9 Goodgym runners from all different boroughs joined Area Activator Simon on an absolutely glorious Monday evening at the Arsenal Community Hub. It was wonderful to catch up with everyone's Summer time adventures- Congratulations to Charlie for guide running at The Big Half yesterday, and Good Luck to Adam for his upcoming half marathon at Richmond Run Festival next weekend. After dropping off our bags and kit, we performed a warm up routine up the Emirates slopes, before running towards Whistler Street (over Danny Fiszman bridge). We weaved through Highbury Fields, and jogged along the (now open) New River Walk in Canonbury, on route to The Rose Bowl Youth Club.

The Rose Bowl (https://www.rosebowlislington.org.uk/) is an incredible after school club and food bank, that has been a hub in the community for almost 40 years! We met with Dawn and Clive, the absolute legends who run the day-to-day projects at the centre, and got straight to work!

Our first major task for the evening was to clear up the playground area of leaves and foliage, ready for the return of the after school club as the new term starts. Half of our team were able to completely blitz the space with the use of brooms, leaf grabbers, green waste bags and gardening hoes. We also picked away at plenty of moss from the surfaces, to ensure that the youngsters are less likely to slide over when playing football, bulldog and other outdoor games. Benedict, Mia and Louise also assisted with trimming back a mass of over hanging branches around the entrance to the playground slopes, and swept away a scattered pile of gravel back into the outdoor seating area. Sarah and Adam made a final effort in the last few minutes of our session to completely clear the paths leading to the access door to the Rose Bowl Food Hub. Within 45 minutes, we had completely transformed the space- well done everyone!

We packed away our tools, waved Goodbye to Dawn and Clive, and ran back to The Emirates Stadium during golden hour, under incredible purple and orange skies as the sun went down on a successful Monday evening task! As a celebration, many of our team enjoyed some well deserved post-group run pizza and refreshments at The Victoria Tavern as part of our September social. Awesome stuff!

---

Goodgym Islington News

—-----------------------------------

Party in the Park- Penn Road Gardens

Saturday 9th September, 2pm-5pm, Penn Road Gardens

A lovely get together, hosted by the residents of Penn Road Gardens, one of our most popular local task owners!

Expect the following:

• Live Swing Dancing Classes!

• Stalls and activities

• Live music

• Quiz and prizes

• Food and refreshments with the neighbourhood!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/party-in-the-park-penn-road-gardens

—-----------------------------------

Achilles International VI Guiding Sessions- Emirates Stadium

Thursday 14th September, 6pm, Arsenal Tube Station

Achilles International are an amazing organisation who link guide with blind and particially sighted runners, and they are looking for potential guides for future training sessions.

Goodgym (and parkrun) communities have been very supportive of this team over the years, so we are looking to see if we can introduce more runners to the world of guiding.

Over the Winter months, Achilles International will be hosting fortnightly running sessions around the floodlit forecourt of Emirates Stadium, Islington. Every other week, we will train at Paddington Rec Track.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-49cc4fe4-fa1f-4631-8ef6-00e57b0ac0f7

—-----------------------------------

City Race- Dartford Orienteers- Southwark Park

Friendly and welcoming orienteering event in Southwark Park! First timers encouraged!

Friday 15th September, 5pm - 8pm, Decathlon Surrey Quays

Orienteering is an exciting outdoor adventure sport which involves navigating around a course using a detailed map and sometimes a compass. The aim is to navigate between a set of control points and decide the best route to complete the course in the quickest time. It does not matter how young, old or fit you are, and you can run, walk or jog round the course and progress at your own pace.

Find out more here:

https://www.dfok.co.uk/info/new-to-orienteering

Come and give it a go at this super beginner friendly event!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/city-race-dartford-orienteers-southwark-park

---

THE BIG LONDON SOCIAL!

GoodGym London Monthly Social (GG Camden), Thursday 14th September, TBC

The first (of hopefully many) monthly drinks in London. Come and meet other GoodGymers and toast each others achievements. We'll be celebrating those on the Heroes Board from August and maybe even deciding which recent puns are worthy of accolade. The venue is TBC but will be somewhere fairly central with good transport links.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-london-monthly-social

---

Compton Terrace Gardens Volunteer Open Morning - September

Saturday 16th September, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel

From the Friends of Compton Terrace Gardens:

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-september

---

Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day (September 2023)

Sunday 17th September, 11am - 1pm, CREOS meadow or Hanley Tennis Club car park

Join us as we help the team at CREOS, a local conservation charity, maintain and improve a lovely green oasis in Crouch End.

CREOS looks after the meadows and wooded pathways of the Crouch End Open Space. GoodGym runners have been helping them maintain this beautiful patch of land for a while now, and the CREOS team always has lots for us to do.

This month, the CREOS team are planning on playing down a load of hoggin (a mix of hardy sand, clay and gravel aggregate) for new paths along the forest walking routes. It will be a big job, so we can use as many hands as possible!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-september-2023

---

GG Race Team- Met League Hill Training Sessions!

Friday 29th September, 6.30pm, The Pembroke Castle, Camden

Goodgym Cross Country is back! We will be returning to the Met League in 2023 and 2024!

If you have never tried cross country, it is amazing muddy fun. A definite challenge, but accessible to all who want to give it a go, and are part of a UKA affiliated team (like the Goodgym Race Team).

To coincide with the events, Area Activator Simon Fitzmaurice (who is a UK Athletics Coach in Running Fitness or CiRF for short) will be hosting a series of hill interval training sessions at Primrose Hill over the Autumn and Winter months.

The Pembroke Castle, 150 Gloucester Ave., London NW1 8JA, and we will run to Primrose Hill together to start our session.

September 29th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-september

October 27th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-october

November 24th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-november

January 5th https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-january

January 26th (aka February fixture session) https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-february

---

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

Goodgym Crew are back for the exciting new installment of the Camino Ultra Epping Forest Race!

Saturday 7th October, 9am - 5pm (various shifts), Butler's Retreat, Epping Forest

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/happenings/camino-ultra-epping-forest-50km-and-25km-eco-trail-aid-station-superstars

Area Activator Simon was thrilled to welcome 9 runners at the Arsenal Community Hub this Monday, particularly as he was sharing Birthday Celebrations with fellow Goodgym regular Caitlin. Our crew had a good catch up before heading out (Simon and Alison had both run rabbit related trail races in different parts of the country over the weekend), and we began our session with a solid warm up on the slopes before running towards Tufnell Park Plant Nursery just off Holloway Road.

Upon our arrival, Caitlin let us into this beautiful gated garden space (maintained by local volunteers and Octopus Community Network), and got straight to work. Paul, Benedict and Katie gave the entire garden space a really good sweep and tidy- collecting fallen leaves and composting accordingly. The back section behind a gorgeous poly-tunnel (full of squash, pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers and courgettes) needed quite a bit of sorting, and these guys made short work of it!

The rest of our crew proceeded to water a selection of the gardens- with the intention of really drenching the planters surrounding the community plots, to ensure that water reaches the roots of these particular vegetables. Watering cans were distributed by Sarah and Michelle, while Sarah sprayed down multiple beds using the hose provided. Half-way through the evening, we had emptied all of the water contained in the water butts, and Alison took charge of filling up our watering cans using the mains tap outside the gardens, so we could finish the task!

Together, we ran back to The Emirates Stadium (passing the lovely Old Firehouse Community Hub near Pakeman Street on route), and almost all of our team joined us for our post-group run social at Wolkite Ethiopean Restaurant on Hornsey Road (https://www.wolkiterestaurant.com/) for absolutely delicious cuisine. Well done everyone!

---

NEWS

Achilles International VI Guiding Group Runs- Paddington Rec Track

Thursday 20th July, 6pm, Green Park Underground Station

Our weekly group running session with the awesome visually impaired runners at Achilles International returns to Paddington Rec Track in Maida Vale. Open for guide runners of all abilities, and new potential guides are very welcome! Dog watchers and bag drop helpers encouraged!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-paddington-rec-track-63a8c573-01fe-45e6-836b-6ccf15fcce00

---

Dartford Orienteers- Parkrace Series- Wick Woodland

Tuesday 25th July, 6.30-8.30pm, Lord Napier Star Pub, Hackney Wick

The London orienteering community have been setting up some really great events in different boroughs of the city- "localised" social challenges that are particularly good for new starters over summer. The series is concluding with a final event in Hackney Wick, and you are very welcome to give it a go!

Sign up in advance using the link below for either a long course (5km total distance for a perfect line) or a short course (2.5km), and a rental for a chip card for recording your times.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/x

---------------------------------------------  

Goodgym x Achilles International- Bushy parkrun visit

Saturday 22nd July, 8.30am, Bushy Park, Hampton

Achilles International, the all abilities sports group, are planning on attending the original "free weekly timed 5km time trial", more commonly known as "Bushy parkrun" in Hampton.

We are looking to invite potential running guides (for various paces) and those interested in the world of guide running (especially anyone happy to volunteer and cheer on the course) to come and join us! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/achilles-international-x-goodgym-bushy-parkrun

---

Penn Road Gardens Open Morning (July)

Sunday 30th July, 10am-12 midday, Penn Road Gardens

An invitation to help this lovely community garden space near Caledonian Road over Summer. Often complimented with mugs of tea and coffee!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-july

---

Orion Harriers Forest Five Summer Series: Race 3

Saturday 5th August, 10:00am - 12:00pm, Orion Harriers Club House, Chingford Come and join the Orion Harriers for this awesome and affordable trail race (concluding the Summer series in Epping Forest). 5 miles through fields and greenery (and friendly wildlife)- highly recommended!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/orion-harriers-forest-five-summer-series-race-3 —--------------------------------------

GROUP RUN- Elizabeth House Food Hub Helpers- and 4 years of AA Simon

Monday 7th August, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub

On Monday evening, we will be helping with deliveries to families and isolated individuals around the Islington borough for Elizabeth House- a super busy hub near Gillespie Road.  https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-elizabeth-house-food-hub-summer-holiday-helpers-2

And afterwards we will be celebrating Area Activator Simon's 4 year anniversary as the leader for Goodgym Islington, with a trip to Someday Canteen in Finsbury Park.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/post-group-run-social-august-someday-bar-finsbury-park-4-years-of-area-activator-simon

On Monday evening, Area Activator Simon joined first time group run attendees Isabella and Masoud (welcome!) at the Arsenal Community Hub by Emirates Stadium. We engaged in a warm up on the slopes to get the blood pumping, before setting off towardsHilldrop House on Camden Road (on the cusp of the Islington border). For the first time, we had more cyclists than runners in attendance (partially due to AA Simon recovering from a foot treatment earlier in the day), but Isabella did a smashing job as our lone runner on the night! Shortly after passing through Caledonian Park (and next to the community herb gardens that we helped to install), we met with Benedict, who was cycling in the same direction!

Upon our arrival, we picked up a collection of shears, green bags, heavy duty gloves and trowels, and set upon continuing our great work from last week. Our objective was to clear away as much of the overgrown grass from the entrance of St Mungo's Hilldrop House help centre as possible, while still leaving enough for residents and visitors to enjoy. Camden Road is very open area, that is susceptible for litter from neighbouring estates (sometimes blown over by the wind, other times intentionally littered), and the long grass typically collects this debris. It was great to be able to shift as much refuse as possible, while making the space look presentable! Ben also helped with snipping away overhanging bushes and tree branches on the pedestrian walkway surrounding the centre, as not to impede the pavement.

Over 45 minutes, our small crew did a smashing job- the front garden area was a transformation! Another trip is likely to be scheduled in August to finish off our summer time gardening project, so watch this space!

---

NEWS

Achilles International VI Guiding Group Runs- Green Park

Thursday 13th July, 6pm, Green Park Underground Station

Our weekly group running session with the awesome visually impaired runners at Achilles International returns to Green Park. Open for guide runners of all abilities, and new potential guides are very welcome! Dog watchers and bag drop helpers encouraged!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-green-park-summer-session-5864b4a7-14f2-4d01-b9d2-c62c48f90dd7

---

Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Forest Path Building Morning - July

Sunday 16th July, 11am-1pm, Crouch End Open Space

Our monthly woodland regeneration session with the CREOS volunteering team. A fantastic morning for lifting, shifting, digging and beautifying between Muswell Hill and Highgate.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-july-2023

---

GROUP RUN - Tufnell Park Community Plant Nursery & Social!

Monday 17th July, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub

We will be visiting the beautiful Tufnell Park Plant Nursery for our group run on a Monday evening. Loads of water for thirsty plants!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-tufnell-park-community-plant-nursery-social

And afterwards, we will be visiting the wonderful Wolkite Ethiopian Restaurant on Benwell Road for our July post run social (and also Area Activator Simon's birthday!).

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/post-group-run-social-july-wolkite-ethiopian

---

Goodgym x Achilles International- Bushy parkrun visit

Saturday 22nd July, 8.30am, Bushy Park, Hampton

Achilles International, the all abilities sports group, are planning on attending the original "free weekly timed 5km time trial", more commonly known as "Bushy parkrun" in Hampton.

We are looking to invite potential running guides (for various paces) and those interested in the world of guide running (especially anyone happy to volunteer and cheer on the course) to come and join us! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/achilles-international-x-goodgym-bushy-parkrun

---

Penn Road Gardens Open Morning (July)

Sunday 30th July, 10am-12 midday, Penn Road Gardens

An invitation to help this lovely community garden space near Caledonian Road over Summer. Often complimented with mugs of tea and coffee!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/penn-road-gardens-open-morning-july

—-------------------------------

GROUP RUN- Elizabeth House Food Hub Helpers- and 4 years of AA Simon

Monday 7th August, 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub

On Monday evening, we will be helping with deliveries to families and isolated individuals around the Islington borough for Elizabeth House- a super busy hub near Gillespie Road. https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/group-run-elizabeth-house-food-hub-summer-holiday-helpers-2

And afterwards we will be celebrating Area Activator Simon's 4 year anniversary as the leader for Goodgym Islington, with a trip to Someday Canteen in Finsbury Park.

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/post-group-run-social-august-someday-bar-finsbury-park-4-years-of-area-activator-simon

4 intrepid Goodgym runners (including first time attendee Steven- welcome!) met at the Arsenal Community Hub after a very very warm weekend. Our team had run trails over in the Forest of Dean, guided visually impaired runners at a local sports day and generally enjoyed the Glastonbury festivities from home with BBQ cooking delicacies. We started our run with a warm up on the Emirates slopes, sticking to dynamic movements and raising the heart rate with plyometric springs and activations. From here, we ran further North onto Eburne Street (the location of The Swimmer N4- the fantastic pub we visited last week after our group run, and good spot for meeting friendly cats), and towards the Tufnell Park Plant Nursery, a hidden gem of a community garden spot off Holloway Road.

Upon our arrival, Area Activator Simon opened up the locks, and let our crew in. The space is a collaborative project between Octopus Community Network, and the residents of Hollis House estate, but is open for anyone who would like to be involved. There is a fully functional poly-tunnel for vegetables, and many many planters dedicated to cultivating new greenery. That said, a lot of care and maintenance is required to keep the plants and veggies fit and healthy- regular watering in particular! So our Goodgym objective for the evening was to completely soak "Area 2 - all planters surrounding the poly-tunnel, the mini-meadow and the horse-shoe plot" over the course of an hour, to ensure that we get to the roots!

This proved to be a lovely relaxing task, with Benedict and Steven using watering cans filled from the water butt for the flower beds, and Luke spraying the larger plots with a hose, while filling up more cans. We did a really efficient job between us, and will certainly return very soon for more watering tasks!

Great job everyone. We will be back for more group running next week, visiting Hilldrop House Community Hub for some serious garden clear-up!

Sign up here:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-st-mungo-s-hilldrop-house-week-1-3332fbd3-3ffc-4b7c-8cfb-3523511e5fb7

---

NEWS

Achilles International VI Guiding Group Runs- Green Park

Thursday 29th June, 6pm, Green Park Underground Station

Our weekly group running session with the awesome visually impaired runners at Achilles International returns to Green Park. Open for guide runners of all abilities, and new potential guides are very welcome! Dog watchers and bag drop helpers encouraged!

---

Orion Harriers Forest Five Trail Race (no.2)

Saturday 1st July, 10am, Orion Harriers Club House, Chingford

An absolute bargain! Amazing Epping Forest trail races hosted by the Mighty Orion Harriers. All abilities and paces welcome!

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/orion-harriers-forest-five-summer-series-race-2

---

Compton Terrace Gardens Open Volunteering Morning

Saturday 1st July, 10am, Union Chapel

Our lovely monthly community gardening morning with the Friends of Compton Terrace Gardens. A perfect post-parkrun community mission (not far from Finsbury park or Highbury Fields)

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/compton-terrace-gardens-volunteer-open-morning-july

—-----------------------------------------

Goodgym x Achilles International- Bushy parkrun visit

Saturday 22nd July, 8.30am, Bushy Park, Hampton

Achilles International, the all abilities sports group, are planning on attending the original "free weekly timed 5km time trial", more commonly known as "Bushy parkrun" in Hampton.

We are looking to invite potential running guides (for various paces) and those interested in the world of guide running (especially anyone happy to volunteer and cheer on the course) to come and join us! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/achilles-international-x-goodgym-bushy-parkrun