On Monday evening, Area Activator Simon met with Paul at the Arsenal Community Hub, Benwell Road, for a dynamic warm up and a nice chatty 1.3 mile run to Thornhill Square Gardens. We ran down to Caledonian Road, and into the dark park to meet with resident gardening expert Anna by the community tool shed.

Matt and Eslam caught up with us all, and helped with bringing out wheelbarrows, shovels and forks for our session. The objective was to transfer a pile of donated wood chip over to the rose beds and flower patches towards the south of the park. Paul and Matt used the wheel barrows, while Simon and Eslam used a nice electric e-bike and a collection of hardy sacks to drop off the piles of chip.

Within 45 minutes, the four of us made a significant dent in the huge pile of wood chip, and successfully filled in many patches of exposed soil, ready for the Winter months. Great job everyone!

Newly listed session with Thornhill Square Gardens!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/thornhill-square-gardens-saturday-morning-sessions

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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS

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SESSIONS IN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER

Group Run - Thornhill Square Gardens, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 29th September

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-thornhill-square-gardens-a8ed6638-d46f-44f9-a2f5-e26ee2c54c2c

Community Mission - Sunnyside Community Gardens, 7.15pm, Sunnyside Community Gardens, Monday 6th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-sunnyside-community-gardens-composting-9b803a84-1d19-43e4-8092-e6251235aa49

Group Run - Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 13th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-hornsey-rise-kickabout-playground-3b5b7f63-00c1-4a60-ab7e-53786b5e0b12

Community Mission - Light of the World Church Gardening and Painting, 7.15pm, Evershot Road, Monday 20th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-light-of-the-world-church-gardening-and-painting-6dff1a8d-898b-4d40-b992-04d7f8567089

Group Run - Timbuktu Adventure Playground 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub, Monday 29th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-return-trip-to-timbuktu-adventure-playground-c04c29e1-19ec-45ae-9e98-de5762c63bbc

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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions

Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations

On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.

Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!

OCTOBER

Paddington Rec Track Thursday 2nd October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-dfcdd250-4f57-4892-8089-82d8a88ee73d

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 9th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-5d840f08-8ceb-4f2a-995b-8aa4ec0a1c1d

Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 16th October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-fb30d327-a149-4c53-8543-0a8db41a263e

Paddington Rec Track Thursday 23rd October

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-66e4c4cb-2d0d-4eb8-8f02-20ef5f999096

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Thursday 30th October

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-3f7026f3-7a38-455c-b400-329f37edd6c5

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Track and Towpath - Stepney Green Strides

Thursday 4th October, 7.50am Rinkoff Coffee, Stepney Green Park

Come and join Area Activator and UK Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) Simon for a fun mixed pace training session

Our plan is to meet up outside the legendary Rinkoff Bakery at 7.50am, before enjoying an easy jog and dynamic warm up in Stepney Green Park by 8am.

All paces and abilities welcome!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-and-towpath-stepney-green-strides

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The Green Guardians Volunteer Gardening Sessions

Tuesdays (and a single Saturday) 10am - 12 midday

Market Road Gardens, London N7 9GT

Come along and meet the TGC team and help us to keep Market Road Gardens looking beautiful! All tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided.

Winter Dates

September 16th, 23rd, 30th

October 7th, 14th, 21st (not 28th!)

November 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

December 2nd, 9th and 16th

Next session

Tuesday 30th September: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/the-garden-classroom-market-road-gardens-tuesday-volunteer-morning-38932d33-59d4-4d28-b055-64b1e4c3c1aa

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The Green Guardians Volunteer Gardening Sessions

Wednesdays (and one single Saturday) 10am - 12 midday

TGC Hut, Newington Green Park Building, 2 Newington Green, London, N1 4RF

Come along and meet the TGC team and help us to keep Newington Green tidy and lovely!

All tools provided. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tea, coffee and biscuits also provided.

Winter Dates

September - 17th, 24th, and Saturday 27th

October- 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd

November- 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th

December- 3rd, 10th and 17th

Next Session

Wednesday 1st October

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-garden-classroom-newington-green-green-guardians-volunteer-morning-054aa876-7122-4116-8cd1-06e46fe6db37

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Camino Ultra Epping Forest 50km and 25km Eco Trail- Aid Station Superstars 2025!!!

Sunday 4th October, 9am onwards, Rangers Road, Chingford

DaznBone (aka Darren Strachan and David Bone) and the Camino Ultra team are putting together the logistics for their next 50km ultra race (running from Wanstead Flats, up the green corridor to Epping Forest and back), and have invited the Goodgym crew to get involved!

On the course, there will be 4 major aid stops, and we have been invited to take over the first refresh point and the penultimate aid station.

This will involve providing water and snacks to runners of all abilities during the key stages of their race, and to support them with smiling faces and enthusiasm!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/camino-ultra-epping-forest-50km-and-25km-eco-trail-aid-station-superstars-2025

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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session

Saturday 13th October, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington

A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!

A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.

Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-october-9968d47d-0566-44ec-893f-a0aee0bb117b

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Golden Olden Community Gardens - Monthly Volunteer Open Day

Saturday 18th October, 10am - 2pm, Opposite Whistler Street, Islington

Olden Community Garden is a charity that maintains this lovely green space, with the object to promote a community garden for the benefit of people living or working in the London Borough of Islington. Olden Garden gives local people opportunities for education and recreation, with the aim of increasing involvement in the community and reducing isolation.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/golden-olden-community-gardens-monthly-volunteer-open-day-2863583d-2b70-4ec0-a0e6-137f5d7495a5

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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning Saturday 18th October, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month. Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-islington-friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning

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Penn Road Gardens - Volunteer Day

Sunday 26th October, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens

Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-october-a8f94271-ac93-4927-92ad-e5562ccd6f00

On Sunday, the London running community came together for a wonderful collaborative group run around Hyde Park, in solidarity for those who are facing oppression in Palestine.

We gathered at Speakers Corner to hear inspiring accounts from doctors on the front line, and support from global running groups in war zones and encampments.

Together, we split into a variety of pace and distance groups (5km and 10km) before running some beautiful social miles around Hyde Park together. A wonderful reminder how lucky we are to be able to run, and to run together as one.