Welcome

We welcomed three first timers this evening. Eduin, Andrés and Hilary all rocked up for their very first good deed.

We also had a few tourists. Chi Nwa from Haringey decided to head south to check us out and Pritesh and Paul "PB" Bown from Camden graced us with their presence.

Stay Warm

Caroline "Faster" Townsend is on her way towards becoming a Coach in Running Fitness and as part of her special training she needs to practise on you lot regularly, so undertook a good old fashioned warm up (let's call it a "loosener upper", it was warm enough already).

:'(

Sad news. After two and a half years of leading GG Islington, eating lots of biscuits, having some fierce debates, meeting loads of amazing people across the borough and on our runs and making some great friends tonight was my final GoodGym run.

The Task

We were at Hilldrop Community centre this evening. There was a lot of weeding to do and a lot of pond lining to shift. Some top efforts from everybody

The Choonz

For once, Patrick was playing some quality music. Then I realised it was a special playlist of songs referred to in Pun Report Titles.

The Run Back

Caroline led an easy-paced group, Patrick took a medium-paced group and Simon led a speedy group for some tough intervals with technical tips thrown in. Including a race up the steps at Emirates where Chi Nwa, despite tripping on the first set, managed to destroy the competition.

The Biscuits

Meg couldn't make the run tonight but met us after with some homemade treats. Delicious double (or was it triple?) chocolate biscuits and also cinnamon and raisin. I had three!

The Pub

A bunch of us buggered off to the pub afterwards to say goodbye to me. I was literally showered with biscuits and given a lovely tea towel that tickled the old tear ducts.

Hot Debate

What makes you cry? I went around with dictaphone and recorded responses.

Make yourself a cup of hot chocolate and get the tissues ready cos here's the saddest list in GoodGym history:

• Aimee: Animals that are friends with other animals
• Danica: when animals at shelters can't find homes
• Alex: I cry when other people cry
• Nina: I get sad when people leave London
• Paul: Band of Brothers Episode 10
• Graham: Chopping Onions
• Frances: I cry at videos of unusual animal friendships on the Internet
• Eduin: Sad films
• Pritesh: When Simon leaves GoodGym
• Alison: What makes me cry is GoodGym trainers getting me lost on the way to the task [that was Patrick]
• Aidan: What makes me cry is The Green Mile
• Hilary: What makes me cry is onions. Chopping Onions
• Caroline: Not having biscuits at the task
• Patrick: What makes me cry is when the person trying overcomes adversity and pulls through at the end
• Bianca: Mondays without Simon
• Colleen: Missing my family in The States
• Grainne: Stories of people overcoming adversity
• Claire: The Matchstick Girl and The Little Mermaid
• Saba: Laughing very hard makes me cry
• Clare: The film Lion makes me cry. It's very sad
• Rosa: Wine makes me cry
• Heidi: Most recently I cried hearing about the people in Grenfell Tower and what they went through
• Holly: Onions make me cry
• Danny Abs: Top three things that make me cry include love, death and Simon's beautiful blue eyes
• Simon: Accidentally using the wrong teatowel to dry up

So, me leaving GoodGym is about as sad as onions. Great.

Here's the audio file

The Big Debate List

Here's a list of everything we have debated at GG Islington:

• Cats vs. Dogs
• Fried eggs vs. Boiled eggs
• Best type of fruit
• Best ABBA song
• Rocky Balboa's greatest opponent
• Best way to distribute leaflets
• Best biscuit
• Worst topic to debate at GoodGym
• Toughest race distance
• Best flower
• Greatest film ever
• Who would you choose to be stranded on a desert island with - Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood, or Mel & Sue?
• Greatest music album
• Imperial vs. Metric
• Which era from the Back to the Future films would you most like to live in?
• Are hot cross buns best with or without raisins?
• What are those strange circles on Highbury Fields?
• Best chocolate bar
• Holiday abroad vs. Staycation
• What's the best martial art?
• Greatest runner of all time
• When you phone in work sick, should you have to give a reason?
• Is Ikea rubbish?
• Should films be 90 minutes long or 3 hours long
• Who will win Wimbledon?
• Summer vs. Winter running
• Beard or no beard
• Jaffa Cake: cake or biscuit
• Should people boycott airshows
• Vegemite vs. Marmite
• Should athletics drugs cheats be banned for life
• Ideal number of working days per week
• Best mode of transport
• Best meal of the day
• Who will win the rugby world cup
• Where's the best place to run in London
• Best pre-race food
• Best thing since sliced bread
• Best running conditions
• Favourite/best colour
• Biggest fear
• Should fireworks be a) only for 5th November b) 5th November plus Friday and Saturday of that week or c) The whole of November
• Should you sand wood up and down or in a circular motion
• Mr Whippy vs. Cornetto
• How to pronounce "Scone"
• Best double act
• Should cyclists be allowed to jump traffic lights
• Should presents in Christmas stockings be wrapped or not
• Are New Year's Resolutions worth it
• Best debate we've ever had
• Best David Bowie song
• Best holiday destination in the UK
• Salad Cream vs. Mayonnaise
• Do ghosts exist
• Best training session
• Favourite animal
• Favourite month
• Favourite operating system
• Should there be markings on roads
• Mice: vermin or cute adorable little critters
• Twitter vs. facebook
• Bunny vs chick: Which is better for a symbol of Easter
• Are April Fools' Day tricks mean
• Should Graham keep his moustache
• What's the most annoying thing that drivers do
• The best way to get fit in North London
• Favourite holiday
• Metric vs. Imperial (again!)
• City vs. Countryside
• Start of the week: Sunday or Monday
• What should we debate next week
• Should headphones be allowed in races
• Are fingerless gloves stupid
• Short or long hills
• Best joke
• What's the most American thing you can think of
• Best running surface
• Proper way to eat scones
• Best type of grape
• Should we get rid of the penny
• Is cheesecake cheese or a cake
• Biggest muppet in athletics
• Most disgusting food
• Changing gender pronouns in covers of songs
• Most attractive person in the world
• Frogs vs. Toads
• How to pronounce GIF
• How can runners help with mental health
• What's the best mission you've done and if you haven't done one then what's the best one you've heard about
• Is Rickrolling still funny in 2016
• The best way to murder somebody and get away with it
• What's the best type of firework
• Will Trump make America great again
• Tea vs. Coffee
• Should we keep the monarchy
• Should advent calendars have 24 or 25 days
• Should you bother with Christmas cards
• Shoudl we give up debates
• If it's raining should you stick on an anorak or just deal with it
• What's the point
• Best hangover cure
• How cold is too cold
• Best way to get up a hill
• Most important birthday to celebrate
• Crunchy vs. Smooth peanut butter
• Is Valentine's Day stupid
• Are Twiglets crisps
• Lemon and sugar or more exotic pancake toppings
• Are job interviews a waste of time
• Most annoying thing about running
• What should you do when a GG task is cancelled
• Does pretzel and sausage make a decent breakfast
• Who has the best haircut
• Should we change to a four day week
• Finish the race or get medical attention when sick
• Should you register to vote
• Best game
• Why have numbers dropped lately
• Is cheating ever acceptable
• Is it too bloody hot
• Worst injury

Oh dear. That took ages to do. Seriously. About an hour and a half. I think there are a few missing from when people covered, but you can't have everything and the report's already about two hours late.

Next Week

There's another brand new task next week helping at Rose Bowl. I won't see you there.. Sniff

Sign up here

The Future

My only hope for GG Islington is that you continue debate and have biscuits. Even if the debate is about why the new trainer isn't bringing biscuits along.

Thank you Islington, you have all been amazing and I will genuinely miss Monday nights. Is there anything good on telly?
Simon

• P.S. This report took me longer to write than any ever before. Here's the runner up and one of my favourites

• P.P.S Favourite prank

• P.P.P.S Second Favourite prank

• P.P.P.P.S Another favourite run report Also the briefing that got the most laughs ever.

• P.P.P.P.P.S Frances suggested something for this run report. Under protest I have decided to to it. Can't see who it's hurting. Kisses to anybody who is offended.