Another good sized crew

It was a good sized crew who gathered for tonight's warm up on our hotel steps. After whizzing through some of our trusty usual dynamic moves (omega squats and butterfly squats), we headed out for the short, 1/2-mile route to one of our favourite tasks at nearby Oxford House, the community arts centre.

Fabulous furniture, serious scrubbing

There, task owner Sarah, along with colleague Deborah, welcomed us and talked us through tonight's task: a tough, labour-intensive task of relocating large amounts of furniture, and scrubbing the dance floor area. Even more tough as the arts centre was a hot place to be tonight (literally, due to its glass roof). The runners had even more of a sweat on as they set about racing up and down the numerous flights of stairs carrying tables, stacks of chair, and hoovers.

Several teams were upstairs scrubbing bathrooms, bringing a shine to the floors and unblocking sinks. It was quite the team effort.

As usual, the GoodGymers finished their designated work early, and so Becky took a new team off to the bar area to undertake a huge washing up effort. The small kitchen was a hive of GoodGym activity, with the most fantastic production line being formed, from the soap sud start right through to a crockery stacking finish.

The venue was the usual hive of smiley activity until just after 8 when we met for our cheerios and final pics. Brushes and buckets were rinsed; the last chairs left in their rightful homes, and the group gathered for a couple of smiley pics, a little fatigued but feeling very good.

Tonight was a sad cheerio, as although we accomplished lots, Sarah is leaving the wonderful Oxford House, for other shores and so it was our last task with her. We've loved her energy and enthusiasm, and brilliant planning and her bundles of appreciation for our lovely partnership over the last seven months.

The Weavers' workout

And so the work continued over at Weavers Fields, a breath of fresh air (literally) as we headed out to the still warm, still light, streets of Bethnal Green for tonight's fitness session. Billed as a speed and strength workout, this soon turned into a speed, drill, and super-strength workout as we were lucky enough to be joined by Chi who joined me mischievously for our favourite "who-can-deliver-the-toughest-abs-exercise" game. We think it was a draw - so did our runners, judging by the looks on their faces.

We enjoyed hamstring and hip flexor running drills; jumping squats and burpee challenges, then the great abs-and-glute-off. Despite being given the offer to sit out any exercises, the GoodGymers didn't take us up on our offer, choosing instead to hover in isometric squats, before cheerfully tackling one last sprint of the park. What an incredible fitness effort.

Let's hear it for...

So tonight’s shout-outs include a huge hello and welcome to our first time runners, Amara and Ahmed. You did so much. Thank you. Not only did you accomplish a vast amount at our task, you also achieved bundles at that tough fitness session! Do come and run again very, very soon won’t you.

And a big welcome to Kate, not new to GoodGym, but new to us here at Tower Hamlets, and we hope to see you again very soon.

Thanks to Lieke for brilliant backmarking, and to Chi for the usual fun, fabulously effective, fitness offering.

And so to next week

...Yep, moving onto next week, we're back to Meath Gardens and Hollybush Gardens for a two-task evening of gardening and clearing. And The Lower Body Blast workout. Come and join in, we'd love you to come along.

Until then, have a really good, enjoyable week, and hope to see you very soon.