11 Goodgymers ran 5km and helped Sunnyside Community Gardens turn over their compost piles

Thanks for coming guys, we had lots of people racing yesterday so they are resting up. Well done to all the Oxford Half Marathoners including Steve, Alex, Frances and Lucy from Islington.

In the news this week:

1. This week is #RunAndTalk Week, England Athletics and Mind have partnered once again to campaign for people to promote how running and talking can help your mental health. 1 in 4 of us experience mental health problems each year and running can have a huge positive impact. Throughout the week we are encouraging people to #RunAndTalk to improve their mental wellbeing through running and to break down the stigma associated with mental health by getting people talking about it. Read Tower Hamlets Trainer Laura's blog about mental health and running - see here.
2. There is a Community Mission helping Crouch End Open Space next Sunday (21st) where you'll be laying a woodchip path and will be rewarded with a picnic - sign up here.
3. On Sunday 21st there is also the monthly long run - this time led by Simon Fitzmaurice and goes from East Finchley to Hackney Wick - see the run here.
   

After our intros and warming up we headed north via the backstreets to help Sunnyside Community Gardens, an amazing local space that is run by a charity. It aims to get more people involved gardening and have spaces to be outside and do activities.

Upon our arrival Anna gave us the keys to the big shed, guided by headtorch everyone got armed with a fork or spade ready for the gym-workout. Splitting into two teams we tackled the two big compost piles, the aim with compost is to turn it over regularly to help it break down so it becomes like the finished-product compost that feeds the garden.

Chris attached a light to a tree and the rest for us had a few torches between us, really helps this time of year! Over 20 minutes the team pulled, tugged, forked and shovelled thick piles of twigs, straw and general debris off the pile. Some sections of the pile were harder than others to get off, combining team effort and a rolling technique was the only way.

Chocolate hob nob breaks, are the best breaks

After a biscuit break we put the debris back on the pile, it having been effectively turned over - nice! Putting the gym in GoodGym!! Ellie and Kike finished things off nicely with laying extra logs around the pile edges to define the border more clearly - neat!

Before heading home we took a group picture next the community sign :)

Sign up next week here when we are off to paint the second coat of woodpresever for FROGG.

PB out