15 RUNNERS TOOK TO THE MEAN STREETS OF WANSTEAD TO KICK OFF GOODGYM REDBRIDGE

On a gorgeous evening for doing good, 15 runners were joined by the Redbridge Mayor to get fit and a do a good deed.

After a brilliant welcome speech from Mayor Gurdial Bhamra and a few insights from GoodGym founder, Ivo, the group were off like a bullet down Wanstead High Street – if good needed doing in the borough, this was the group to do it.

The task in hand was Wanstead Community Allotment, a fantastic project run by the good people at Vision Redbridge and is used by local children and adults with learning difficulties. However, like all allotments it takes plenty of TLC and has recently been over-run with weeds. The allotment is going to be a long term project for GG Redbridge and it will be amazing to see it transformed over the coming months.

On arrival and after a short briefing from Craigie-Lee from Vision (and also a GoodGym Redbridge founding member) the group took on the task of weeding and clearing half of the allotment. If you had seen the weeds you would have realised the mammoth job ahead.

With the Mayor watching from the sidelines and giving his support the allotment was transformed within 35 minutes. Gone were the waist high weeds and pesky grasses. Banished was the bindweed and the tiresome thistles. Sweat was shed and weeds were uprooted. Not to put too fine a point on it, but Wanstead may never have seen weeding as fine as this.

With the good deed done, it was time to head out and get hot and sweaty. After a 100-up and some Strides on Nutter Field, the group headed to do an urban stair race utilising the pedestrian bridge over the A12. With the runners split in to pairs it was a chance to see who was the fastest over the dual carriageway – much to the amusement of Monday night traffic – and who could hold a squat the longest. Brilliant fun but tough on the quads as well.

With a sweat worked up and 4km run we returned to our new home at Wanstead House for some easy stretching and to bask in the glow of a job well done. To celebrate the launch the group ended the evening with a refreshing drink at The George Pub – props to Joel at GG Hackney Town for the suggestion!

Huge shout out to all that came and made GG Redbridge’s launch a special one. It was certainly an amazing night and we’re super pumped for more running goodness next week!