GoodGym Islington
Rainy Runs and Lemon Drizzle with Achilles International
Thursday 20th February
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
This week, the Achilles International team met up at Arsenal tube station, ready for our monthly session at the Emirates Stadium. 7 Goodgym guides and supporters were on hand to help our visually impaired running friends to complete a variety of workouts around a slightly wet 700m loop. We were so happy to invite 4 first time guides as well- wonderful to have you join us!
We were thrilled to be joined by top Achilles International guides Rob and Philippa - two of our most consistent members who have contributed so much over years. We wish them all the best on their new adventures in Sheffield! And we hugely appreciated the delicious lemon drizzle cake on offer to celebrate your last run with us (for now!).
We were also very happy to catch up with Stephen, who has been away from our sessions for a little while. Stephen has been training for months to prepare for a 54km ultra marathon in Slovenia, while fundraising for Achilles International. Congratulations, and great to have you back!
To finish our evening, we enjoyed a trip to The Brook Gate on Blackstock Road for refreshments, hot food and good times!
Great work everyone. We will be back next week at Paddington Rec Track (Maida Vale). Sign up here:
A Clean Sweep at Elizabeth House Food Hub
Monday 17th February
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
On Monday evening, Area Activator Simon ran from the Arsenal Community Hub and over the Elizabeth House Food Hub on Blackstock Road to help at this busy food distribution project. Dan, Matt, Emily, Maggie and Caitlin were on board with helping the volunteer crew over the half term holidays.
Elizabeth House Food Hub operates a busy "supermarket style" food bank, that invites neighbours around the Islington borough to pick up food and essentials for their families. Our team walked together to a variety of households across the area, dropped off the shopping before running back.
As the operations quietened down, the Goodgymmers helped out by moving non -perishable food back to the kitchen shelves, and then cleaned and folded down tables in the hall. Chairs were collected up, and the floors were swept, ready for the next session tomorrow. Our assistance was hugely appreciated, and we plan to return during the Easter holidays.
To celebrate, many of our team enjoyed some excellent Thai food and beverages at The Woodbine on Blackstock Road. Great work everyone!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN FEBRUARY / MARCH
Community Mission- Caxton House Community Centre 7.15pm, Caxton House Monday 24th February
Group Run- Rose Bowl Youth Club 6.45pm, Rose Bowl Youth Club Monday 3rd March
Community Mission- Sunnyside Community Gardens 7.15pm, Sunnyside Community Gardens, Monday 10th March
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-sunnyside-community-gardens-composting
Group Run- Lighthouse Community Gardening Project, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 17th March
Community Mission- Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground, 7.15pm, Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground, Monday 24th March
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-hornsey-rise-kickabout-playground
Community Mission- Barnsbury Square Gardens 7.15pm, Barnsbury Square Gardens Monday 7th April
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-friends-of-barnsbury-square-gardens
—------------------------------------
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!
Emirates Stadium Thursday 20th February https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-398b3240-7201-49b9-b73c-d75d86b6a86e
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 27th February https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-f84dc6a2-273c-474c-bd46-5e29cc1d7268
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 7th March https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-a6f34119-2ee1-423c-af26-d1ef84572c61
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 14th March https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-84f58337-118e-4cd7-93e1-4710a9923494
—--------------------------------------
Track and Towpath Social Running Sessions
Every Wednesday (fortnightly), 7.30am, Mile End Athletics Track
If you are looking for accessible training sessions that can be included in your schedule, then come and join Area Activator Simon for his fortnightly runs.
Track training is always more fun with others, and these are designed to be sociable and open to all!
Structured training sessions, followed by refreshments at The Yurt Café, Limehouse!
Wednesday 19th February
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-4
—-------------------------------------
Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 18th February, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
—---------------------------------------
Green Guardians Spring Sessions
The Garden Classroom, Newington Green
Saturday 22nd February
Wednesday 26th February
Next session:
—---------------
Market Road Gardens
Tuesday 25th February
Next Session:
—--------------------------------------
Penn Road Gardens Open Morning (February)
Sunday 23rd February, 10am - 12 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.
Local volunteers will be on hand to direct anyone who arrives to offer their help between 10am- midday. Come on down to enjoy a lovely morning community task!
—--------------------------------------
Saint John's Garden: Building a Dead Hedge and Garden Maintenance
Saturday 22nd February, 11am - midday, St John's Garden
Friends of St John's Garden community group would LOVE Goodgym's help to build and maintain their dead hedges and as an optional lighter task help sweep the garden paths.
—--------------------------------------
Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 8th March, 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.
—-----------------------------
Camino Ultra London- Lea Valley Races Finish Line Party!
Saturday 29th March, 12 midday, Here East, Stratford
The Camino Ultra London 50km and Gratitude 25km returns for 2025, stretching from Welwyn Garden City, to Ware, and then down the Lea Valley to our finishing line in Hackney Wick (Here East).
Race organisers Darren Strachan and David Bone aka DaznBone would love to invite the Goodgym community back to bring excitement and positivity to our runners, as they finish their races.
The theme is: Bring The Party!!!
Cowbells, cheers, noise makers, music and fun!
—----------------------------
Hackney Half Aid Station and Marshal Volunteering
Sunday 18th May, 7am onwards, Marion Place, Pritchard's Road (TBC)
The team at Motiv Sport have asked if our Goodgym team would be interested assisting with the 2024 Hackney Half Marathon on one of the 6 water and aid stations.
All volunteers that help in 2025 are offered a free place in any of our running events in 2026 (Hackney Half, London 10K, Oxford Half).
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/hackney-half-aid-station-and-marshal-volunteering
—----------------------------
London 10km with Saucony- Water Station Volunteers!
Sunday 13th July, 7.30am onwards, Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AH
An incredible event that offers runners to opportunity to race through traffic free streets in the Capital!
Motiv Sports (who also operate the Hackney Half and Oxford Half marathons) have requested Goodgym assistance to help at their 2nd aid station on the day.
Food and water provided, and a free entry for any 2026 event on the Motiv Sports roster will be offered to all volunteers!
Rosemary and... sage!
Saturday 15th February
Written by Islington runner
Today Beatrix and the Friends of Canonbury Square focussed on trimming back the sage and rosemary bushes and building a dead hedge, while I got stuck in with aerating the lawns. I joined forces with some Friends to shear some plants, which will apparently come back stronger now they've been cut back, and should produce lovely yellow flowers in the summer. After a welcome tea and biscuit break, we clipped a plant which was overgrowing by the fence and tidied away the branches. A relaxed morning overall, with lovely chats, very satisfying results, and a bonus take-home fresh bundle of rosemary and sage!
Double Act.
Tuesday 11th February
Written by Nick Moore
David and I arrived on Tuesday afternoon at Ms M's prepared for a bit of light engineering. Her ask was for us to switch the hinges over from right to left on her newly installed fridge such that the door opened on the right hand side, and so giving her easier access to the contents. We soon discovered that a robot (or the world's strongest man) had fastened the hinge screws so tightly that we were unable to remove them with the selection of tools we'd bought with us.
Determined to get the task done we agreed with Ms M and her referrer to return on Wednesday afternoon armed with a socket set (and additional bars for extra leverage if required). Familiar with the challenge, we soon got to work (helped by also having the instruction booklet to hand).
Not for the first time having the correct tools proved to be the critical element to success, and before long we had both the fridge and freezer doors removed, and were switching the various hinge brackets across. It was then just a case of reversing the process to refit both doors and a quick test drive to check all was in order.
With the fridge plugged back in and everything whirring away once again, we left a very grateful Ms M to replace her food items back on the shelves.
Trolleys 🛒 and Tourism
Wednesday 12th February
Written by Gill (She/her)
Although usually a Luton GoodGym regular, I was pleased to do a bit of GoodGym tourism this afternoon, and it was great to meet up with David who is a regular in this manor. He was aware that there might be more to do than we could achieve in the time allotted but we were soon introducing ourselves to Ms P and appraising the task. There were a lot (and I mean A LOT!!!!) of boxes stacked in the 1st story flat. So we soon got stuck in carrying boxes down to flights of stairs, loading up two shopping trolleys, then marching the trolleys down and across the road to Ms P’s garage where it felt like the biggest ever game of Jenga! Fortunately we stacked the boxes with no toppling over. After many more journeys up and down the stairs and a couple more trips without trolleys we had done as much as we could in the time. Trolleys stores and garages locked, we left a grateful Ms P with a lot more space in her flat and a smile on her face. Thanks David for welcoming to Islington GoodGym . 😀
🎶 Woodchips! Coffee! Chaff! 🎶
Monday 3rd February
Written by Simon Fitzmaurice
7 keen Goodgym folks joined Area Activator Simon and task organiser Eslam for our first return visit to Hornsey Rise Kickabout Playground in 2025. We started our group run from the Arsenal Community Hub, before connecting to Sussex Way and Sunnyside Garden Centre (approximately 3.4 mile round trip). All of our tools and materials had been set out ready for our arrival.
The Hornsey Kickabout Playground Garden is a re-generation project involving local green charities and the immediate neighbourhood. This under utilised basketball court is being transformed into a natural growing space, with the use of woodchips and soil. Our plan for the evening was to fill up lots of jute coffee sacks with woodchip, composted coffee cakes and chaff (a very soft wheat derived grain). The mixture will mix together, and help to create very rich compost for establishing new growing beds. Luke and Matt helped Eslam with transporting more woodchip to the site, while everyone else filled up as many coffee sacks as possible with woodchip, coffee and chaff. Looking forward to seeing the results in Spring!
Fantastic running and a assistance tonight, everyone! See you next week (Rose Bowl Youth Club)!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
SESSIONS IN FEBRUARY
Community Mission- Rose Bowl Youth Club 7.15pm, Rose Bowl Youth Club Monday 10th February
Group Run- Elizabeth House Food Hub 6.15pm, Arsenal Community Hub Monday 17th February
Community Mission- Caxton House Community Centre 7.15pm, Caxton House Monday 24th February
—------------------------------------
Goodgym Islington February Post-Run Social
Monday 17th February, 8.15pm, The Woodbine Pub, Blackstock Road
After our scheduled group run, Area Activator Simon will be leading a walk to The Woodbine, Blackstock Road.
Delicious Thai food, refreshments and food times! Open for group runners, or anyone up for a social!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/post-group-run-social-february-the-woodbine-blackstock-road
—------------------------------------
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!
Stratford Olympic Park Thursday 6th February https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-olympic-park-stratford-route-7cdb905f-ec50-40f7-9932-ca8debf0354c
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 13th February https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-3f25f419-3aa6-4d75-b192-a9c3d2d4ec2f
Emirates Stadium Thursday 20th February https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-398b3240-7201-49b9-b73c-d75d86b6a86e
Paddington Rec Track Thursday 27th February https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-f84dc6a2-273c-474c-bd46-5e29cc1d7268
JENKI Matcha with ON Running Spitalfields Group (February)
Saturday 8th February, 8.45am, ON Running Spitalfields
Every 1st Saturday morning of the month, ON Running Spitalfields and JENKI Matcha Café on Brushfield Street will be hosting a 5km social paced group run through East London and by St Katherine's Dock.
Meeting at ON Running Spitalfields store at 8.45am (Bag drop, community shoe try ones, run register, chat and catch up!)
Matcha and hot drinks on offer at special run club discount!
—--------------------------------------
Track and Towpath Social Running Sessions
Every Wednesday (fortnightly), 7.30am, Mile End Athletics Track
If you are looking for accessible training sessions that can be included in your schedule, then come and join Area Activator Simon for his fortnightly runs.
Track training is always more fun with others, and these are designed to be sociable and open to all!
Structured training sessions, followed by refreshments at The Yurt Café, Limehouse!
Wednesday 5th February
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-3
Wednesday 19th February
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/track-towpath-morning-social-track-session-mile-end-4
—-------------------------------------
Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 4th February, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 8th February, 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.
Canonbury Square Gardens Volunteer Morning
Saturday 15th February, 12 midday - 2pm, 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.
—---------------------------------------
Green Guardians Spring Sessions
The Garden Classroom, Newington Green
Wednesday 5th February
Wednesday 12th February
Saturday 22nd February
Wednesday 26th February
Next session:
—---------------
Market Road Gardens
Tuesday 4th February
Tuesday 11th February
Tuesday 25th February
Next Session:
—--------------------------------------
Penn Road Gardens Open Morning (February)
Sunday 23rd February, 10am - 12 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.
Local volunteers will be on hand to direct anyone who arrives to offer their help between 10am- midday. Come on down to enjoy a lovely morning community task!
—--------------------------------------
Saint John's Garden: Building a Dead Hedge and Garden Maintenance
Saturday 22nd February, 11am - midday, St John's Garden
Friends of St John's Garden community group would LOVE Goodgym's help to build and maintain their dead hedges and as an optional lighter task help sweep the garden paths.
—--------------------------------------
Met League Cross Country Series- Goodgym Race Team
Various locations, October 2024 - February 2025
Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)
Sign up to the Goodgym Race Team for £15, and enter ALL 5 RACES for the bargain price of £20!
Newbies encouraged and welcomed- the most fun you can have running over the Winter months!
Fixtures
8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park
Loading...
