Pick and Mix
6 Goodgymers helped their local community in Islington
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Monday 30th September
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Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
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Area Activator Simon met at the Arsenal Community Hub on a chilly (but thankfully dry) Autumn evening, before running up Sussex Way to Sunnyside Community Gardens. Upon his arrival, he met with task organiser and Goodgymmer Eslam who had opened up the Hornsey Rise Kickabout Gardens specially for our visit this evening!
Sally, Alison, Emily and Vaughan were also on hand for smashing evening of community garden renovation- a project set up for sustainable growing on formerly abandoned grounds. Our task was to break down a large pile of donated soil into more manageable chunks (using spades and pickaxes), and depositing it into buckets and wheelbarrows. Then, we moved the soil over to a lovely wildlife pond (made from an old bathtub), and we built some foundations around the tub. Emily took charge of padding the soil down, almost like a muddy sandcastle around the pond!
Within 45 minutes approximately, we had moved almost all of the soil, and had successfully created a strong base for the pond. Wonderful job everyone!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
GROUP SESSIONS-
Monday 7th October- Timbuktu Adventure Playground- Community Mission 7.15pm, Task Location
Monday 14th October- Arachne Greek Cypriot Women's Group- Group Run 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
Monday 21st October- Rose Bowl Youth Club- Community Mission 7.15pm, Task Location
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-rose-bowl-youth-club
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Monday 29th October- Turning Compost at Pollard Close- Group Run 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
JENKI x ON Running Spitalfields Monthly Matcha Morning Group Run
Thursday 3rd October, 7am, On Running Spitalfields
Every 1st Thursday morning of the month, ON Running Spitalfields and JENKI Matcha Café on Brushfield Street will be hosting a 5km social paced group run through East London and by St Katherine's Dock.
Matcha and hot drinks on offer at special run club discount!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/jenki-matcha-with-on-running-spitalfields-group-october
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Thursday 3rd October- Paddington Rec Track
Thursday 10th October- Emirates Stadium
Thursday 17th October- Paddington Rec Track
Thursday 26th October- Stratford Olympic Park
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Thornhill Square Gardens- October Workday
Saturday 5th October, 10am - midday, Thornhill Square Gardens
This is an open volunteer gardening morning set up by the Friends of Thornhill Square. As one of the largest public spaces in Islington without council maintenance assistance, extra pairs of hands for bulb planting, composting, litter picking and preparing flower beds would be hugely appreciated!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/thornhill-square-gardens-open-volunteer-morning-october
Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 12th October, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (October)
Saturday 19th October, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens
The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.
Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 20th October, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our monthly trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-october-2024
Camino Ultra London Lee Valley Eco Trail- Aid Station Superstars
Saturday 5th October, 9am onwards, Ranger's Retreat, Chingford
DaznBone (aka Darren Strachan and David Bone) and the Camino Ultra team are putting together the logistics for their next 50km ultra race (running from Wanstead Flats, up the green corridor to Epping Forest and back), and have invited the Goodgym crew to get involved!
On the course, there will be 4 major aid stops, and we have been invited to take over the first refresh point and the penultimate aid station.
This will involve providing water and snacks to runners of all abilities during the key stages of their race, and to support them with smiling faces and enthusiasm!
Gait Analysis Training Session with Area Activator Simon
Wednesday 9th October, Emirates Stadium, 6.30pm
Gait analysis has been proved to be a useful tool for highlighting potential issues, making suggestions for improvement and checking efficiency in movement.
Simon would like to offer 10 Goodgymmers the opportunity to join him for a dynamic warm up and short interval session.
During the evening, recordings for forward momentum, running form and lateral stability (at different paces) will be made, and used to make suggestions for training focus or for footwear choices.
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/gait-analysis-training-session-with-area-activator-simon
Goodgym Race Team Big 4- Love Luton RunFest 2024
Sunday 13th October, 8.45am onwards, Luton Town Centre
This 5k, 10k, and half marathon around the streets of Luton is a popular road race with GoodGym. Join us for this 4th and final official GoodGym race team race of 2024. Big Goodgym running crew meet up to be expected!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/love-luton-love-luton-runfest-2024
Met League Cross Country Series- Goodgym Race Team
Various locations, October 2024 - February 2025
Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)
Sign up to the Goodgym Race Team for £15, and enter ALL 5 RACES for the bargain price of £20!
Newbies encouraged and welcomed- the most fun you can have running over the Winter months!
Fixtures
12th October Claybury https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-claybury-3aab4cb8-8f15-4d0d-a0ed-126cdf50e85e
9th November Horsenden Hill https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country
30th November Uxbridge https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-uxbridge
11th January Welwyn Garden City https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-stanborough-park
8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park
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Friday morning drop-in community gardening sessions with The Garden Classroom
