Really nice to catch up with our lovely GG Islington crew after a thrilling weekend of athletic sportyness and exciting adventures. Well done to everyone who represented their local borough at the Goodgym Olympics last Saturday- an amazing time was had by all (The report has been posted here if you want to catch up with some highlights). Massive congratulations to Kike and Tilly for cycling in the Ride London 100 on Sunday- and for still having legs for Goodgym deeds the day after!

Classic task tonight, an old favourite at Caxton House Community Centre, helping with gardening and weeding tasks before the Hill Rise Summer Festival this Saturday (which we are invited to). Our group were separated into two teams- team one tackling the trees and bushes around the main entrance and the car park with secateurs, trimmers and saws, and team two weeded and cleared moss and plants from the patio, and generally made the place look presentable for guests. Great to see our newest Goodgymmer Samantha Chapman getting stuck in, and our tallest Goodgym members making light work of removing some old curtains from inside the hall. Graham Atkins did some quality branch smashing too, by jumping up and down in a skip- top work!

We made our way back along Hornsey Road, and topped of the evening with a few stretches by the Emirates Stadium. Come and join us next week for the amazing Paul Bown's final Goodgym task as Islington Trainer, starting with a trip to the Rose Bowl Community Centre, and finishing with drinks and pizza at the Victoria Tavern (sign up here).

If you are looking for more opportunities for fun and festivities, the Goodgym Monthly Social is happening this Thursday at the lovely Mulberry Bush pub near Gabriel's Wharf, Bankside. Should be a blast, don't miss it!

Have an absolutely cracking week, folks!

19 Goodgymers ran 4-6km to help Caxton House with leafleting and destruction of lots of bushes!

We didn't have any newbies this week but plenty of 2nd and 3rd timers and of course regulars - lovely to see you all.

In the news this week:

1. Well done to Steve and James who both got PB's at Dulwich Parkrun at the weekend!
2. There is a GG social in Walthamstow this Thursday - join Pritesh for drinks, puns and heroes - sign up here.
3. Also there is a Community Mission at 10am this Saturday helping Barnsbury Square Gardens - lovely local Islington mission!

After warming up we headed to Caxton House, the slight incline all the way there always makes it tiring but great to know it's a down hill run on the way home.

Upon our arrival we met Rose who explained our two tasks: leafleting and destruction! A group of ten people, going off in pairs leafleted for the Community Centres Zumba Classes - nice!

Meanwhile the other eight people, who were joined by Sofia continued the work of destroying bushes and small tree's in the front garden. This space is going to be transformed once everything is removed. Armed with an array of tools we got to work chopping things down. Steve and George quickly chopped down some small tree's, while everyone else was contacting ever increasing spikey thorns!

Nice legs Graham!

Over time we were joined by pairs of flyers who'd finished distributing in their desonated areas. They helped massively to chop into small pieces the removed tree's and bushes. And beautifully Graham 'Always Shorts' Atkins got into the big bin and jumped on the incoming branches - he said "I haven't had this much in ages!" Always good to hear, especially when it's a bit colder than recently.

Once we collected all the debris up in either piles, the bin or bags we said our goodbyes to Rose. We headed to a local hill for some sprints before a downhill run home and biscuits - yum!

Sign up for next week here when we'll be helping Waterside Adventure Playground and Mildmay Community Centre.

PB out

17 Goodgymers ran 4.5km to help Caxton House Community Centre cut back bushes!

Welcome along to Gareth and George - it was there first time last night. Also welcome back to Claire who joined us again after having a baby.

In the news this week:

1. We are still looking for Finsbury Parkrun pacers this Saturday! Details here.
2. Goodgym February long run and Tooting Bec Track Session both on this Sunday.
3. It was Christina's last GoodGym Islington last night as she moving to Manchester - thanks for coming along and we're sad to see you go.

After we warmed up we all headed up to Caxton House Community Centre together, that lovely steady up hill that is always a bit of challenge but worth it for the downhill return home.

Caxton House is a fantastic hub in the Archway/Crouch Hill community - provide educational programmes, older persons groups and supports. Once we arrived at the task Rose explained our main task for this week was to cut back as many bushes, ivy and brambles as possible in the car park area. They want this area to be cleared as it is high maintenance and they'd like to secure funding to rebuild parts of it.

Sticks n' saws!

While the major of the team got started cutting back things, Ellie and Gareth did a litter pick sweep around the building and in the front garden. Armed with various tools, including saws, everyone really got into the destroying part of the task. So many small tree's and bushes were coming down eveywhere!

I may have underestimated how long it would take for us to bag things up, it took time to break down the branches and sticks to then bag them up. Amazing work all!

After 45 minutes of work we took a group picture and headed back other base for as stretch and biscuit round 2!

Sign up for next week here - we'll be shifting tonnes of woodchip for SHP.

PB out

24 Goodgymers ran 5km to help Sunnyside Community Gardens turnover compost piles and lay woodchip paths!

Welcome along to newbies - Kathleen, Steve, Helen, Claire and Rachel - lovely to have you all along, come back and join us again :)

In the news this week:

1. GoodGym is pacing Finsbury parkrun on Saturday 23rd February - especially on look out for 25, 30, 35, and 40 pacers - sign up here.
2. This Sunday James is leading CREOS Community Mission up in Crouch End - full details here.
3. Join the GoodGym Unofficial Unofficial Facebook Group here to keep updated with other things going on.

Corrrr that was a fun evening - loved it! After our intro and warm up we split into two groups to head up to Sunnyside Community Gardens. James & Steve led a faster and longer group by doing a lap of the Emirates, while the rest of us went up directly.

Upon our arrival we met Anna and other committee members who explained what our tasks were this week:

• There were two piles of compost that needed to be taken off, turned over and put back in a pile again. This helps fasten the process of making compost, which will then feed the garden.
• The second task was to lay woodchip over the paths.

Over 25 minutes we did some great work! The compost teams did a great job getting to the bottom (or as far as they could) - the piles were definitely smaller when we left - good turning. Team woodchip did a fantastic job moving the good chip stuff in bags and a wheelbarrow - lovely.

After a group picture we headed back to base for some stair sprints and some out of date biscuits.... oh hahaha.

Sign up for next week here when we'll be helping Caxton House.

PB out