Swollen numbers this week with all you fine east london folk getting stuck in, crisp blue skies and almost spring like weather potentially conducive to the bolstered presence. Terrific to have a big team out once more. With Rosie rollling up and running through her pregnancy we could even lay claim to one more, if only I had an email address for your wondrous fetus. Next week. Chrisanna joined for her first session after having a chat with us last week - lovely to have you part of the team.

Manorfield Primary School was our task site so to speak, a room replete with junk, our job was to remove and organise like diligent worker bees (with a social conscience). Thirty five mins of back and forth action, moving some unwieldy objects, smooth teamwork, a debate about the heat rating of beech Wood and a cheesy picture later we were done!

As always thanks again for your efforts, I received a highly complimentary email from a local councilor last week, waxing lyrical about GoodGym and your local efforts, never unnoticed.

See many of you later tonight for Brad's fundraising quiz, see the rest of you'll next week.

PS. Dan - buy foam roller, use foam roller. message me. Hope you good.

Cheers

B

The unlucky number of 13 rolled up yesterday, our favourite Primary School needed some help painting a wall.

Many of our core group were sadly unavailable last night, unfortunately all at once, hope to have your energy back next week, you were missed. We did welcome back Suraj and Paula for their third run, very useful team players to have.

We recycled our random question this week, sure we've done it before, but a classic doesn't go bad."what's your favourite home cooked meal?" Lasagna came up twice, boxing day lunch bonanza with cold meats, chorizo and chicken, mama's home cooked tomato pasta, a rich broth, cottage pie, mama's dosa, papa's yorkshire puds and Nepalese dumplings from a place in Stratford that turns into an eastern european club at night. Hey, London does multiculturalism its own way.

1.5 miles to the school, met by Paul, who was on crutches after tweaking his knee. Ouch. He's out of The Big Half, but expect him to be bringing some noise road side. For those of you who not doing it, consider going out for a jog and giving your team mates a shout. They/we'd love it.

I'm personally super impressed/proud of the amount of mileage and training happening at GGN at the mo. So many of you are signed up to a race, dabbling in the unknown, getting faster and fitter...it's a real pleasure to see.

We made it back for a wee stretch. No pub pints this week, as Graham wasn't there gesticulating repetitively, so much power in one man's hand. Next week we make a return visit to the theatre, where the team were victorious last week in the quiz. Beat those geeky kids and all. Ace.

There is a talk of a parkrun in Highbury, 20 mins from Stratford on the overground, we'll move that over to whatsapp.

Have an ace week and see you all soon!

On a blustery evening in Newham last night, 18 nocturnal heroes chipped in a little for their community. With a collective understanding of how big groups can make a significant difference in a short time, you guys did your thing once more.

My random weekly question of "do you have any or know anyone with peculiar superstitions?" got passed by several people, so many rational GoodGym members, who knew? Luckily there was a few gems in there, Hilary's "I can only eat even numbers of biscuits", Siobhan is still dodging that third drain cover, my mum assesses people's professional competency through their zodiac sign and Suraj daren't look in the mirror in the evening (otherwise he'll marry an old lass, Nepalese tradition). I repeat, GEMS. Now listen to this

We hopped and leapt over massive puddles en route to the school. Once there we had several jobs to get into. Clearing out the nursery, moving large shelving units.... and another job, I missed! We finished with time to spare, we even learned that Headteacher, Paul, was part of a Guiness Record. Cooking the longest sausage, at 9.75 miles, that's the distance from my flat in Archway to Chiswick, or 39 times around a standard 400m track...or almost half the length of the channel. Long sausage that. Ah, the reason we discussed this, is I'm dressing up as a ballerina for The Big Half, was discussing the world record for this. Anyone know how to find such obscure info? Left to me, I doubt i'll find it/apply for an attempt.

A swift run back to base and all smiles. Clocking 4.5k in total, decent night's work. Over to The Cow we went for a debrief and to cheers Justin on his birthday. A veritable spring chicken I'd say, the wisdom of a 70 year old and the humour of a 7 year old, glad you could make it! An uneaten feast in the upstairs of the pub, we attacked it like vultures swooping on a warmfleshy carcass. Brad said this was karmic intervention, that could've been your superstition answer!

Back at the school next week, can we please hit 20, get on down guys. Sign up here

Also on next Saturday the 3rd, it's Hackney Marshes Parkrun followed by a starter session at the playground. Who fancies a PB, a small task and potentially a bite after? Sign up here

Right, that's all folks. See you next week, have another corking week of training - get it down on strava so I get an insight into your running groove.

B

Two sessions down already this year, that's two more weeks closer to spring, closer to the return of healthy daylight hours. I reckon this winter is going to fly past, that's not to say it doesn't have its merits, crisp air and blue skies is a thing to behold. Doing good deeds under the shadow of the night, like some benevolent ninja clan, is unquestionably pretty cool. However, 28th March is the day when the light returns, as the clocks go forward we get light in our evening sessions once again, so stick it in your diary. We're going to have a pagan style party and pray to the sun gods (read: go to the pub), you down?

Counted a healthy seventeen of us yesterday, a healthy prime number, significant enough to create lasting change in a half hour slot of tireless energy. After our traditional warm up and random question, we headed over to the Hackney Adventure Playground. More mulch required shifting, as a continuation of a job we started in December, it's an impressively time intensive job. You guys were indefatigable yesterday, sprinting energetically with barrows, shovelling with intent and shifting logs with brute strength. I reckon we made another nice dent, with new and improved efficiency, yet we've still got chunk to do. We'll be back next month, don't lose sleep perfectionists, we know who you are.

Massive welcome to Katerina and Suraj, who fitted seamlessly into our team, Scott who came back for round two and Anthony - the new GG Walthamstow Trainer.

Next week we'll fill our boots with the whatever Cody Dock offers, always a varied and fun job - sign up here

Have a class week peeps, look forward to seeing your beaming smiles in six days - train smart.

B