Welcome

Welcome Matt, Tash, James and Amy. Lovely to have you along to GG Islington.

Penny/ie

So, in anticipation of new GG Barnet trainer Pennie's visit we had planned a penny-themed evening. Alas, she got stuck on a train from Brighton and couldn't make it.

Tonight's debate was announced: "Should we get rid of the penny?" That is penny with a "y", not Pennie with an "ie". We're not that annoyed that she got stuck on a train.

FoodCycle

Post-briefing, Gee from Food Cycle chatted to us for a few minutes about FoodCycle who work hard to make sure that no food goes to waste. Check them out: some great stuff being done.

If anybody wants to speak to Gee about anything you can get hold of her on georgina@foodcycle.org.uk

Everyone is welcome to:

• sign up and volunteer at any of our 25 hubs (inc. Islington, Hackney, LSE and Bloomsbury) http://foodcycle.org.uk/

• attend a meal and see what it’s all about

• let Gee know of any organisations that may be interested in opening a FoodCycle hub with us to help meet their objectives (e.g. Charities concerned with Refugees, Age, Mental Health, Homelessness, Community-building, Social Isolation or Housing Associations, Time Banks, Faith Organisations etc) http://foodcycle.org.uk/get-stuck-in/partner-with-us/

Caxton

Then we were off in our two separate groups. Patrick and Steve took two groups at two tempos up to Caxton House to sand down benches, give them a lick of paint and run c7km

Though Patrick had unexpectedly run 22 miles the day before he was fresh enough to be volunteered into taking a speedy six up to Caxton House. So fresh that he was delighted to enlist David to lead the run who set a great pace!

Steve and Caroline made sure the rest of the group and the biccies safely followed.

As usual, Rose was super-organised and had sandpaper, brushes, gloves, paint and paintbrushes. So the final ingredient was some GoodGym muscle boosted by Steve's tutelage, Patrick's music and the two Carolines giving out water and biscuits.

30 minutes later all the benches had been sanded down and received a coat of paint. Rose took a group photo while some very guilty pleasures were pumping on the stereo and booked GoodGym for a repeat visit to apply another coat. Rose also said everyone is welcome to a festival this Saturday!

Steve and Patrick (actually David again!) then led two groups at two speeds back, separated by a few minutes. They met briefly at Emirates where the faster group fitted in a c400m alphabet fartlek session and hill sprints and the two groups returned to the pool with impeccable synchronisation for a cool down.

Barnsbury

Simon took the rest of the gang to Barnsbury Community Centre where we started by assembling some flat pack orange stools and demolishing an old table. Then we all went out in the garden to water the plants, do a spot of weeding and to mix some compost into wall planters.

Goodness achieved it was time for game of the evening: "Find the Penny". Again, this is penny with a "y". Nobody was expected to run from London to Brighton checking trains. Cones were spread all around the garden and a single penny hidden beneath one of them, people then had to FIND THE PENNY. A great game for agility, speed, getting out of breath and getting frustrated. Penny-hider of the evening award goes to Meg.

Just enough time for a milk chocolate digestive before heading home. On the way we did a few technical sprints, Simon found out he had a whistle on his bag and the group generally heckled and abused him. Aah, GoodGym.

Votes

Back at the pool we had a free stretch, abused Simon a little more, and then voted on the big penny question. Some argued that pennies were good for charity boxes and Canadian Jill remembers when they did it in her homeland. But most of us hate the bloody things and would be glad to see the back of them. I will let the government know!

See you next week everybody,

Patrick & Simon