Wed 21st Aug at 6:30pm
Helping the Nature Reserve with their re-development project and get the site ready for Spring
Read moreMon 16th Jan 2023 at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
9 Goodgym running folks braved the potentially icy terrains for our Group Run to the ARC Centre last night.
Our crew included first timer Rachel (welcome!) and Alison, John and Simon after their adventures at the Met League cross country on the weekend. Louise has been attending loads of tasks across town as well (including our Christmas Tree pick up task in Elthorne Park last Sunday) and Charlie has been starting to build new guide running opportunities at Lordship Rec parkrun.
After a warm up along the Emirates Stadium slopes, we ran together past Highbury and Islington station and Canonbury Square Gardens (where we will be visiting on Saturday morning- see below!), and down to Essex Road (just under 2 miles). Upon our arrival, we met with Kelly, the new gardening and food coordinator at The ARC Centre, who had a great list of varied tasks for us.
Group 1 started with some green waste clearing from the kerbside and immediate entrance of the centre. The planting boxes we built during the pandemic are still going strong, and are ready for new bulbs, and our plan was to give the new plantings the best chance they can get during spring time.
Group 2 made their way to the Packington Gardens, down St John's Street, with trowels, spades and brushes in hand. First task was to illuminate some huge planting beds with our portable flood lights, and to separate the chick weed away from the newly planted bulbs. Chick weed is a sturdy and pervasive plant, but grows so quickly and can overpower a planting bed in no time! Our weeding teams also swapped roles at 10 minute intervals with our other runners, who took it in turns to litter pick the park, removing glass bottles, plastic debris and metal cans from the children's play area.
Group 1 joined the rest of our team in Packington Gardens, and helped with sweeping the children's sand pit with brushes, to keep the area from getting too slippery, and ready for more youngsters to visit. To finish off our evening of tasks, we all came together to give the chick weed beds a 5 minute blast (a much larger future job) to the amazement of a local family watching from afar. A lot of excellent work completed in a relatively short amount of time- great job Goodgym crew!
We switched our route back to The Emirates to involve a detour near New North Road, passing a beautiful old ghost sign for "Night Time Rejuvenation Remedies", The Alpaca Pub and a taxidermy shop. We also took on the Highbury Fields slope to bring us to Drayton Park, in time for us to take on our monthly Emirates Stadium Time Trial. Well done to Charlie, Louise, Alison, John and Claire for giving it a go- results will be listed in the follow-up email!
NEWS
Achilles International VI Guiding Sessions
On Thursday (depending on the icy weather), our crew from Achilles International (an all-abilities sports and engagement charity) will be hosting their weekly time trial at The Emirates Stadium (starting at Arsenal station at 6pm). Guides and potential guides are welcome to join- very friendly, super social. One of our favourite tasks!
Canonbury Square Gardens (Saturday 21st January)
The resident team of volunteers at Canonbury Square in Islington will be hosting their monthly open volunteer gardening morning from 10am-12 midday. A great task to pop in to after parkrun at Highbury Fields or Finsbury Park!
Sign up here:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-january
Victoria Park Time Trial- January Edition!
Area Activator Simon will be starting the ever-popular Victoria Park time trial this Sunday (22nd January from 11am), but this time with a twist!
The challenge is to complete a "blind handicap" 5km time trial to the best of your personal pacing abilities. The objective is to run our 5km time trial course as close to your projected time as possible, without the use of a watch or pacing equipment to guide you!
Read more about this session here:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-attack-january-2023-victoria-park-blind-handicap-challenge
January Starter Session 2- Highbury Fields junior parkrun and Penn Road Gardens
On Sunday 29th January, we will be hosting a special group run and the opportunity to complete double good deeds!
Task 1 will be to volunteer for Highbury Fields junior parkrun, a free weekly timed 2km run designed for 4-14 year olds to run independently and safely. The volunteer team will be looking for marshals, funnel managers, time keepers, barcode scanners and tail walkers.
For more information, see the event page:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/january-group-run-starter-session-highbury-fields-junior-parkrun
Penn Road Gardens Open Volunteer Morning
Following our parkrun volunteering, we will then run 2 miles approximately as a social group over to our next task location, Penn Road Gardens, between Caledonian and Holloway Road.
This little idyll in the middle of Islington is maintained purely by local gardens and helpers. Expect some great fun composting and leaf gathering tasks with other neighbours!
Sign up here:
Mon 16th Jan 2023 at 6:45pm
Preparation for Spring in Union Square, Packington Gardens and Riverside Gardens
Read moreMonday 9th January 2023
Sara Roberts has done their first good deed with GoodGym.
Sara is a now a fully fledged GoodGym runner. They've just run to do good for the first time. They are out there making amazing things happen and getting fit at the same time.
Mon 9th Jan 2023 at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On Monday evening, Area Activator Simon welcomed 11 Goodgymmers at The Emirates Stadium (including first timer Sara and a few familiar faces from a few years back- good to see you all!) for one of our first sessions back after the Christmas break. We had spend our Xmas breaks in lovely places like Croydon, Yorkshire, Sussex and Oxford, staying away from the ominous lurgee to the best of our abilities!
After a warm up on the slope connecting to the stadium concourse, our crew made their way towards Highbury Fields via the Whistler Street slopes, and down to the Better Leisure Centre on Highbury Crescent. Upon our arrival, we found an official Islington Council Christmas Tree drop off point, ready to be filled with discarded trees. Our three teams (Tree-mendous Troop, The North Stars and The Tree Team) arranged to cover the North, East and West of the Highbury and Islington borough to find trees and to bring them the drop spot within 40 minutes.
Christmas trees are like buses. Nothing for ages, and multiple ones come at one! Within the last 10-15 minutes of our session, our teams were able to dispatch 18 fully grown and very heavy trees into the official drop point with the power of team work. Great job everyone!
NEWS & UPCOMING SESSIONS
Achilles International VI Guide Running Group Runs
Every Thursday, Achilles International (an all abilities running charity) host their a group session for visually impaired runners and guides of all abilities. These sessions are in mostly hazard free locations, easily accessible via public transport, and a great way to try guiding on a regular basis!
During the winter months, we run our sessions at Paddington Rec Track in Maida Vale, and The Emirates Stadium concourse in Islington, alternating from week to week. In Summer, we will also run in Green Park.
Our next session will be at Paddington Rec on Thursday 12th January, meeting at Maida Vale underground for 6pm:
And then The Emirates Stadium on Thursday 19th January, meeting at Arsenal underground for 6pm:
January Starter Session 1: Caledonian Park junior parkrun volunteering / Crouch End Open Space
On Sunday 15th January, Area Activator Simon will be leading a weekend group run opportunity between two of our favourite community missions! 3-4 miles of social running between Cally Road and Crouch End.
Task 1: Volunteering at Caledonian Road junior parkrun
Junior parkrun is a 2km free weekly time trial designed to allow youngsters aged 4-14 years old to run independently and safely in a social setting. The team are always looking for course marshals, time keepers, barcode scanners and tail walkers to help out on a Sunday morning!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/january-group-run-starter-session-caledonian-park-junior-parkrun
Task 2: CREOS aka Crouch End Open Space
After our task in Caledonian Park, we will run to Crouch End Open Space to help the local volunteer group (Friends of CREOS) with building and repairing the forest paths between Highgate and Muswell Hill, ready for spring time. The team are known for finishing a volunteering day with a picnic and refreshments in the Hanley Tennis Club Carpark, so worth signing up just for this!
11am - 1pm in Hanley Tennis Club Carpark, Crouch End:
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-january-2023
January Starter Session 2: Highbury Fields junior parkrun / Penn Road Gardens
On Sunday 29th January, Area Activator Simon will be leading another group run between two of our favourite regular weekend tasks. 2 miles of social running between Highbury Fields junior parkrun and Penn Road Gardens.
Task 1: Highbury Fields junior parkrun volunteering
The Highbury Fields junior parkrun team are looking for keen helpers to assist with the running of their free weekly timed 2km run for youngsters and their families. A great way to start a Sunday morning!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/january-group-run-starter-session-highbury-fields-junior-parkrun
Task 2- Penn Road Gardens
The residents of Penn Road Gardens will be hosting their monthly open volunteering morning just off Caledonian Road. The team have been maintaining a beautiful green spot over the winter months, and preparing fresh compost throughout the year ready for Spring. Come on down for a lovely green fingered Sunday morning task!
10am-12pm on Sunday 29th January, Penn Road Gardens.
Goodgym Islington January Social!
On Monday 30th January, after our group run to Thornhill Square Gardens, we will be visiting Mesi's Kitchen Ethiopian Restaurant for some delicious warming and wholesome food and refreshments. A great opportunity to catch-up and wrap up the January Challenge!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/january-challenge-social-mesi-s-kitchen-holloway-road
Mon 9th Jan 2023 at 6:45pm
Helping Islington Council with collecting Xmas Trees following the festive period
Read moreWed 23rd Jan 2019 at 6:45pm
Running to Quernmore Road to help local residents tidy the street
Read more