Rake a chance, Rake a chance on me...
4 Goodgymers helped their local community in Islington
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Monday 18th September 2023
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Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
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Area Activator Simon and Sarah met at the Arsenal Community Hub for one of our most autumnal evenings of 2023 so far! The immense heat from the last few weeks has cleared after a satisfying thunderstorm over the weekend, allowing for perfect running weather. Together, we ran up Sussex Way, passing Caxton House Community Hub and Sunnyside Gardens on route (a few of our previous Goodgym Islington task locations), before diverting through Elthorne Park and onto Ashley Road, catching up with Alison and Emily upon our arrival.
We made our way through reception and through the the resident's garden of this assisted living and rehabilitation centre, and towards a little shed at the back. From here, we picked up rakes, snow shovels and a portable green waste storage bin, and cracked on with collecting as many of the fallen leaves off the main pathways and the communal spaces as possible. These leaves were then left on a designated composting spot for green waste disposal or future mulching of the garden.
Our second task was to cut away as many vines and strings of ivy from the garden fencing as possible. Despite being beautiful to look at, too much of these invasive weeds can destroy the structures, and choke out other plants. Secateurs and gloves were required to clear these away as efficiently as possible. A big job, but we made a solid start within our 45 minute session tonight- great job everyone!
Headtorch Group Runs
As we start to leave the Summer months, we are beginning to finish our group run sessions in the dark. We recommend bringing a head torch with you if possible, so help to illuminate our work spaces.
Area Activator Simon will be bringing portable clip lights and large construction lights, but additional light sources always appreciated!
Goodgym Islington News
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Achilles International VI Guiding Sessions- Paddington Rec Track
Thursday 21st September, 6pm, Arsenal Tube Station
Achilles International are an amazing organisation who link guide with blind and particially sighted runners, and they are looking for potential guides for future training sessions.
Goodgym (and parkrun) communities have been very supportive of this team over the years, so we are looking to see if we can introduce more runners to the world of guiding.
Over the Winter months, Achilles International will be hosting fortnightly running sessions around the floodlit forecourt of Emirates Stadium, Islington. Every other week, we will train at Paddington Rec Track.
Penn Road Gardens Open Morning (September)
Sunday 24th September, 10:00am - 12:00pm, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
Local volunteers will be on hand to direct anyone who arrives to offer their help between 10am- midday. Come on down to enjoy a lovely morning community task!
Follow this link for more info: https://www.pennroadn7.com/the-gardens
GG Race Team- Met League Hill Training Sessions!
Friday 29th September, 6.30pm, The Pembroke Castle, Camden
Goodgym Cross Country is back! We will be returning to the Met League in 2023 and 2024!
If you have never tried cross country, it is amazing muddy fun. A definite challenge, but accessible to all who want to give it a go, and are part of a UKA affiliated team (like the Goodgym Race Team).
To coincide with the events, Area Activator Simon Fitzmaurice (who is a UK Athletics Coach in Running Fitness or CiRF for short) will be hosting a series of hill interval training sessions at Primrose Hill over the Autumn and Winter months.
The Pembroke Castle, 150 Gloucester Ave., London NW1 8JA, and we will run to Primrose Hill together to start our session.
September 29th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-september
October 27th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-october
November 24th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-november
January 5th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-january
January 26th (aka February fixture session) https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-february
Camino Ultra Epping Forest 50km and 25km Eco Trail- Aid Station Superstars!!!
Goodgym Crew are back for the exciting new installment of the Camino Ultra Epping Forest Race!
Saturday 7th October, 9am - 5pm (various shifts), Butler's Retreat, Epping Forest
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!
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day (October 2023)
Sunday 15th October, 11am - 1pm, CREOS meadow or Hanley Tennis Club car park
Join us as we help the team at CREOS, a local conservation charity, maintain and improve a lovely green oasis in Crouch End.
CREOS looks after the meadows and wooded pathways of the Crouch End Open Space. GoodGym runners have been helping them maintain this beautiful patch of land for a while now, and the CREOS team always has lots for us to do.
This month, the CREOS team are planning on playing down a load of hoggin (a mix of hardy sand, clay and gravel aggregate) for new paths along the forest walking routes. It will be a big job, so we can use as many hands as possible!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-october-r-2023
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Special hedge planting project with the Friends of City Gardens
