training for record-breakingly slow half marathon
0 Month Streak
0 Month Streak
3 Month Streak
Block or report Emily Strachan
Mon 11th Nov at 6:45pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Area Activator Simon was joined by Goodgym runners Luke and Emily for a really pleasant jaunt from the Arsenal Community Hub to Thornhill Square Gardens. Together, we embraced the 1.4 mile run up to Caledonian Road, and the swift downhill towards Barnsbury.
Upon our arrival, we spotted the powerful headlamp light of Matt, directing our team over to resident gardening volunteer expert, Anna. Wheelbarrows, spades and forks had been set out specially for our arrival.
Our task for the evening involved clearing out some really hardy and quick growing grass from a collection of flowerbeds across the park. Forks and shovels were required to dig out the stubborn roots remaining in the ground before removing these very tall shoots. Alongside this job, we also helped with weeding a memorial garden on the south side of Thornhill Square, ready for fresh manure and compost to be added before the new year. I expect we will be planting some new bulbs here soon!
We were thrilled to hear that Thornhill Square Gardens had won the Gold Award for Best Park for the Islington Together awards last month. Well deserved considering the care and attention offered by this active community group! Congratulations!
https://thornhillsquare.wordpress.com/
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
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Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
14th November- Emirates Stadium
21st November- Paddington Rec Track
28th November- Stratford Olympic Park
5th December- Paddington Rec Track
12th December- Emirates Stadium
19th December- Paddington Rec Track (and Post Run Xmas Party- The Carlton Tavern)
Green Guardians Weekly Workdays
Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am - 12 midday, Wednesdays, Fridays and occasional Saturdays
Community garden volunteer drop in sessions organised by a collection of specialists and tutors across the borough. Always day time, with occasional weekend meetings throughout Autumn.
The next sessions are as follows:
Wednesday 13th November, 10am - 12 midday, Newington Green
Friday 15th November, 12 - 2pm midday, Market Road Gardens
Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 12th November, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
The People's Army- Food Parcel Deliveries
Friday 15th November, 2pm - 4pm, Cressida Road, Archway
The team at The People's Army food bank and community hub are seeking more volunteers for their busy service.
Every Friday, care parcels are prepared for isolated individuals and families in the Archway and Islington boroughs, and delivered by amazing volunteers.
Any assistance for deliveries on foot or by bicycle would be hugely appreciated.
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (November)
Saturday 16th November, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens
The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.
Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 17th November, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our monthly trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-november-2024
Penn Road Gardens - November Volunteer Day
Sunday 24th November, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
JENKI Matcha with ON Running Spitalfields Group (November)
Thursday 5th December, 7 - 7.30am, ON Running Spitalfields
Every 1st Thursday morning of the month, ON Running Spitalfields and JENKI Matcha Café on Brushfield Street will be hosting a 5km social paced group run through East London and by St Katherine's Dock.
Meeting at ON Running Spitalfields store at 7am (Bag drop, community shoe try ones, run register, chat and catch up!)
Matcha and hot drinks on offer at special run club discount!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/jenki-matcha-with-on-running-spitalfields-group-november
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Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 14th December, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
Met League Cross Country Series- Goodgym Race Team
Various locations, October 2024 - February 2025
Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)
Sign up to the Goodgym Race Team for £15, and enter ALL 5 RACES for the bargain price of £20!
Newbies encouraged and welcomed- the most fun you can have running over the Winter months!
Fixtures
30th November Uxbridge https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-uxbridge
11th January Welwyn Garden City https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-stanborough-park
8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park
Mon 11th Nov at 6:45pm
Joining the lovely resident gardeners at Thornhill Square Gardens for an evening of composting, watering and maintenance
Read moreMonday 4th November
Emily Strachan (she/her) completed 5 good deeds with GoodGym.
Emily is a now a pretty committed GoodGym runner. They've just run to do good for the fifth time
Mon 4th Nov at 7:15pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Goodgym Islington were invited to a new task this evening - always a joy to receive a referral for our help! The crew met up on Holloway Road to catch up before meeting up with Sandy, one of the key helpers at Pollard Close Allotments (great job to Alison and Caitlin for helping in Kentish Town, and to Matt for assisting in Thornhill Square last weekend).
Together we were led through a wiggly pedestrianised passage over to a nondescript metal door. On the other side was a hidden collection of 28 allotment beds formed out of a former car-park next to an electric substation- amazing! Sandy showed us over to a large couple of composting bins, ready to cultivate new soil for planting in Spring. Our task for the night was to make a start on moving all of the freshly rotted compost into builder's merchant bags, and to tip the semi-rotted compost into a new bin- keeping a rotation in motion. The plan is to encourage the rest of the local gardeners to complete the job, after making a solid start this evening.
The team did a smashing job of digging out the compost as best they could- while also finding huge spiders, brightly coloured millipedes, parsnips, russet potatoes and swathes of carpet lodged in between the soil and mulch. All of the vegetables were collected up and distributed between the group for roast dinner additions and winter stews. Within 45 minutes, we successfully filled 1 and a half tonne bags of new compost, ready for planting.
An excellent job well done on a Monday evening- great stuff!
GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Thursday 31st October- Stratford Olympic Park- Runthrough Chase The Moon- Halloween Special
7th November- Paddington Rec Track
14th November- Emirates Stadium
21st November- Paddington Rec Track
28th November- Stratford Olympic Park
JENKI Matcha with ON Running Spitalfields Group (November)
Thursday 7th November, 7 - 7.30am, ON Running Spitalfields
Every 1st Thursday morning of the month, ON Running Spitalfields and JENKI Matcha Café on Brushfield Street will be hosting a 5km social paced group run through East London and by St Katherine's Dock.
Meeting at ON Running Spitalfields store at 7am (Bag drop, community shoe try ones, run register, chat and catch up!)
Matcha and hot drinks on offer at special run club discount!
Green Guardians Weekly Workdays
Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am - 12 midday, Wednesdays, Fridays and occasional Saturdays
Community garden volunteer drop in sessions organised by a collection of specialists and tutors across the borough. Always day time, with occasional weekend meetings throughout Autumn.
The next sessions are as follows:
Wednesday 6th November, 10am - 12 midday, Newington Green
Friday 8th November, 10am - 12 midday, Market Road Gardens
Elizabeth House Food Hub- Lunchtime Sweep Up Task!
Tuesday 5th November, 12.45 - 1.15pm, Elizabeth House
On Tuesday afternoons, during term time, the team at Elizabeth House Food Hub have requested for an extra pair of hands to help with cleaning and tidying up their donation centre.
Expect some satisfying sweeping and surface cleaning to assist this busy team!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/elizabeth-house-food-hub-lunchtime-sweep-up-task
The People's Army- Food Parcel Deliveries
Friday 8th November, 2pm - 4pm, Cressida Road, Archway
The team at The People's Army food bank and community hub are seeking more volunteers for their busy service.
Every Friday, care parcels are prepared for isolated individuals and families in the Archway and Islington boroughs, and delivered by amazing volunteers.
Any assistance for deliveries on foot or by bicycle would be hugely appreciated.
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/the-people-s-army-food-parcel-deliveries
Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 9th November, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (November)
Saturday 16th November, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens
The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.
Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 17th November, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our monthly trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-november-2024
Penn Road Gardens - November Volunteer Day
Sunday 24th November, 10am - midday, Penn Road Gardens
Every last Sunday of the month, the residents of Penn Road invite keen volunteers to help with maintaining this lovely community spot just off Holloway Road.
Met League Cross Country Series- Goodgym Race Team
Various locations, October 2024 - February 2025
Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)
Sign up to the Goodgym Race Team for £15, and enter ALL 5 RACES for the bargain price of £20!
Newbies encouraged and welcomed- the most fun you can have running over the Winter months!
Fixtures
9th November Horsenden Hill https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country
30th November Uxbridge https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-uxbridge
11th January Welwyn Garden City https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-stanborough-park
8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park
Mon 4th Nov at 7:15pm
Helping local gardeners to prepare compost for the Winter months
Read moreTuesday 29th October
Emily Strachan (she/her) been cheered 10 times.
Goodgymers have noticed what Emily has done and have cheered them 10 times. We doff out caps to you Emily.
Mon 28th Oct at 6:15pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
Lift the Curfew is a campaign by This Girl Can. #LetsLiftTheCurfew highlights the concerns many women feel when getting active outdoors after dark by calling for a safer and more inclusive experience.
Area Activator Simon was thrilled to meet with a top crew of Goodgym runners and volunteers at the Arsenal Community Hub last night, and particularly grateful to be introduced to 4 first time Goodgymmers! (welcome!). Together, we performed a short warm up on the Emirates Stadium slopes, before running 1 mile together up Highbury Hill, and back down to Elizabeth House Community Food Hub on Hurlock Street.
Elizabeth House offer an incredible resource for residents in Islington, Highbury and Finsbury Park. Affordable food and produce donated from stores and growing projects across the city and available to local people and families. The hub operates as a walk-in supermarket, allowing visitors to pick out their choice of food and essentials. However, a lot of regulars are unable to physically attend the food hub during school holidays and breaks, so Goodgym are happy to assist with deliveries on foot!
We had a couple of deliveries, typically performed on a cargo bike, located about 1 km away from the hub. These were completed by two top groups who were up for a bit of orienteering to find the correct houses for these important parcels. The rest of our team helped with some speedy deliveries around the Twyford House estates before returning back to Elizabeth House.
For the remainder of the evening, our crew helped with closing down the food hub, ready for kid's club the next day. Any non-perishable food and items were brought back to the storage cupboards, and all surfaces were cleaned up. Our next task involved separating the fresh fruit and vegetables (including amazingly varied food like samphire, alfalfa shoots and mooli radishes!) into good quality stock or overly ripe produce. The softer stuff was then taken to a compost bin outside, ready to be used for more growing projects.
Tables and chairs were packed away, crates were returned to their original spots and all of the floors were spotless by the time we finished. Well done everyone- we hope to return for more assistance over the busy Christmas period too!
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GOODGYM ISLINGTON NEWS
GROUP SESSIONS-
Monday 4th November- Turning Compost at Pollard Close- Community Mission 7.15pm, Near Biddestone Gardens, Holloway Road
Monday 11th November- Thornhill Square Gardens- Group Run 6.45pm, Arsenal Community Hub
Monday 18th November- Caxton House Community Centre- Community Mission 7.15pm, Caxton House
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-caxton-house-painting-and-sanding-indoors
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Thursday 31st October- Stratford Olympic Park- Runthrough Chase The Moon- Halloween Special
7th November- Paddington Rec Track
14th November- Emirates Stadium
21st November- Paddington Rec Track
28th November- Stratford Olympic Park
Green Guardians Weekly Workdays
Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am - 12 midday, Wednesdays, Fridays and occasional Saturdays
Community garden volunteer drop in sessions organised by a collection of specialists and tutors across the borough. Always day time, with occasional weekend meetings throughout Autumn.
The next sessions are as follows:
Wednesday 6th November, 10am - 12 midday, Newington Green
Friday 8th November, 10am - 12 midday, Market Road Gardens
Thornhill Square Gardens- October Workday
Saturday 2nd November, 10am - midday, Thornhill Square Gardens
This is an open volunteer gardening morning set up by the Friends of Thornhill Square. As one of the largest public spaces in Islington without council maintenance assistance, extra pairs of hands for bulb planting, composting, litter picking and preparing flower beds would be hugely appreciated!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/thornhill-square-gardens-open-volunteer-morning-november
Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 9th November, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
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Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (November)
Saturday 16th November, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens
The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.
Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 17th November, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our monthly trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-november-2024
Met League Cross Country Series- Goodgym Race Team
Various locations, October 2024 - February 2025
Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)
Sign up to the Goodgym Race Team for £15, and enter ALL 5 RACES for the bargain price of £20!
Newbies encouraged and welcomed- the most fun you can have running over the Winter months!
Fixtures
9th November Horsenden Hill https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country
30th November Uxbridge https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-uxbridge
11th January Welwyn Garden City https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-stanborough-park
8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park
Mon 28th Oct at 6:15pm
This wonderfully busy community food hub has asked our crew to help out with neighbourhood deliveries!
Read moreMon 21st Oct at 7:15pm
Islington Report written by Simon Fitzmaurice
8 top Goodgymmers met the lovely Dawn at Rose Bowl Youth Club last night. The GoodGym Islington crew had been called out to offer our assistance with garden maintenance and green fingered tasks as the darker nights draw in. Plenty of leaf sweeping in October, particularly useful for clearing up the playground for football loving youngsters! Well done everyone!
GROUP SESSIONS-
Monday 21st October- Rose Bowl Youth Club- Community Mission 7.15pm, Task Location
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/community-mission-rose-bowl-youth-club
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Monday 28th October- Elizabeth House Community Centre Food Hub- Group Run 6.15pm, Arsenal Community Hub
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/group-run-elizabeth-house-food-hub-6-15-pm-start
Monday 4th November- Turning Compost at Pollard Close- Community Mission 7.15pm, Near Biddestone Gardens, Holloway Road
Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions
Every Thursday, 6pm, Various London locations
On Thursday evenings, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location.
Here is a list of our upcoming events and sign up pages. Runners, supporters and guides of all abilities and experiences welcome!
Thursday 17th October- Paddington Rec Track
Thursday 26th October- Paddington Rec Track
Thursday 31st October- Stratford Olympic Park- Runthrough Chase The Moon- Halloween Special
Thornhill Square Gardens- October Workday
Saturday 2nd November, 10am - midday, Thornhill Square Gardens
This is an open volunteer gardening morning set up by the Friends of Thornhill Square. As one of the largest public spaces in Islington without council maintenance assistance, extra pairs of hands for bulb planting, composting, litter picking and preparing flower beds would be hugely appreciated!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/thornhill-square-gardens-open-volunteer-morning-november
Compton Terrace Gardens- Volunteer Session
Saturday 9th November, 10am - 1pm, Union Chapel, Islington
A smashing community mission for those partaking in Highbury Fields or Finsbury parkrun on a Saturday morning!
A friendly gardening group started to look after the park about 10 years ago. We are always looking for more help - with planting, mulching, pruning, and all the other things a garden needs.
Everyone welcome, no special skills needed! Lots of fresh air and a nice chance to meet local people. We meet once a month on a Saturday morning near the shed in the middle of the Gardens.
-------‐‐---------------------------------
Friends of Canonbury Square- Volunteer Morning (November)
Saturday 16th November, 10am - midday, Canonbury Square Gardens
The Friends of Canonbury Square Gardens host an open community gardening session on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month.
Usual tasks would include bulb planting, trimming, laying compost, maintaining flower beds and litter picking.
Crouch End Open Space (CREOS) Volunteering Day
Sunday 17th November, 11am - 1pm, Hanley Tennis Club Car Park, Greenways
Our monthly trip to CREOS this year for a woodland regeneration- loads of smashing forest path building has been planned!
https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/crouch-end-open-space-creos-volunteering-day-november-2024
Met League Cross Country Series- Goodgym Race Team
Various locations, October 2024 - February 2025
Met League Cross Country is a set of five 7-8km races organised by London race clubs. They are held in parks and forests around London with the routes including a mixture of grass, gravel and a fair bit of mud (it is XC after all!)
Sign up to the Goodgym Race Team for £15, and enter ALL 5 RACES for the bargain price of £20!
Newbies encouraged and welcomed- the most fun you can have running over the Winter months!
Fixtures
9th November Horsenden Hill https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country
30th November Uxbridge https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-uxbridge
11th January Welwyn Garden City https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-stanborough-park
8th February Trent Park https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/london-met-league-cross-country-trent-park
Mon 21st Oct at 7:15pm
A Monday evening session at The Rose Bowl Youth Centre near Canonbury!
Read moreLoading...