On Monday evening, Area Activator Simon met with 6 Goodgym runners from all across the London boroughs over at the Arsenal Community Hub on Benwell Road. Our plan for the evening was to run towards Elizabeth House Food Hub, a busy community project set up to offer affordable and subsidised food and supplies for the residents of Islington, Arsenal and Highbury.

We ran together across the Arsenal Stadium concourse, and tried a running coordination exercise on route- a workout called "drafting". Our runners jog together at a moderate pace in a line, and the runner at the back of the pack then runs to the front of the pack at a tempo pace. This is repeated until every runner has had a fair share of leading the group.

As we arrived at Elizabeth House Food Hub via Gillespie Road, we met with Anne and Emily, and volunteer coordinator Roshni, who had arranged for at least 20 bags full of food and supplies to be delivered to local households across the neighbourhood. We paired up into small groups, and made our way across the borough to complete these drop offs, reducing the efforts for the regular bike and van volunteers at the end of a hard day!

As well as a delivery service, Elizabeth House also operate a self service supermarket to allow residents to pick up their own supplies. Katie and Claire arrived back from their deliveries in good time, and also helped with stacking all of the chairs and tables away after a full day of food banking.

We were all done by 8pm, and we enjoyed a nice variation to our usual running route, taking on the Highbury Hill slope, and enjoying some downhills on the way!

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NEWS

Achilles International Guide Running at Emirates Stadium

On Thursday, we will be hosting our fortnightly visit to the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal tube station to attend our group run with Achilles International. We will be guide running with visually impaired runners around the concourse of the stadium, all different paces and distances. Open to new guides, and those happy to assist with our bag drop or guide dog watching roles!

Sign up here:

Come and Guide Run with Achilles International (Emirates Stadium Session)

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-session-a4315bc0-8f7f-42d6-a5e4-ed6901a1d2ec

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Crouch End Open Space Forest Path Building

Our longest running community project in back again this Sunday, helping the Friends of Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) with preparing the forest pathways between Crouch End, Highgate and Muswell Hill. It's a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon (11am - 1pm) in ancient woodland. And is typically concluded with a small picnic laid out by the volunteers!

Sign up here:

Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day (February 2023) -

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-february-2023

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Caledonian Park Junior parkrun Volunteering - Half Term Help

On Sunday, the volunteer team at Caledonian Park junior parkrun, a free weekly timed running event for youngsters aged 4-14 years old, are looking for additional helpers during the half term holiday break. Some of the core members are away on holiday and the event director (Helen) is looking for:

• Course marshals
• Barcode scanners
• Timekeepers
• A tail walker!

Typically followed by coffee at the Tolpuddle Café!

Sign up here:

Volunteer at Caledonian junior parkrun (Half Term Help!)

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/volunteer-at-caledonian-junior-parkrun-half-term-help-dfcc7449-66d4-466a-9bd3-72b84b186a39

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Thames Hare and Hounds- Dash for the Splash 10km

If you are looking for an exciting 10km challenge this weekend (with a guaranteed water crossing!), a team of Goodgymmers will be attending the annual "Dash for the Splash 10km" hosted by Thames Hare and Hounds Running Club on Sunday 19th February (starting at the Wimbledon Windmill, South London).

Great fun! Sign up here:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/dash-for-the-splash-10km-thames-hare-and-hounds-ac-wimbledon

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Goodgym Islington x Slow Ways- Group Run from Angel to Dalston

Next Monday's group run will be a unique running session- a collaboration between Goodgym and The Slow Ways safe walking directory. Our objective is to run a listed route from the Slow Ways website, and to verify whether the course is safe, pleasant, easily navigated and suitable for all users (especially in the dark).

After our session, we will congregate at The Highbury Library to collate our results and information.

Sign up here:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-slow-ways-route-mapping-angel-to-dalston