A gaggle of glorious goodness givers graced the ...ugh, I can't do alliteration. That sort of run report will have to wait for a guest run report writer like Steve.

So, 12 people turned up for the starter session today to go and help Barnsbury Square Gardens do a bit of gardening. We had quite the guest list:

1) THE FIRST TIMERS

Hugh, Nick, Chantal, Natalie and Claire. Welcome!

2) THE FIRST TIMER TO ISLINGTON

After a trip to Westminster last week, Alex paid us a visit today. Welcome to Islington.

3) THE DISTANCE DON

Victoria had so much energy she followed today's run and task with an extra lap of Highbury Fields while we had a stretch (we made sure she had connected her Strava before she was allowed to do it though)

4) THE BACKPACK

You know who this is

5) GEBRSELASSIE

Graham just got his ten mile run badge

6) BACK IN BLACK

Aidan, who did his very first GoodGym run at Barnsbury Square last year and returned today proudly donning his black 50 good deed t-shirt

7) THE HARINGEY HERO

Sarah, who has not only done a GoodGym run every day in January, who not only made ANZAC biscuits for us today, but was doing her *100th good deed" on this wonderful snowy Sunday. You must cheer her now!

8) THE BISCUIT LOVER

It would be immodest to say anything too grand about this run report's author. He knows his biscuits though.

So, after a wee warm up and briefing we jogged as a group to The Square and upon arrival were greeted and briefed by the perfectly-prepared and delightful Sarah and Carmela. They dished out jobs and for 45 or so minutes, as dog after dog after dog passed us on a walk around the square, we swept up, we scooped up leaves, we weeded, we pruned, we cut down ivy and we bagged up branches. We tucked into Sarah's biscuits and we discussed whether Salad Cream or Mayonnaise was better (everybody except Simon voted for Mayonnaise. Oh, and Claire hates both) and we got frosty fingers.

Now, it wouldn't be a starter session without a game of Cups and Cones. Cones did win today by just one cone, but thinking about it I suspect somebody turned that over while I wasn't looking. Hmmm.

On the trip back to the pool we split into a couple of groups and mucked around with some Indian File action courtesy of Patrick and Secret Surges courtesy of Simon. A very sprinty return journey!

A great day and 12*45/60 = 9 hours of work done! GoodGym definitely does the job.

Ooh, we're back tomorrow. Get down and do some more good.

Simon

P.S. Nod to Patrick for top pun.