A nifty nine covered around 4km of running (including a very big hill!) and got busy with the most complicated shed ever.

(Thank you to Bradley and Vic for sharing some photos).

We didn't have any newcomers joining us this week (maybe we need to introduce a 'bring-a-friend' week...?), but it was lovely to welcome Vic, who cycled a very long way on the promise of shed action. Vic normally hangs out with our neighbours at GoodGym Lewisham, but fancied a bit of tourism. Welcome!

On such a gorgeous evening, it was very tempting to stay in the pub garden and enjoy a refreshing drink, but that's not why we came! Off we went to Crystal Palace Park, where we played a game of It Squat, then a bit of round and round, up and down thingie...but it was really rather warm anyway, so off we headed, in the knowledge that this run would include a very big hill. I'm sure that hill has got steeper since we last ran up it, but we found our way to the top and were only a short way from our destination, at the Upper Norwood Library Hub. We found ourselves straight away in the Library of Things which, as you can see from the photos, is a treasure trove of useful items, to be borrowed as and when you need them (Tom, who is organising our GoodGym Olympic Games this week, borrowed a sander from here, to smooth the edges of the GG medals!). We were really pleased to be provided with ice-cold water, perfect after our uphill run in the heat, thank you!

A shed-load of fun!

Refreshed and ready to get stuck in (I had a sneak-preview of the instructions and realised we really did need to get on!), we headed outside to the car park at the rear of the building. Here, we found the ready-built base and a part-built shed. In my head, I had pictured wooden panels, which you could slot together, making an instant shed - ta-daaaah! How wrong was I?! For a while we all stood and stared, not really knowing where to start. Nate though, being level-headed and methodical, picked up the instructions and made a start. With help from Bradley and Rachael, he built one of the strips that supports the roof panels (we think). While the rest of us waited to move onto the next section, we did a quick litter-pick around the car park, not wishing to waste our valuable time. Once the shed-building got going, there were three teams working on lengths of roof struts, while others counted out nuts and bolts and others kept everything orderly. Tim took lots of photos of the instructions, so that we could spend some time outside the task to get to know our way round them...I think we have all been spoilt with Ikea and Lego instructions, which really are a doddle!

The nuts and bolts of it

Just as we worked everything out and got a system going, it was time to leave(!). We decided that we really do want to see this project through and will arrange a community mission one weekend to make it happen (you definitely need longer than half an hour for this one). Handing back the instructions and saying goodbye, it was time for us to run downhill, back through the park. Now, there has been a lot of talk of the GG Olympic Games but, as we are aware that lots of people can't make it (we have groups all over the country now), there is another opportunity to join in the fun, through the Nationwide Race. This is a 1km race, that you can do anywhere you like, any time between now and Thursday June 28th. What's really great about it is that you don't have to be speedy (though there are prizes for this), because you can win on elevation, creativity (create some Strava art?), take a great photo of the view you see, or you might be lucky in being drawn out of the hat to win the raffle. Every winner receives a medal in the post, how lovely is that? To give everyone a chance to join in, we visited our 'Time Trial' area and those who wanted to (Stuart, Louise, Vic and Tim) ran the kilometer or so as fast as they could - really strong running from everyone!

Next week we will return to Forest Hill Station to water the no doubt very thirsty plants on the station platform. This will be a run of around 5km and a great task that you can view from the train. Sign up here to join us.