What a wonderful evening

It started out with a task briefing in the fitness centre. This night we’d be delivering flyers for Wand UK again. Wand is a fantastic charity that provides support for vulnerable and isolated women in the communities. Their services include mental health and wellbeing support, computer and English classes, advice with domestic abuse and parenting. They have also put on an extra project called ‘Holding Hands’ to help those affected by the Grenfell disaster - providing free emotional welling and holistic support, tai chi & yoga classes and massages.

Meet me in Norland Park

After a warm-up we set off together toward Norland Open Space. There, the group was split into two (gender balanced ;) teams. Then armed with maps and new highlighters, they set off to deliver the flyers in different areas - one lead by Polly and the other by Jason.

They navigated successfully and did a speedy job, meaning we could all meet back at the park at 8 for a core workout.

Round the tree Goosey

Our fitness session was a was like a game duck duck goose with a detour. The group did a series of core exercises whilst one member race out to a tree across the park and back. This made the timing different for each exercise. Star jumps, burpees, legs raises and more.

Once everyone had a run out to the tree we wrapped up and headed back home whilst discussing the best local park runs.

Congrats to Esther for making it along to her first Goodgym run. Give her a Cheer!

Next week is our 1st birthday! Join us for celebrations.

19 Hackney GoodGymers ran 6k to the HUG garden on Hackney downs to perform a watering kiss of life to the garden and plant 100 snow drops as well as create display boards for the Hackney Downs show.

We started the session with the presentation of Antonia's 100 GoodDeed T-Shirt an amazing effort of 2 years of consistent GOOD, brilliant work 👏🏼👏🏻👏🏿👏🏾!!

We welcomed Cat to her first GG session and got going on the very warm 2k run to the HUG garden navigating all the amazing BBQ smells on our way.

Meeting the one and only Myra we split into teams, first crew Megan mending and arranging the trellis stands for the Hackney Downs show on Saturday which shows the plans which the HUG have to transform the unused bowling green into an educational mini nature reserve.

The second team watered and tended to potted plants that are to be sold at the show to begin raising funds to make the transformation happen. While the third team watered the existing flower beds and planted 100 snow drops which should bloom in January. Special mention to Holly for her amazing watering resuscitation efforts in bringing the Hackneysaurs back to life!!

With an outstanding job done by all we had completed the mission! Leaving the HUG garden in top shape for the weekend!

We had time for a longer run this evening and great to so many of the Team in five running form as we dominated 4.3k run back to base where we stretched and gorged on celebratory chocolates from Antonia!!

Next week we are off to the Rhodes Estate food growers group love to have you along please sign up here.

Until next week Enjoy the

Smooth Sunshine

Joel

Opening night for GoodGym Barnet was a huge success; 23 incredible GoodGymmers ran almost 4km to rake hay at a local nature reserve.

We were welcomed by our wonderful GoodGym Barnet base, the Phoenix Cinema, and joined by the mayor, Councillor David Longstaff, as well as councillor Sachin Rajput and Age UK representitive Sian Jones.

We ran a mostly downhill route through secret footpaths all the way to Long Lane Nature Reserve, where we were met by Harriet and Wayne who had tools laid out waiting for us. In what proved to be the speediest display of raking and carrying, the Barnet GoodGymmers cleared two areas and built the biggest pile of hay we'd ever seen.

Everyone got stuck in, including councillor Rajput – getting his very smart suit a little dirty!

I then took the team through a quick strength and conditioning workout, smashing out some incredible squats, jumps and lunges. We then ran ourselves back to base (all up hill, surprisingly!) and had a quick stretch.

Oh BONUS: The Phoenix has offered to reward GoodGym Barnet regulars with free cinema tickets. Log 10 tasks in Barnet to get a pair! Brilliant evening. Thank you to everyone who came!

We'll be back next week - see you there!

18 fleet of foot GoodGymers ran 5k to Gillett Square to flyer and poster to promote the amazing Rio in Dalston festival.

On a warm evening in Hackney we set off to work our energetic magic! It was lovely to have along a few GoodGym newbies!! Hope you enjoyed your evening and we see you for many more Hackney Fun Filled Group runs. We smashed out a top dynamic activation warm up on London fields followed by getting our skip on! This helped to hone our running techniques and condition our bodies for the ever important stretch shortening cycle. Fast feet, high skips saw as bound out of the park ready for action! Being slightly weighed down at the back of the pack a brilliant last minute lead running duo of Patrick and Peter guided the squad the 2k to Gillet Square where we met Marc from Hackney Roots who is the primary organiser of the festival.

While we were slightly mesmerised by the amazing world record holding hoola hoop action that was taking place in the square! Check out this page for the world record. After splitting up into teams we set off pestering the local area and flyering the local residential properties.

Flyering and postering techniques were on point and in no time we had delivered and put up over a hundred posters and 250 flyers!! Talking of timeing it maybe wasn't our strongest area of expertise this week!

We the first group of runners back we decided to split the run back to base into distances. So the first group lead brilliantly by Patrick ran a longer 4K loop back taking in a few extra of Hackney's sites. The direct running crew ran back and had a fortunate meeting with our wandering Coach Run Rep. Before the heavy bag duo brought the team home.

Next week we are off to Hackney Downs and the HUG garden to create some beautiful animal sculptures!! sign up here.

I am also running a great GoodGym running fitness session on Thursday evening in Islington for this that want to increase the fitness! sign up here.

Saturday sees a special Starter session in Gillett Square as we get ready for the children's obstacle race by setting up the course! If you fancy coming along and or bringing along a friend who fancies trying out GoodGym with a bit less running sign up here.

See you all very soon

Silky Smooth

Joel