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!

It is my pleasure to announce that 21 lovely Goodgymmers joined us for Simon Fitzmaurice's first outing as GoodGym Islington's new trainer, and ran to fix up an overgrown garden at the amazing Mildmay Community Centre. Great to see familiar faces, Goodgym tourists (Thanks Nurjehan!) and new participants (Becca, Caitlin and Gerry- welcome everyone) getting stuck in!

Shout outs to the Goodgymmers who helped out at the Crouch End Open Space over the weekend- the well-deserved picnic looked delicious. More information can be found here.

If anyone fancies a long social training run (not for setting PBs!) next weekend, Trainer Simon will be leading the Goodgym Monthly Long Run on Sunday, a route called "The Tour of the Docklands". 10km, 10 mile and 16 mile distances are available, starting from Greenwich and finishing in Stratford Olympic Park, passing loads of River Thames landmarks on the way. Sign up here if you want to get involved!

After a few warm-up exercises, and learning everyone's favourite biscuit preferences (I think Dark Chocolate Hobnob was the most popular...), our crew ran through Highbury Fields Park and past Newington Green to Mildmay Community Centre, and were greeted by Mus, the head gardener for this evening's task. Armed with secateurs and trowels, the team uprooted weeds and snipped back thistles and thorns from the main garden area at the site, whilst concentrating on staying upright on a steep slope! Lots of really impressive teamwork on display, and we ended up with loads of bags full of green waste by the end of our session.

The Mildmay Community Centre is a fascinating building- the whole place is fully sustainable and eco-friendly, boasting a roof full of solar panels for everyday energy usage, green gardening spaces and rain water receptacles to store water for the plants. Some really exciting projects are coming up, so we will be sure to return soon.

Just a reminder- next weeks task to Caledonian Park will start at a different location due to the Bank Holiday. Our start location will be:

The Arc Centre 98b St Paul Street London N1 7DF

(Nearest tube stations are: Highbury & Islington or Angel)

Have a fantastic week! Happy Running! See you soon!

Really nice to catch up with our lovely GG Islington crew after a thrilling weekend of athletic sportyness and exciting adventures. Well done to everyone who represented their local borough at the Goodgym Olympics last Saturday- an amazing time was had by all (The report has been posted here if you want to catch up with some highlights). Massive congratulations to Kike and Tilly for cycling in the Ride London 100 on Sunday- and for still having legs for Goodgym deeds the day after!

Classic task tonight, an old favourite at Caxton House Community Centre, helping with gardening and weeding tasks before the Hill Rise Summer Festival this Saturday (which we are invited to). Our group were separated into two teams- team one tackling the trees and bushes around the main entrance and the car park with secateurs, trimmers and saws, and team two weeded and cleared moss and plants from the patio, and generally made the place look presentable for guests. Great to see our newest Goodgymmer Samantha Chapman getting stuck in, and our tallest Goodgym members making light work of removing some old curtains from inside the hall. Graham Atkins did some quality branch smashing too, by jumping up and down in a skip- top work!

We made our way back along Hornsey Road, and topped of the evening with a few stretches by the Emirates Stadium. Come and join us next week for the amazing Paul Bown's final Goodgym task as Islington Trainer, starting with a trip to the Rose Bowl Community Centre, and finishing with drinks and pizza at the Victoria Tavern (sign up here).

If you are looking for more opportunities for fun and festivities, the Goodgym Monthly Social is happening this Thursday at the lovely Mulberry Bush pub near Gabriel's Wharf, Bankside. Should be a blast, don't miss it!

Have an absolutely cracking week, folks!