"So, we'll just pump up the wheels on the trolley and head out",

...Tunde said cheerfully on arrival at Meath Gardens.

And so began our Meath Gardens finale of 2021...

Fitness first

We'd had a lovely start to the night: meeting back at the welcoming Town Hall Hotel for the first time in, well, a long time, we enjoyed a chat on the steps before our Ivo led us through a brilliant warm-up. No fitness stone was left unturned as he took the team (and a couple of enthusiastic residents) through a mobility, cardio and flexibility warm-up, combining upper and lower body moves, complete with full team consultation as to how many reps we should do.

From there, we headed out to Meath Gardens, along Roman Road, running at different speeds, but the same animated expressions, delighted to be together, heading to a fun-sounding Monday night.

The Plan

Our task tonight was to head down to the Cemetery Park, with trolleys and wheelbarrows, to collect large logs that the Park have been kind enough to donate to Meath Gardens, to help create the new protected woodland area. After some research, it was concluded that the only way currently to transport these rather large logs back to the garden was via wheels, walking - and GoodGym strength.

The outbound route saw us taking in the sights of Grove and Mile End Road, via Mile End station naturally. On arrival at the park, we easily located the logs and the team successfully, skilfully loaded them into barrows and trolleys and began the tough, treacherous, one-mile-plus wheel back to Meath Gardens.

Terrific teamwork

It was a true team effort. The journey saw us rotating in-and-out of wheeling and pushing like never before, the noise of puffing and panting broken every few minutes only by various quiet voices gently enquiring, "Just wondering how much further?"

But we did it. The moment came when we arrived at Meath Gardens, and rolled the huge logs out of the barrows and into the woodland area, to safely protect the precious new shrubs and trees, and shrubs-and-trees-to-be.

We finished with a few stretches, with some tips on how to repeat them in the days ahead (yes, forearms, we're looking at you) before dispersing in various directions, including a well-deserved alfresco pint at nearby Dundee Arms.

What. A. Night.

Shout-outs

Thanks to Ivo for our brilliant warm-up and leading our run tonight.

And a huge shout-out and thanks to all who joined. Joking aside, it was a task-and-a-half, that looked like it might not get completed at several points, so well done for sticking with it; helping one another out so much, and getting the job done.

Until next time.