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7 Month Streak
Mon 14th Nov 2022 at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
After a rare week away, with the wonderful Alison leading our group run to Highbury Quadrant last Monday, Area Activator Simon was so happy to be back at The Emirates Stadium for another group run, after his New York adventure! We had a top crew of 8 Goodgymmers join us for our warm-up and our run towards The ARC Centre in Angel this evening (including new faces to GG Islington- Holly and Alice- welcome!). We chose to take the scenic route up Whistler Avenue, through Highbury Fields and New North Road towards the edge of De Beauvoir.
Upon our arrival, we caught up with Alison and Caitlin, before opening up the unique tool shed/horse box 🐎 🔨 for our chosen implements for the evening- litter pickers, sturdy gloves, head torches, plastic bags and team work! Between us, we took to visiting Packington Gardens and Canalside Gardens, opposite the centre, and pitching in 10-15 minutes of solid litter picking and refuse collection around the neighbourhoods. These particular streets can be a wind block for debris, so we were heartened to see that the parks were actually looking pretty clean in comparison to our Summer months. Within a short amount of time, we had filled up multiple bags of trash, and were confident in setting off back to the Emirates for a lovely long run, followed by some stretches. Congratulations folks! Looking forward to next week!
NEWS
Harringay Ladder Headtorch Group Run
On Friday evening (18th November), Area Activator Simon will be leading the next installment of our monthly headtorch runs, over the dark wintery seasons. This time, we will be participating in the classic "Harringay Ladder" challenge- stretching from Turnpike Lane and down to Finsbury Park, climbing and descending up and down approx 10km of parallel slopes on route. Check it out here!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-islington-headtorch-run-series-the-harringay-ladder
Canonbury Square Gardens Volunteer Gardening Session
On Saturday 19th November, The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens will be hosting their monthly open volunteer gardening mornings. A lovely way to catch up with the neighbours, and perfectly timed for a visit after Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun!
Sign up here:
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/friends-of-canonbury-square-volunteer-morning-november
Victoria Dock Time Trial
On Sunday 20th November, we will be bringing our usual time trials in Victoria Park over to the Victoria Dock Basin near the Excel centre, for our social timed running event (5km and/or 1 mile options available on a pancake flat course!). Always followed by coffee and breakfast at The Good Hotel floating restaurant!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/track-attack-winter-workout-at-victoria-dock
Crouch End Open Space Monthly Forest Trail Building
The Friends of CREOS and the Conservation Volunteers will be out to host their monthly forest path building and maintenance work day this Sunday. One of our longest running and most popular community missions here at Goodgym Islington. Good solid digging and wheelbarrowing, typically followed by a picnic lunch!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-november-2022
Mon 14th Nov 2022 at 6:45pm
Litter picking and leaf clearing in Union Square, Packington Gardens and Riverside Gardens
Read moreMon 7th Nov 2022 at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Islington runner
It was a ladies GoodGym Group run this week and our bravery paid off. Despite the rain and wind that lasted right up until we set off from Arsenal, it was calm and dry while we ran to meet Fran at Highbury Quadrant to shift earth. They're setting up a new community garden around the corner and needed help wheelbarrowing new earth from where it was dropped off around the corner into their new wooden planters. Some of the locals came out to help and we made a sizable dent in two of the big bags.
We also had a Dolly, but Dolly was a small dog, not a hand truck. Still, she barked at our wheelbarrows and tried (unsuccessfully) to stop a fox weeing on our bags of earth, so Dolly gets full points for trying.
And if, like me, you found Fran's hedgehog information really interesting, but can't remember any of it now, here's: What to do if you find a hedgehog out during the day from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
Remember there are two group missions this week; The Garden Classroom on Wednesday morning and Guide Running with Achilles International on Thursday evening.
Mon 24th Oct 2022 at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
In between sporadic rain showers, Area Activator Simon caught up with a top crew of Goodgymmers (a mix of regulars and new starters- welcome Michelle!) outside the Arsenal Community Hub for our weekly group run. After a count-off to introduce each other (and to show off our favourite firework sounds to celebrate Diwali!), we ran approximately 1 mile together towards Elizabeth House Food Hub on Hurlock Street (utilising some hills on route!).
Upon our arrival, we found that Ernestas, Natalie and Natasha were already helping the super busy food bank crew with their half term operations. Elizabeth House Food Hub has been set up to act like a supermarket of donated produce that can be affordably purchased by the immediate community. During the holidays, more families and individuals require additional assistance with deliveries, so Goodgym Islington were asked whether would lend a hand. Half of our runners paired up together to deliver these essential parcels to households across the borough. The rest of our team assisted with cleaning and closing up the tables used for the food bank, and with loading any additional produce back into the kitchen (after some quality control). We finished off the evening with some recycling, and breaking down food boxes for collection.
The Elizabeth House Food Hub core yeam were absolutely thrilled with the amount of work completed within such a short amount of time, and asked is to definitely return in the future! Well done all!
Our final event of the night was the introduction of our monthly "Emirates Stadium Time Trial"- a personal test run with your fellow Goodgymmers to see how quickly we can run the 700m loop of the Emirates Concourse. It was so great to bring back this "Paul Bown" tradition to Goodgym Islington again.
NEWS
Highbury Quadrant Soil Shifting
On Wednesday 26th November, Area Activator Simon and Ernestas of Highbury Ward will be helping Octopus Community Network with filling up some newly constructed flower planters around the Highbury Quadrant Estate.
Sign up here to get involved:
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/highbury-quadrant-bonus-shingle-and-soil-shifting
VI Guide Running at Emirates Stadium with Achilles International
Every Thursday, Achilles International will lead a group run for visually impaired runners and local guides at Paddington Rec Track or The Emirates Stadium. This week, we will be returning to North London for our session. Open to potential guide of all abilities, and for anyone up for a group run!
Halloween Hampstead Heath Headtorch Group Run
On Friday 28th November, AA Simon will be leading his annual Halloween headtorch run around Hampstead Heath- starting at the Bull and Gate Pub in Kentish Town, and looping around the gorgeous trails of North London. Costumes and trail shoes are advised, but not essential! Social group running pace will be the aim for the evening- please bring your own headtorch if possible.
Caledonian Park Junior parkrun Half Term Holiday Help
On Sunday 30th November, the lovely event directors of junior parkrun in Caledonian Park have asked if any of our Goodgym crew would be available to help with course marshalling, time keeping, tail walking or barcode scanning for their free weekly timed run for 4-14 year old runners. Volunteer numbers from parents and usual assistants tend to be down due to the half term break, so any help would be awesome!
Penn Road Gardens Volunteer Open Morning
After Junior parkrun, the resident volunteers of Penn Road Gardens will be hosting their monthly open morning for composting, mulching and garden maintenance near Holloway Road. A wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning with a potential Goodgym double task!
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-october
Mon 7th Nov 2022 at 6:45pm
We love Octopus Community Network tasks! Green space maintenance evening in this beautiful wildflower project!
Read moreMon 24th Oct 2022 at 6:45pm
This wonderfully busy community food hub has asked our crew to help out with neighbourhood deliveries!
Read moreMon 17th Oct 2022 at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
As the sun went down across the Islington borough, our Goodgym crew caught outside the Arsenal Community Hub on Benwell Road, ready for our weekly group run. Great to see a mix of returning runners and new faces (congratulations to Paul after his recent marathon exploits!).
We ran together parallel to Holloway Road, and over to Compton Gardens past Union Chapel (a Saturday morning gardening community mission soon to listed on the site- watch this space!). After dropping down from Upper Street and Packington Street, we met up with Will, the head gardener for Packington and Riverside Gardens opposite the Arc Centre, and the rest of our Goodgym team.
Our main objective for the evening was to clear some large heaps of overgrown weeds and shrubs from the roots from 5 trees within Riverside Garden. These trees were originally donated by the Chelsea Flower Show, so we really want to make sure that they are well prepared for the Winter months. Meanwhile, Patrick, Francesca and Nick donned their headtorches and clip lights, and assisted with litter picking around the perimeter of the park (particularly in the bushes nearest to Regent's Canal- lots of bottles and cans rescued from this lovely green space!).
Within 45 minutes of graft, working with portable lights, we successfully completed our garden maintenance help, and really made a difference. After a catch-up chat, our team set off back home via bike, tube and on foot, and Area Activator Simon lead a group back to The Emirates via an alternate route past Essex Road, through Highbury Fields and across Drayton Park. Wonderful stuff- Thank you for joining us, everyone!
Upcoming Goodgym Islington Events
GROUP RUN- Elizabeth House Food Hub Half Term Helpers
Next Monday (24th October), we will be leading our weekly group run (starting at The Arsenal Community Hub) over to one of our favourite community mission spots. Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested our help with delivering additional supplies and parcels to the local community over the school holidays. A smashing way to spend a Monday evening, and one that will make a huge difference to many people.
Sign up here to get involved:
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-elizabeth-house-food-hub-half-term-helpers
Mildmay Community Centre Evening Gardening Workout
Area Activator Simon will be helping Head Gardener Dom on Friday evening (21st October) with an evening of weed whacking and foliage clearing (using electric strimmers and rakes) on the sloped gardens in this unique carbon neutral Passiv Haus project.
Really good fun! Sign up here:
Halloween Headtorch Run on Hampstead Heath!
Back by popular demand, Area Activator Simon will be leading this year's Halloween headtorch run around Hampstead Heath. Starting and ending at The Bull and Gate in Kentish Town, we will run about 10km around this gorgeous green space in the dark, following the lights from our fellow runners! Friday 28th October, from 6.30pm- all abilities and running paces welcome- this is a social run.
This will be an absolute blast! Sign up here:
GROUP RUN- Thornhill Square Gardens SPOoOoky edition!
Yes! Goodgym Islington will be out for our weekly Group Run on the most terrifying night of the year- Halloween!
We will set off from Arsenal Community Hub at 6.45pm, and run together to Thornhill Square Gardens. Costumes recommended!
and afterwards we plan to enjoy our monthly social with a trip to The Horatia on Holloway Road for delicious Bao baps, traditional pub food and a full range of refreshments.
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/spooooky-social-post-group-run-trip-to-the-horatia
Highbury Quadrant Soil and Shingle Shifting
On Wednesday 26th October (6.30pm onwards), Area Activator Simon and Frannie from Octopus Community Network will be out at Highbury Quadrant Estate Gardens, filling a collection of newly constructed flower planters with soil, ready for winter bulbs.
Sign up here to help out:
https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/highbury-quadrant-bonus-shingle-and-soil-shifting
Achilles International Guide Running Group Runs at The Emirates Stadium
For the past few years, AA Simon has been coordinating guide running sessions in Green Park and at Paddington Rec Track on Thursday evenings. This year, we have been able to introduce our sessions to The Emirates Stadium concourse over the Winter months (every fortnight).
We will be meeting our runners at Arsenal tube station on Thursday 27th October at 6pm. Guides of all abilities are welcome- we approach the evening as a group running session, but with visually impaired runners included!
Sign up here to get involved:
Mon 17th Oct 2022 at 6:45pm
Helping The Arc Community Centre in Angel with their ambitious planting project!
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