Last week a group of Wandsworth warriors began working in the Wendelsworth community garden. Beds were dug, branches were sawed, progress was made. But knowing there was still work to be done, they couldn’t keep us away. We toed the line at the Battersea Arts Centre, and with the off, nothing was left to be seen but a streak of red tshirts storming down Lavender Hill towards the gardens.

We made it in record time, with Jack doing a great job backmarking, and were quickly deployed into teams. Tom led a group to the rose bushes, where they demonstrated some impressive deadheading skills. Own up, who has Groundforce on series record?

Team two tackled the first of an enormous pen of leaves and mulch and other good stuff. A splinter group soon formed to saw a pile of branches, while team three leaped into another huge pen to shift a load of vegetation to the fruit orchard. They well and truly earned their stripes sprinting with full wheelbarrows, and there were more than a few twitching curtains around the estate.

The final team were putting last week’s hard earned experience into practice digging long beds ready for planting. It was back-breaking work, but the group took their minds off the task with a discussion on the various merits of chocolate bourbons. Next week: jaffa cakes.

The leaf pens emptied, the beds dug, branches sawed and the roses resembling the final days of revolutionary France, we waved farewell to Martin and the wonderful Wendelsworth gardens, and off we ran to Wandsworth Common to do some serious speed work. With Mo on our minds, this wasn’t to be a light session. A course was identified, and the first group raced off to set their first time. They returned in a blaze of glory, ready for group two to make their mark.

Recovery is for wimps though, and we had chosen today as the inaugural weekly Plank Challenge. A strong core is vital to prevent injury – it stabilises and keeps the body upright on longer runs. So, every Monday, each runner is going to try and beat the previous week’s record. Wandsworth proved itself to have some colossal plankers among the group, with the final two lasting over 5 mins 15. Way to go Dom and Richard! Amazing job. With the world record standing currently at over 5 hours, we’re definitely going to have to extend our hours.

We finished the session with the group trying to beat their first sprint time, and with a fiery sunset lighting the common, smash it they did. Everybody gave it their all, and everyone deserves to be proud of themselves. Shout out to Ed, Tim and Hannah for some cracking performances.

A gentle jog back to our starting spot was used to discuss the weekly CoRUNdrum, which in a shock first, was not solved by Wandsworth Runners. The question? There are two tube stops which have all five vowels in their name. Answers on a postcard to Wandsworth HQ if you know!

Well done everyone, as always you pushed it hard, and will see the benefits of it both in your borough, and in yourself.

See you next week for some different work in Clapham’s Eden Garden, sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/group_runs/eden-community-gardens-need-our-help

HAPPY MONDAYS All round when a dozen Goodgymers ran 5k, to Kilburn Grange Park for a dose of gardening and an even bigger dose of upper body strength work.

(and yes this is a musical, Happy Mondays band themed run report, in case you get confused LOL)

Despite feeling a little under the weather myself, there were no PILL SPILLS AND BELLY ACHES that could keep me away from my beautiful GG Brent. To kick off the night, I was delighted to see, as well as the familiars, lots of new faces at base camp too! Tanya, Jarshee, Dharmistha and Shanta four lovely ladies ready to push down pavements and give back some goodness to their local community.

Back with our new friends - Kilburn Grange Park, to finish the gardening we started last week, after a warm and fun fuelled housekeeping we set off into the night. With Dan at the helm and me leading from the back, we set off on the first leg of the journey down to the high road, minding not to STEP ON the many cracked pavements and tree roots springing up attempting to hinder our fast pace.

In no time at all we had arrived and BOBS YOUR UNCLE were greeted by the gorgeous AJ with all the tools needed to get cracking straight away YAY

With the last of the SUNSHINE and plenty of LOVE we got to work digging, pulling weeds and raking up the dead leaves to reveal beautiful new soil ready for new planting.

About half way through, there was a HALLELUJA Moment, when AJ brought out 2 trays of deliciously prepared watermelon for the team!!! Amazing!! Stepping away from our Manchester themed music night for one moment of madness it was WHAM BAM THANK YOU MAM When I accompanied the moment with a dose of Club Tropicana on the spotify mix.... (Clairey-Bells request!!)

So joyful our volunteering must have seemed from the outside, that we were suddenly surrounded by a gaggle of local kids questioning and quizzing what we were up to and then.... oh wait - No they were just here for the melon!!!! Of course.

With tummys full and the final countdown upon us we rushed to fill the last of the refuse sacks before said our goodbyes and hot footing it over to the playground for some more fitness fun!! No monkeying around as I guided the team into a series of hanging body holds and pull-ups on the bars and a team challenge of perfect technique press-ups on the grass.

Can we accept the Elle Energy challenge for this week I proclaimed.... 7 press ups every single day until next Monday??? YES WE CAN!!

After the upper-body annihilation, the lower body was back in business, as our legs did the work carrying us back the last 1.5miles back to base camp - The Queensbury. Hills were the last challenge of the night and with hips high and knees driving upwards, the team demo'd perfect skills to battle the last tree roots home and make it back in time for stretches bang on 8.30pm!! WOOP WOOP.

A night of fun fuelled, fruity goodness and fitness fury in the second week of the summer, that's another week rocked in Brent.

Until next time 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPIRE

A movie-themed run report by Andrea

Set free from our Office Space(s), eight My Fair Ladies and one Ironman came out for a night of running and gardening here in Brent.

Tonight we were graced by the leadership of Lisa, who’s set to lead the Ealing group come next week! The crew set off, undeterred by the wet weather (it was quite Cool Running). Two miles later we had made it to Kingsgate’s Secret Garden at Kilburn Grange Park.

We were led to the Temple (…aka Toolshed) of Doom featuring the best array of gardening equipment this team has seen to date. Though tempting, we avoided a Chainsaw Massacre by keeping to the equipment we (mostly) knew how to use – the highlight was definitely the giant eyelash -curler-esque weed scoopers.

In a quick break from gardening, we dashed through La Vie en Rose (…aka rose garden) in partner squat and sprint races. Soon it was time for the 2 mile run home, where we again incorporated some Speed work. Running like The Fast and the Furious, we found ourselves back at home-base with five minutes to spare… just enough time for the 100 squat challenge Bring It On. The A-Team pulled together in some of our best form yet to Power Ranger through this final piece of the workout.

Now.....That’s all folks!!!!!

Until next time