gorgeous Glasshouse community centre. We split into two teams and blitzed the estate before heading to beautiful Bonner Gate in neighbouring Victoria Park for some fab fitness, including Bulgarian split squats against the railings and pavement planks.

We all met back at the hotel, to finish the chocolate and biscuits, discuss our upcoming GoodGym plans and say cheerio for the week. It was a thoroughly lovely February night.

Welcome's. And thank you's

A massive big warm welcome to tonight's wonderful first time runners, Mags, Patrick, Emily, Kieran.

And a huge thanks to task force supremo, Leo, who led the big team and big task; to our photographers, Leo, Charlotte, Suraj, Chi, Becky and Kat - you've helped create a lovely report! Thank you.

Also, a big shout out this week to our other task force hero, Isabelle, who on Saturday reached 50 good deeds. Thank you for all you do, Isabelle, and congratulations.

What's coming up in the next week...

Now, next week we're back to the Poets Corner Community Garden and back to Michael and Margaret at Hollybush, who've been in touch to say they need you. So come on board for that, why don't you.

And don't forget the Mini-Mermaids incredible mission this Thursday. Honestly, it's a game-changer, so make your excuses, take an extra long lunch hour and come and join Leo and the crew for some fablous, feelgood fitness cheerleading.

Well, until next time, take the very best of care: have a great week, stay warm (won't be long before the clocks go forward), stay well and stay in touch.