12 hardy Goodgym folks joined us last evening (narrowly avoiding the 10 minute hail storm) for what proved to be a lovely double task combo night! Quite a few of our regulars admitted that they were in recovery after some sterling performances at the Big Half on Sunday (too many to list here!), but we still had two super capable teams (including some GG tourists from Lambeth and Camden- welcome!) available to help at Mildmay Community Centre and The Rose Bowl Youth Centre. For the count-off, we asked the question: "Shorts or Leggings- pick one!". The results were:

• 8 for Leggings
• 3 for Shorts
• 1 for "Both, as I am demonstrating tonight..."

MILDMAY COMMUNITY CENTRE

Trainer Simon lead the 3.5 mile run to Mildmay Community Centre, via Highbury Fields, Canonbury (past the Snooty Fox) and towards Newington Green. Upon our arrival, we tentatively introduced ourselves to the staff (who were in the middle of a meeting), grabbed our gloves, and made our way to the distinctive sloped garden behind the building. Mildmay Community Centre is a super unique organisation, and uses a completely carbon neutral Passiv-Haus as their main base. Maintaining a seasonal garden for their visitors is really important to the group, and our job involved protecting the green space after the abundance of storms and bad weather.

Our task involved laying black tarpaulin onto the soft muddy growing patches, to allow the ground to recover after the rain. Half of our group stayed at the top of the slope, and dropped the material down to the rest of the team, who stationed themselves at the bottom, and took it in turns to hammer the sheeting down with pegs. The job reminded a few of our team members of camping with friends, and pitching tents as part of a group.

Mildmay Community Centre were amazed at how much work we covered in such a short amount of time, and have invited us to come back anytime! We even met a few cat friends towards the end of our task, who were curious about the strange red t-shirt people in their garden.

ROSE BOWL YOUTH CENTRE

Taskforce member Aidan took the second group over to the Rose Bowl Youth Centre, just past St Paul's Way (a classic GG Islington task), where the team met up with Dawn, the lovely volunteer coordinator and general good egg!

Goodgymmers set about cleaning and sweeping the main play area ready for various sports groups throughout the week, and a few of our team started cutting down some over-hanging branches near the main entrance of the site. However, the key task that Goodgym Islington will be assisting with over the next month involves helping to build a sensory area for autistic youngsters. Our team helped out with the early stages of the construction (based near the triangular wooden hut near the tool shed, for folks who have visited the centre before), mostly clearing out the space after the recent storms. We have been promised some sawing and hand-on building work for when we return on the 16th March!

Both teams returned to the Arsenal Hub at almost the same time, and we all engaged in some group stretches together whilst chatting. Trainer Simon brought out some accidentally vegan bourbon biscuits, and we set off into the night.

Cracking stuff, folks! See you next week!

NEWS

Monthly Social with GG Islington!

After next week's task at Sunnyside Community Centre (Monday 9th March), we will be heading over to the Victoria Tavern on Holloway Road for a 2-for-1 pizza, drinks and good times!

The Victoria Tavern, 203 Holloway Rd, London N7 8DL

Sign up to this event page for more information!

Goodgym Camden Takeover!

Trainer Simon has been asked to cover Goodgym Camden on Wednesday 11th March- leading the session, and directing our runners to C4WS Homeless Action or to Cecil Sharp House- two great organisations in Central London.

If you fancy some Goodgym tourism with some familiar faces, sign up here for more information!

CREOS March Community Mission (Crouch End Open Space)

If you have never done a community mission before, this monthly project is a great one to get involved with!

The friends of CREOS have been maintaining a green space for over 50 years, keeping it available to the public and allowing the neighbourhood to ensure it is in good shape. Loads of volunteers from around the area will pitch in with gardening projects, and loads of Goodgym runners from all different boroughs will be present for a regular catch up.

A picnic always follows this task, with snacks, hot drinks and occasionally something a bit stronger on offer!

Sunday 15th March, starting at 11am. Come on down, and sign up here!

The Arc Centre Deep Clean and Free Fitness Session

On Sunday 22nd March, GG Islington have been asked to help out The Arc Community Centre with some bi-monthly cleaning and tidying tasks- a great indoor activity to wrap up the weekend.

In return, we have access to the main hall and the accompanying gardens before the the task. Trainer Simon will be offering a free all abilities circuit training session before we start with the cleaning duties. Strength and conditioning are under valued pursuits for a lot of runners, and we will be introducing some simple body weight exercises you can do as part of a group (the best way IMHO!) or in your own free time.

The Arc Centre, 98b St Paul Street. London N1 7DF

Sign up here to get involved! It will be great fun.