27 Hackney GoodGymers ran 6k to Abney Park Cemetery to get it Spring ready with Bulb planting, ivy chopping, path mulching and Lion cleaning.

Great to see the Bakehouse bursting with energy ready for our run!! Nice to nearly be running in the embers of day light to, not to mention the double digit Spring warmth creeping through.

After a brain teasing Question of the day from Quiz Master Ros which we didn’t get around to answering. Or no one really understood the question??

We were off on our well trodden path to Abney Park lead expertly by Katie. 3k of pretty speedy running up to Stoke Newington to me Park Manager Tom at the enchanting Abney Park Cemetery.

After we were locked into the cemetery to got to work, marching the tools down deep into the Park. Splitting up into 4 groups to get the most out of our energetic endeavours. We had Ivy clearing from grave stones to allow the 2 year grace mapping project to keep going at full steam. Wild flower bulb planting along the main paths edge to look pretty and to encourage park users to stick to the paths which helps to keep the park growing in the right places. After the snow the first path we mulched in January was looking worse for wear so we had a 100 metre sprint to re mulch it with half a tonne of Hackney’s finest mulch. And finally the historically listed Lion from a very famous and some would say unforgettable local hero’s grave. Needed to be gently cleaned to restore Larry the Lion to is shimmering glory.

This was an all action no stop furious 40 minutes of portable light action!! We had snipping, pitch forking, wheelbarrowing, roping, planting, scrubbing and of course a lot of singing to Larry!!

We really used every possible second to get as much work down even requiring a super Bolt like sprint finish to get the mulched path complete with expert mulch manoeuvring from Patrick!!

With the task complete and time slipping away we said our good byes to Tom and zipped back to base at Pace!! Katie spearheading the charge to finish off the task perfectly(ish) on time!!

Great session everyone!!

Next week we have the second half of Soil mountain to contend with and we need all hands on deck to complete the task! Be great if you could come along for more fun on the Run Hackney style!!

Have a great week

Smooth Running

Joel

P.S not sure who to credit but thank you fir the Pun!!

23 non stop GoodGymers ran over 8k to Clissold Park to lay over 100 metres of Mulch path for the new all weather running trail!!

Are January Mulch Marathon continued but this time with our first longer run of the year!!

Setting off at a dash to maximise our time even picking up Alice on the way. We headed a wiggly 4k our to Clissold Park to meet Hackney Park Ranger Bruce.

Tooling up in the well stocked shed on the far side of the park we go straight to work. Splitting up into little teams each team attacked a Mulch mound spreading it out on the pre dug track.

A variety of techniques on show with the shovel and barrow, rake the mulch mountain and even the scoop and chuck used to devastating effect!

Working a pace with time ticking we pushed on beefing out the paths to maximum thickness and taking down 6 huge mulch mounds.

Employing a staggered leave to use every last second at the task we got the Sexy paced runners leading the charge back to base then once the last chip had to been raked the speedy runners zipped down the 4.5k route back to base picking up some serious pace along the way!

Great effort on show by all and loving the Team Hackney vibe!! Hope to see you next week for our Group Run or if you are around come along to the Hackney Starter session and Parkrun on Saturday morning at the Marshes Centre.

Smooth Running

Joel

25 Super GoodGymers Ran 5k to Wilton Estate Community garden to shift a tonne of wood and 3 tonnes of Mulch.

A crisp evening in Hackney brought out a top quality squad!! Great mixture of some GoodGym first timers through to some seasoned GoodDeeders.

Not wanting to stay still for long we jogged over to the Town Hall for a very active intro speech! Combining everything we needed to know with some mobility and strength developing exercises! Rocking some strong Team Press Up reverse pyramids to wake up our core and upper body. Then ring and ring a rosing some tough crab squats. Before a well executed Press up Head count!!

With our bodies ready for action we ran the 1.5k up to the award Wilton Estate community garden. A firm Hackney GoodGym favourite so great to be back for 2018!

Splitting up into 3 groups, first carrying 8ft by 8ft metal sheets over to the greenhouse where they will be used for cordoning off flowers beds from pests.

Group 2 had a formidable challenge ahead with a huge tree having been chopped up into big heavy logs, the crew used team work to make the dream work and carried the huge pile of logs 100 metres over to the Green House where they will be used in the coming weeks. Some really strong power moves on show and in preparation for the Hackney Highland Games a lot of practice was had tossing the logs over the 5 Foot high fence!.

Group 3 had a mammoth task!! Shovelling, shifting, tipping and spreading on thick 3 tonnes of prime Hackney Mulch!! Using Trugs and Barrows to transport the mulch to 2 different gardens to relay the worn away garden floor.

With such hard and fast working GoodGymers we flew through the tasks!! And in 30 minutes of all our action the logs and metal had been moved so Phil lead the charge from 17 of the squad back to base on the long 3.5k loop back. Throwing in some serious pace for good measure!!

Ros’s Rebels were in fine form powering the last of the mulch onto the gardens to complete the task! With time to spare they were not content and with a sprint finish shovelled the last of the mulch so seal the deal on a masterful performance!!

Next week we are off to Clissold Park to help Hackney Parks with the renovation of the running track!! A 3.5k Run each way awaits!! See you there!!

Have a top week

Smooth Running

Joel

P.S big up to Phil for this weeks pun!!