I used to run SpeakSet, a technology startup designed to support isolated older people. I am now taking some time out to write a book.
Wednesday 8th February 2017
Matt Simmonds been Coach Verified.
Big news. Matt is now Coach Verified. They're ready to start running to visit and older person. Show some love for Matt as they start the next phase of their GoodGym adventure.
Wednesday 24th August 2016
Matt Simmonds has done their first good deed with GoodGym.
Matt is a now a fully fledged GoodGym runner. They've just run to do good for the first time. They are out there making amazing things happen and getting fit at the same time.
Wednesday 24th August 2016
Matt Simmonds completed their first run in a new area.
Curious? Matt has just run their first session in another area. For that explorative spirit Matt is awarded the scout badge. A Scout is trustworthy
Wed 24th Aug 2016 at 6:45pm
On the sweatiest of summer nights, 10 runners assembled to flyer for the Salvation Army running 8.5km.
The joy of summer meant that this Wednesday night was pretty muggy but very pretty. We assembled at our usual place with the scent of roasted coffee.
feeling pretty roasted ourselves
The hill to the Salvation Army is a sneaky one that doesn't look so bad but we all made it up despite being pretty sweat-laden. The lovely Janet met us with a very welcome jug of squash and told us about the event we were flyering for. On Saturday 10th September, it's the 135th birthday of the Camberwell Salvation Army and there is a family party for the community to enjoy. So we split off into teams after a briefing for flyering and being safe whilst out and about in Camberwell.
We came across lots of blocks of flats, higgle-di-piggledy staircases and some friendly locals wanting to know about the event.
After we delivered the majority of the leaflets, we utilised the car park at the Salvation Army to play the famous GoodGym Islington game
Cups and Cones
For those not familiar, this involves cups and two teams named cups and cones respectively. Cups upside down are cones. The winner after a set amount of time of turning cups/cones around and around are those with the most of their namesake. Some dubious tactics of attempted hidings and a lot of chasing and time was up.
Congratulations to team cone! The battle is won but the war has just begun.
We still had a hill to conquer for the journey home so to push each other through, we Indian filed up it at jogging pace with the back person sprinting up to the front. The hill was soon over. An amble home including a 60s plank and we just about beat the black clouds and looming thunder shower.
Superb effort on a very hot night from everyone.
Fingers crossed for no rain during the bbq at Grove Park next Wednesday. See you there!
Tue 26th Jul 2016 at 7:00pm
Three lovely runners came out to Camden to experience Goodgym for the first time and learn some good running habits.
Running 101
This week's focus was going to be on speed work, but was adapted to introduce the group to running best practice:
Backwards arm drive
Posture
Legs
Using drills to build in the muscle memory:
Core blimey
We finished the session in Primrose Hill with some cross-training exercises - these strengthen your core muscles, which help keep your body aligned as you run.
Bingo
As is now Polly's tradition we finished with a warm down in front of the bingo hall.
That's all folks
Thanks for coming along Pip, Matt and Corinne. That completes Polly's 'Back to Basics' sessions. Cheers to everyone that has come out and shooed chickens in Camden. Good luck with your running.
PSB