It's our first Goodgym Islington group run after the January challenge, and we kept up the great work with an excellent task! I'm sure many have heard that the entire GG community absolutely smashed their ambitious target of 8,000 good deeds all across the country.

15 lovely Goodgym folks (including a new member, Lizzy- welcome!) joined us at the Emirates hub tonight for a trip to Caledonian Park. Before we started our warm-up, we performed the weekly count-off and asked the question: "Do you have a pet?". The answers were as follows:

• No. I can't even look after a plant.
• No, but I definitely want a dog.
• Yes. A tabby cat called Kyra.
• I used to have an African Land Snail.
• I used to have two rabbits called Sargent and Pepper.
• Tess, a Staffie Lurcher.
• Mo the Cocker Spaniel.
• I have a funeral urn of my cat.

We performed a series of dynamic warm up exercises outside to get the blood pumping (ankling, high knees, lunges, pogo jumps), and then we ran a lap around the two sloped ramps up to the Emirates stadium itself. The first runners back were told to continue running up one of the ramps a second time, and to continue doing hill repeats until the final runner had completed the lap.

Caledonian Park

Our crew jogged their way up Mackenzie and Market Road towards the park, and we met up with Miriam, the lead volunteer co-ordinator on the way. Wheel barrows, shovels and rakes were picked up from the safe storage location, and we made our way to the Clock Tower. We were told that the inaugural Calendonian Road Junior parkrun was a real success, and we were congratulated for our involvement in creating new paths to allow it to happen (and for volunteering for the original recce event). More information about Cally Junior parkrun can be found here.

All of the tools were wheeled down to the forest trail path section of the park, which Goodgym Islington has helped to maintain in the past. Large piles of concrete grit and composted wood chip had been left for us to spread across the dark woodland, with the intention of making the wooded paths safely accessible for all visitors.

Our team were separated to set their tasks- we had a group dedicated to shoveling the concrete grit and wood chip into wheelbarrows, and then others depositing the material in different locations around the park. Hanry and Jack took it in turns to sprint from place to place with their wheel barrows (possibly trying to resemble rally drivers). The wooded path was illuminated with scattered light from Goodgym head torches throughout the evening.

After taking a quick photo or two in front of the lovely Victorian clock tower, our runners made their way back to the hub again, and Graham demonstrated some cool down stretches whilst Trainer Simon picked up some celebratory biscuits for a task well done!

NEWS!

Market Road Tennis Courts and Metro Blind Sport

Goodgym have been invited to get involved with the Metro Blind Sport Annual Tennis Competition this year. The task would involved offering assistance to these amazing players, helping out as a ball person and generally being excited to watch some great tennis!

The tournament commences on Saturday 9th February, and we are looking for help bethween 11am-2pm, and 2pm-5pm.

Sign up to the 11am-2pm slot here, and sign up to the 2pm-5pm slot here.

Trainer Simon's 100th good deed (+ Pizza and Drinks)

After our next group run at Mildmay Community Centre and Newington Green next Monday (10th February), we are planning on visiting the Victoria Tavern on Holloway Road to enjoy our monthly social (with pizza and drinks), and to celebrate Trainer Simon's 100 good deed (his first was at GG Tower Hamlets some time in 2016).

Come and join us at 8.45pm, and sign up here for more information.

Special Market Road Gardens Weekend Task

We are planning on returning to one of our most popular tasks at Market Road Gardens on Saturday 15th February, starting work at 11.30am (great post-parkrun activity). The plan is to continue building the main accessible car park and gardens at the entrance of the Lumpy Hill Adventure playground. Local volunteers will be present from 11.30am- 4.30pm, so feel free to pop in and help!

Feel free to sign up here.