Despite the looming threat of Storm Brendan making an appearance, 13 Goodgymmers came out to Sunnyside Community Centre last night (including first timers Marie Laure and Evangelina- welcome!).

Before we started our warm up drills (ankling, high knees, can-cans, dynamic lunges and sumo squats), we asked each other the question: "What is your favourite fruit?"

The responses were as follows:

• Bananas
• Pineapples
• Strawberries
• Oranges
• Raisins. No, sorry, Grapes...
• Mangoes
• Yeah, Mangoes. But those really sweet yellow ones... maybe these?

Sunnyside Community Centre

Thankfully, we had a little bit of respite from the rain as we ran the 2.5 km to Sunnyside Community Centre (up Hornsey Road). Thanks to Kike, Latoya and James for back marking to and from the task.

We arrived at the gardens, and no-one was there. Surely Trainer Simon hadn't got the date wrong, had he?

Thankfully, Anna the volunteer coordinator appeared from behind our group, and showed us to the tool shed whilst we set up lights and torches for this dark gardening task.

Our challenge was to turn a large collection of green clippings into compostable green waste, by cutting down larger branches. Another set of runners would then load the green waste into wheel barrows and pile it into a tidy space, so it can all turn into mulch for spring time gardening.

We had plenty to do in quite a short amount of time, but we made a huge dent in the pile of leaves and branches. It is a huge overall task, that we will return to next month (every second Monday, in line with the trustee's meeting).

We downed tools, and set off back to the Emirates Stadium with a storm whipping up behind us! Upon our arrival, we engaged in a series of stretches to cool down (some of them focusing on the shoulders and arms for the benefit of those shoveling heavy branches and moving wheelbarrows). Ginger biscuits were on offer to all (accidentally vegan btw!).

Great work everyone. Come and join us next week for our local task at Market Road Gardens!

NEWS

Goodgym Islington's 5th Anniversary Meet-up

After our task next week, we have booked a reservation at a local Bangladeshi restaurant on Holloway Road for 9pm. Come and join us for great food, drinks and good times!

If you can't make the task, but still want to come along, the address is as follows:

Standard Tandoori 87 Holloway Road, Holloway, London N7 8LT https://www.zomato.com/london/standard-tandoori-holloway/menu

Please make sure that you sign up to this event page, so we can confirm numbers in advance!

Caledonian Park junior parkun test event

We have been invited to volunteer for a recce for the proposed Caledonian Park junior parkrun, a 2km free weekly timed run for children aged 4 to 14, started every Sunday at 9 am.

This is really exciting for GG Islington regulars, as we have been involved with various tasks in Cally Park leading towards this parkrun!

Sign up here to get involved with this special event, Sunday 19th January at 9 am (please arrive by 8.30 am).

This will not be listed on the main event page, so feel free to send the link to this page for any interested Goodgymmers!

First CREOS community mission of the year!

Easily GG Islington's most popular Community Mission, helping out the Crouch End Open Space charity workers with gardening and maintenance of their lovely plot just off the Parkland Walk.

Sunday 19th January, starting at 11 am, and often finishing with a picnic and snacks in a beautiful woodland setting. What's not to love?

Click here for more information, and to sign up!

The Ramsey Round is the original Scottish endurance distance mountain running challenge, stretching for 58 miles over 24 summits (including Ben Nevis), reaching a total climb of around 28,500 feet. Key figures in the ultra running community have set records on this course (Nicky Spinks, Helene Diamantides, Jasmin Paris), and Goodgym Islington approached the Ramsey Round last night...

However, the "Ramsey Round" we are referring to is a double task group run on Ramsey Walk, a green neighbourhood in Canonbury. We were invited over by Ramsey Flowers N1, and Rose Bowl Community Centre- literally a stone's throw away from each over!

20 happy running folks joined us tonight (including new members Deirdre, Conor, Jack and Ashling- welcome!), and we saw the return of Taskforce member James after his New York Marathon running adventure- congratulations! Before setting off, we made a few announcements (listed in the news below), and asked the question: "If you could be an animal, what would you be?"

Our responses included:

• Red Panda
• Water Bear
• T-Rex
• Penguin
• Rhino
• Stick Insect
• Sloth
• Otter
• Dog... but I'm probably a Cat, really. Probably.

The Canonbury area is a 5km round trip from the Emirates Stadium, and we used the Drayton Park route to run along the back of Highbury Fields Park.

Upon arrival, we met up with Paola and Chris of Ramsey Flowers N1, a resident-led community garden project in St Paul's Park. Half of our group stayed to help with this task, which included raking leaves from various flower beds, planting small bulbs, trimming some overgrown bushes from the main walkway, and installing remembrance poppies onto the railings next to the Rose Bowl Youth Centre. We made sure we had enough time to gather and collect the greeen waste clippings and leaves before setting off, and deposited them all near the appropriate recycling point.

Our second group continued along to Rose Bowl Youth Centre to meet Dawn, the volunteer coordinator. One of our classic tasks- we raked and swept all of the playground surfaces around the centre to allow children to keeping playing outside in Winter, and bagged all the leaves up to keep everything looking neat and tidy. Really amazing how quickly an area is transformed when a big group of people start working on it- we have included some before and after photos in the photo reel.

We gathered up on Clephane Road, and before our return trip to the Emirates, we were treated to vegan cookies and veggie muffins from local baker Chris! Absolutely delicious- Thank you!

NEWS

Monthly CREOS Mission

Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) is a regular community mission hosted by GG Islington, and is a great one for new folks! Goodgym have been maintaining a wooded garden patch, just off the Parkland Walk for years now, and we are very proud of it. Working from 11am - 1pm, and always includes a picnic, chatting and dog spotting. A lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon (Sunday 17th November).

Sign up here.

Mini Mermaids Running Club x Goodgym - Highbury Fields parkrun Takeover

Mini Mermaids Running Club is an amazing charity set-up to encourage girls under the age 11 to engage in phyiscal activity and exercise in fun and engaging ways. Goodgym have been invited to help the Mini Mermaids to complete their 5km challenge (each of the girls have worked towards this over 8 weeks) at Highbury Fields parkrun on Saturday 7th December.

We are looking for:

"Mama Mermaids"- female Goodgym runners who would be willing to be an accompanying adult for a Mini Mermaid during their 5km run. This would include offering support and encouragement to help them achieve their goals.

parkrun Volunteers- Goodgymmers willing to marshal, cheer, support and help with the general running of parkrun from the sidelines. Or to come and run and represent Goodgym!

Sign up here for more details.

Official Goodgym Christmas Party

Huge Christmas Party for all of Goodgym, hosted at Stephen's House (a bar, not the house of a poor guy called Stephen) in Finchley. Drinks, dancing and celebrations- Fancy dress contest included.

Friday 6th December. Only 38 tickets remaining so grab them quick! Sign up here

Have an awesome week. See you next Monday!