11 do-gooders hit the streets, smashed The Irish Causeway task to pieces and ploughed through some tabata training

Shouts out to Oliver, Comfort and Beth S, who made it to us in one piece this week. Welcome to GoodGym Haringey guys

On arrival to GG Haringey HQ, an eager fresh face going by the name of Oliver greeted me. While we conversed on our youth and community work endeavours, a couple other fresh faces began to arrive along with some regulars. Shouts out to Oliver, Comfort and Beth S, who made it to us in one piece this week. Welcome to GoodGym Haringey guys. Big ups to the core crew as always, although one of our core members wasn’t with us this week, Ali we missed you and look forward to having you by our sides again soon.

GG Haringey have been nominated for an achievement award

After Sarah managed to get her stuff dropped off we started the briefing welcoming the newcomers, congratulating Dashing Dave on his 12th week and eligibility to be a taskforce member as well as sharing the news that GG Haringey have been nominated for an achievement award by The Irish Causeway for all the hard work our guys have put in to the Hale Road housing scheme. Well done to all who’ve been involved in that project. You guys are amazing!

I did clock Paul finding a bottle of hooch then start to reminisce on days past

So with glee in our boots or running shoes off we set, As the distance was a little short this week I sent some of the more experienced runners off in the opposite direction to double back and meet us at the task. As we arrived, we could see Tom waiting outside one of the properties with gloves on ready to get stuck in. We quickly grouped up and Tom took the lead in telling everyone a little more about The Irish Causeway scheme, together with what needed to be done on this occasion. We had previously cleared the front gardens of several properties of waste and weeds in order for some nice new shingle to be thrown down. This has now been completed leaving a fresher look to the front of the properties and smiles on the faces of the tenants. This week’s task was to hit the back gardens with all our might, taking on binding weed, general waste and some pretty hefty bramble. We split the group into 3 teams to attack three of the gardens. I was amazed at the effort of the group this week, as they wasted no time at all in ripping, tugging, tearing and cutting the undergrowth. Two tenants from the properties also joined us in the fight against the foliage. Guys you were like machines, leaving no waste or weed a single place to hide. Everybody involved SMASHED it. Although, I did clock Paul finding a bottle of hooch then start to reminisce on days past, I quickly reminded him that we still had work to do and that he could hit the hard stuff (Alco pops) after the task when some of the group hit the pub.

you could hear the vigour in people’s movement increase as they stepped up a gear to finish the job

Before long one off the three gardens was finished, not a weed in sight apart from the unearthed pile that remained at the back of the garden. Everybody then pitched in together with one last push to finish off the remaining two gardens and boy did they push. After finding a huge spiders nest in one of the gardens that was just about finished everyone was focused on the last remaining garden as time slipped away. I yelled 1 min left and you could hear the vigour in people’s movement increase as they stepped up a gear to finish the job. I called time and the job was done, some still cutting n tugging but we had finished what we set out to do and felt absolutely great in doing so. The tenants and Tom the task owner were very impressed and happy with all the hard work. Before we left everybody signed a petition to help keep the Irish Centre in Tottenham remain open. Due to cuts within Haringey the future is looking uncertain for young and old who attend the Irish Centre for learning, support, socialising and more along with residents of the Irish Causeway who’s rent may increase substantially. For more info on this please click Here.

we engaged in the now standard high fives

As we piled out front of the properties Tom thanked us and we engaged in the now standard high fives then off we set on our merry way back along Hale road and toward HQ a few minutes up a slight hill. As we ran past a bus stop on the opposite side of the road a mixed group of people waiting for their bus started shouting “yeah” and clapping then a few metres further up the street it happened again with a smaller group of people. It really is great to see local people are recognising our contribution to the Haringey community.

our mandatory sprint along the home straight

After our mandatory sprint along the home straight and a tweak of my hamstring we were back at HQ. With the assistance of Dave and Aidan we were able to go through some tabata then the stretches to cool us down. Our work was done.

Oh and just to let everybody know we’ll be taking part in a 10k this Sunday. Would be great to have as much support as possible. More info Here

Until next week folks – Stay fit, do good and look out for the light!

Next week’s Task