19 GoodGymers ran 5km up to White City Adventure Playground for an Earth Hour Special!

The blossom is out and the nights are finally beginning to get lighter and warmer as we edge ever closer to some lovely outdoor tasks in the sun! Tonight was a special night in H&F as we were celebrating not one but TWO big 50th good deed milestones. A big CONGRATULATIONS to PB and January good deed machine, Helen and to the man who's often laughing and people recognise definitely not because of the fact he's got his name written on his GoodGym tee, Will for reaching their 50th good deeds last night. Will they both reach their 100th good deed together?!

Amongst all my wonderful regulars tonight, it was lovely to welcome along Helene and Mia for their first H&F group run - hope you both enjoyed it and hopefully see you again soon!

For what it's Earth! Onto the news...

This week GoodGym is partnering with the WWF as part of Earth Hour, the world’s biggest switch off event on Saturday 30th March at 8.30pm. Earth Hour highlights the changes needed at a global level, but also encourages everyone to take personal action. You could, for instance, change the way you eat, embrace reusables and buy less plastic, or help to restore nature in your community. You can share your pledge using #VoiceForThePlanet throughout March to show how you are making a difference.

1. Special Earth Hour GoodGym group run - Saturday 30th March - meet at 5pm outside London's City Hall for a 2.5km run down to Spitalfields Farm. For all the details and to sign up, click here.
2. Fulham Palace parkrun GoodGym takeover - Saturday 29th June! - Our friends at Fulham Palace parkrun will celebrate their 300th parkrun event...and the best news is that GoodGym will be helping out with a BIG takeover event! Sign up here - please fill out the spreadsheet with your preferred volunteer role or pacing time.
3. RunUK volunteering - Sunday 14th April - RunUK are offering a free place in any of their upcoming runs if you volunteer at the Putney & Fulham half marathon - if you're keen just drop me a line.

With the name and number count and short pulse-raising warm-up completed, we began the 2.5km run up to White City Adventure Playground. Pausing only briefly at the top of Hammersmith Grove for our weekly wall sit we arrived in record breaking time. When we arrived we were greeted by the ever enthusiatic and appreciative, Rob and Koj. They both welcomed us in and briefly explained to the group about the "can do" organisation that is the Play Association and the amazing projects and work they do at White City Adventure Playground - from delivering after school and holiday provision for local children aged 8 to 14 years, to specialising in providing play opportunities for disadvantaged children, and also teaching for children with complex special needs at weekends. Following on from our visit a few weeks ago, Rob and Koj gave the lovely feedback that other organisations and schools in the area had heard of GoodGym, and most importantly that the children and after-school clubs loved their newly painted kitchen and the work-in progress toilet transformation!

Koj explained the jobs that we would be lending a hand with tonight...

1. Finish the painting of the boys & girls toilets - in two shades of blue for the boys & yellow for the girls, and remove all the toilet tissue balls (also delightfully known as spit wads) stuck to the ceiling.
2. Paint a big graffiti wall - cover over the current graffiti in a nice fresh coat of white paint.
3. A surprise competitive litter pick in the playground.

With all the equipment layed out and ready to go, despite my maths and division leaving something to be desired, the team split into three groups: Team painting (/team toilet), Team Wall and Team Litter.

When you've gotta Van Gogh, you gotta Van Gogh

Team painting, led by Helen continued the blue and yellow job we started a couple of weeks ago. With many crouched round toilets in interesting positions and up ladders, the team worked tirelessly to get the job done. Many of the other team members also got involved with the final bits of the blue boys toilet painting so as not to leave it unfinished, plus it answered the age old question of "just how many GoodGymers can you fit into a small boys' toilet?"!

It's all white now baby, the walls all white now

Team wall, led by Catriona, overseen by Sophie and her helpful running lights, rolled their way quickly and efficiently to a fresh looking white wall. With a couple of inconveniently placed plants removed by Koj...no longer a sight for saw eyes. It didn't take long for the team to freshen up the wall ready for the youth club to graffiti away on a nice blank canvas.

A litter pick of this and a litter pick of that

Team litter, led by Sarah, who of course took charge of the bin bag, throughly combed through the grass and adventure playground. A plethora of litter objects were found and the bin bag full to bursting upon their scout round the entire outdoor area.

Nifty fifty

Before we headed off and said our goodbyes to Rob and Koj, we had a quick '50' based quiz while running on the spot to get the blood pumping again. Those that got answers wrong had to do either 10 jumping jacks, 10 squats or 10 press-ups, depending on the question. Despite, naming no-names, SOPHIE, Googling one of the answers there was impecable honesty from all. Fun facts learnt tonight were: the incredible Mal Law ran 50 mountain marathons in New Zealand not South Africa (check out FIFTY - The Movie), Tin is the chemical element that is the atomic number 50, and Jo Pavey will reach her 50th birthday before Paula Radcliffe.

Bake it happen...bake room, bake room!

With everyone nicely warmed-up again we headed off on our run back to base. Andrew and Catriona led a group of speedsters back while I attempted to stay in-between them and our wonderful milestone backmarkers tonight, Helen and Will. Once we were back at base we had a nice stretch off and the part of the evening many had been looking forward to....cakes and flapjacks! And oh what a fabulous array of wonderful treats there were, Bake Off eat your heart out! Great night all, thank so much for staying a little later to get the painting job completed. And well done again to Helen and Will Next week we are heading up to Wormholt Park to help build a loggery. Please bring a head torch if you have one! For all the details and to sign up, click here. Have a fab week all!