Our fabulous four smashed this GoodGym starter session, covering 2km of running, picking four bags of litter at The Albany, sweeping paths, watering plants and embracing an intense HiiT session in the park. And all before lunch!

How lovely to be able to run together in the daylight! Not long now until we have lighter evenings again, but this lunchtime run and task made a welcome break from the dark, cold evenings of January and February. We met at the entrance to Goldsmiths University, gathering as part of Student Volunteering Week, with a series of events happening in the vicinity, offering students (and staff) the opportunity to help out in their community. A big hello to Sam, who was attending his first ever GoodGym session, a welcome to Rachel, who normally hangs out with the GoodGym Croydon crowd and a welcome back to Jacqueline, who we haven't seen at a group run for a little while.

We quickly realised that we were standing in a fug of smoke, in the bit where people hang out and have a fag. I find the best way to tackle such things is to break into a round of high-knees, this has the dual purpose of warming us up and entertaining the smokers. After a few more drills and a few more approving nods from the audience, we swerved through the gate and out onto Lewisham Way. Jacqueline went all dare devil at this point, ducking between the traffic jam*, proving herself to be some sort of car-dodging pro. It was a short run to The Albany, but we got to enjoy the newly emerging swathes of daffodils, just about to display their golden heads for all of Deptford.

Passing through the very jolly-looking 'Meet me at The Albany', we found Caz out in the garden, tools at the ready. It was great to see the space by day, with our task being sweeping paths, watering the poly tunnel beds and picking litter, all with the soothing background noise of the six chickens, cluck-clucking from their temporary accommodation (they are being kept inside for now, while there is a threat of avian flu; they seemed pretty contented though).

Jacqueline set to filling her watering can and giving the various herbs, garlic and seedlings a good drenching. Sam, Rachel and Caz worked their way around the edges of the garden, grabbers in hand, collecting the litter that gets blown (or thrown?) through the fence. I got stuck in with the big brush and made the path a little more presentable and, before we knew it, it was time to pack up and take stock of our efforts. Team Pick had managed, in half an hour, to fill four bags with litter! Excellent work everyone! Time to say our goodbyes - Caz is off to pastures new over Southwark way, but we will be running this way again on Monday to get the space looking amazing for a weekend get-together/activity day/celebration.

This is a great spot to have a starter session, with lots of nice paths to run along and a couple of green spaces to choose from for a fitness session. This time we got mean, lean and keen with a HiiT (High Intensity Interval Training) session - 30 seconds of activity/30 seconds rest. Jacqueline commented on how much nicer the wooden benches are here, compared to all that concrete at Glass Mill (I'm not sure she liked them as much after a couple of rounds of tri-dips...). Excellent focus and effort from everyone, especially on the knee-lifts (see photos of the Ministry of Silly Walks, Deptford Branch).

A short return run, a stretch and a chat about upcoming runs and it was time to go our separate ways TO EAT! If this looks like fun, why not join us one Monday evening? Sign up here for next week, or check out all the events here.

*Danger!