GoodGymer by GoodGymer, tonight's group slowly but surely increased in size.

It was a decent-sized group who ploughed through tonight's workout (as many standing body weight exercises as we could think of, in 20 minutes).

As we focused on every-type-of-lunge, task owner Ken prepared tonight's kit: the best collection of rakes and working wheelbarrows in East London. At 18:58 we were gathering for tonight's briefing, before donning head torches and gloves galore and making our way through this beautiful-but-dark park.

Raking basics

Arriving at a fantastically well-lit spot, Ken proceeded to talk us through tonight's raking basics.

Our job was to clear leaves from 100m of chalk wildflower banks on the southern boundary of the park (the fallen autumn leaves can prevent fertility returning to the meadow, which would make the meadow less suitable for delicate wildflowers and grasses. If left unraked, the conditions could change enough to 'better suit nuisance plants such as Nettles, Bindweed and Cow Parsley, thereby losing the wildflower diversity').

Our task was to work along the bank, methodically raking the leaves off the meadow, gathering them into barrows and relocating them to the park's green waste site for shredding.

The team wasted no time in getting down to work. Spread out along this pretty bank, the raking soon commenced, and it wasn't long before large piles of leaves were being wheeled over to the huge green waste pile.

We made it to the end of the bank in good time, counting no fewer than 24 trips to the compost heap!

Way to go team!

A great night enjoyed by all.

Shout-outs to Lily and Dorota who joined us for their first Monday night task! Great to see you and we look forward to seeing you again very soon.

Thanks and well done to Emma, who was tasked with 'Dropped Pin-duty' again tonight and a fabulous joint effort for tonight's fun pun from Millie, Lily, Esme and Emma.

Next week we head back to the gorgeous Town Hall Hotel and Cranbrook Community Garden for gardening, running, and a post-task stretch. Don't miss out!

(And don't forget, Friday sees the return of the London GoodGym Social!)

Until then.

It's Monday - we're motivated

34 runners braved another chilly night to head out into our beloved Borough to see what treats some of our wonderful local neighbours had up their sleeve for us.

Leo headed up the squad destined for the new task at the Poets Corner Community Garden, just off Roman Road. Wonderful new task owner Tahera greeted us with lovely biscuits and the tastiest drinks while briefing the team on what was to be done.

With the crew paired up throughout the garden, she proceeded to talk them through the intricate tasks of weeding between cobbles, de-littering vegetable beds and tending to borders.

Meanwhile, Bryon and Kat led the other team to Meath Gardens where task owner Jane met the runners, slightly apologetic that the task was no more exciting that a litter-pick tonight, and soon dispatched them to all four corners of the park where they proceeded to fill bin bag after bin bag, even in poorly lit conditions.

Lots done...

Tonight was one of those nights where our task owners were incredibly appreciative and also a little incredulous at the size of the turnout - overwhelmed by the number of GoodGymers who really were happy to be out in the winter chill, quietly, conscientiously working away happy to be making a very small, consistent contribution to their environment.

And so we all met at the fitness tree (log, as it's not really a tree anymore) for our guest run leader Danny to set the group some drills, before we finished with a handful of resistance exercises and made our way back to base.

A big week of shout-outs tonight...

• A massive warm welcome to our first time runner, Miriam. Thanks for a great, great time; a huge contribution on your first run, and do please come back again very soon.

• And a HUGE shout out to our task force this week: to Bryon and Leo for stepping in and agreeing to lead and help co-ordinate our two tasks tonight; to Kat for helping lead a task, too.

• To Danny for coming and helping provide some lovely fresh content for us all.

• To Liz, for being a brilliant backmarker (a general great addition to our run), and a fab walk leader tonight, and making this run tonight accessible to all.

• Thanks to Leo, Kat and Emma for some brill pics, and to Joel & Sian for tonight's pun.

• And a GREAT BIG GLORIOUS shout-out to Lieke, our wonderful regular runner and trusty Task Force member, who tonight reached 50 good deeds. You're such a huge part of the group, it feels like 500. Lieke's run some brilliant community missions recently, and is always in the wings helping out. So here's to the next 50.

Now, next week

Next week we're off to Parkview to help the powerhouse that is Catherine plant one thousand snowdrop bulbs, before heading to neighbouring Fugitive Motel for our first GG Tower Hamlets social, so do check out the details and sign up here.

Until then, have a really great first week of February.

Back to the Town Hall!

26 runners braved another damp January evening to head to beautiful Limehouse Town Hall where task owner Brian was thoroughly well prepped for us for the second visit of a two week task.

It was a hive of activity as the runners set about bustling around this amazing building scrubbing, sawing, drilling, clearing and descaling, and polyfilling...Amazing.

Teams were dispersed all over the building, with Tracey heading up the cleaning team, dispatched to the incredible wrought iron staircase and theatre balcony, to deftly get into every nook and cranny with electric toothbrushes; Dave saved the day with his electrical know-how, while Leo headed up Team Filler blitzing holey walls, and Isabelle, Suraj, Stefan, Steve, Joel and Chris blitzed the boarding. Amazing stuff.

The time flew by quite incredibly and before we knew it, task owner Brian had taken creative control and had us replicating the iconic Beatles EMI stairwell pic as a fantastic task finale.

Job. Done.

And then we ran back to base, animated and exhilarated at all we'd achieved, and been part of.

Big shout out's

A big thank tonight to Bryon for leading the team to the task, Ivo for backmarking, and Leo for additional pics.

And a massive warm welcome to Craig, who joined us for his first run tonight. Thanks for your huge contribution and we hope to see you really soon.

What's coming up

• Next week we’re a two-task team: we’re at a brand new task, just around the corner, helping the Poets Corner Community Garden, while a second team are heading up the road to join the Meath Gardens crew for some clearing and much needed litter picking. All the details and sign up can be found here.

• And in two weeks’ time, on Feb 10th, The Tower Hamlets Monthly Social commences! This month is hosted by Isabelle, who’s booked us ample table space at the nearby Fugitive Motel, so whether you fancy a cheeky Monday Magners, or some heavenly, reasonably priced pizza, and a natter, do come and join us.

In the meantime, have a really good week: Take care, and hope to see you very, very soon.