Penultimate session of the widely loathed month of January, I'm personally not month-ist, but I get it. Those folks need a bit of a GG, eh? Last night's session a lovely midweek tonic as per norm.

With the return of Eujene and Dan's celebratory news, spirits were high. Due to a dearth of options (none) provided by me, we opened question ideas to the group, luckily we didn't discuss "best arondissement in Paris?", but " favourite French thing?" instead. Boulangerie, TGV, fomage, Call My Agent, baked camembert, cycle infrastructure and this week's winner: people saying DONK.

Short hop over to Get Out, upon arrival we realised we had no idea what to do, after some frantic messages with Kieran, we came to a loose understanding of what to weed-out and what to shovel-in. Stephen told me a solid joke about bins, he'll entertain you too if you ask, I suggest you do. As sessions go, it was a light-weight on the running and also the actual work on-site. However the chat was of a high-quality and the post run snacks were classy french nibbles, so there's that.

Next week we're at Emanuel Church, making sandwiches and clearing a room out. Sign up here.

Till then,

B

Bone biting winds swept across London, part of a lovely cold-snap we're in, seemingly undeterred were the other seven goodgymmers that rolled up last night.

The ones who met at base discussed their upcoming training goals; Landmarks Half Marathon for Rebecca, Ian committing to regular runs through weekly Wednesday goodness, Hils aiming for Manchester Marathon and lastly me, looking to run a fast(er) Parkrun with the buggy.

Catherine and Suze lined up a few jobs for us at The Up Garden, namely deconstructing/destroying rubbish and re-jigging the material heap area and bringing in fences. Karate kicks and hammer blows rained down on an unsuspecting pallet, it held its ground but only for so long, goodbye worthy foe. Shelves and chairs were pulled and ripped apart too, in an inadvertent course of midweek therapy.

Glucose levels were topped up by King Kev's offerings of cake, Crunchy/Mini Rolls/Soreen all there for us athletes to re-fuel on. A mighty seven years for Kevin, he's quietly helped transformed tens of projects with a relaxed competence, jovial spirit and a lethal consistency. We doff our caps - and say thank you.

Next week we head to Cody Dock to help with an event set-up, sign up here , let's keep the good momentum rolling people.

Till next week,

B

Double digits out to help Plaistow Primary, and celebrate Stephen's birthday. "Contradictions you regularly make" was our weekly discussion; and we roughly stuck to the brief: Two flat-mates, one an XR trooper, the other a Government Energy Department employee - keen to hear that one unfold. Eating things you know aren't healthy, or specifically munching a family bag of choccies and washing it down with a diet coke. Having a deep concern for the environment but blazing the heating, leaving the lights on and the fridge door open, who in hell is this buffoon? Desperate to delegate tasks but hate relinquishing control, because, let's be honest, you do it best. Fuscia is your favourite colour but in practice you have wear/own nothing in said hue. Wanting to go on a pub crawl of all the grimy and uninviting looking local boozers. Being a teacher, and basically everything you say. Oh, and saying "yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.....NO".

With a nascent Storm Agnes wafting sewer plant aromas along The Greenway, we shuffled on and chewed the weekly fat. Extra firepower, in the form of Dan and Rosa, met us at the school. Rosie gave us the instructions, a simple dig-out and dig-in job for the edible garden. The moon beamed magnificently above between blowing cloaks of cloud...and the team, well, they got the job done. With some folks opting to stand imperiously on the bed, others went more conventional. I knicked Brads fork, and his spade. Connie got a decent herb haul for her dehydrator (need to google this). Apple cake was devoured post task, at the school, a rather fitting and refined ending to a great sesh. With the wind in our sails and a tonne of glucose in our veins we shot back to base. Thanks one and all.

Next week it's oddly enough another school, our old regular, Manorfield Primary School. Sign up here for the old times! It's another lovely canal run - you shan't be disappointed.

There's a load of great community missions happening this weekend, including a Sat Parkrun too. Check the listings, or ask in the whatsapp group, but lot's of options this weekend peeps. Have a good one, whatever you do.

Till next week,

B

Washout forecasts didn't deter some community action, socialising and jogging yesterday. In fact, statistically speaking, it seems to have encouraged it. You guys are nuts, and I for one love it.

The institution of the RWQ lives on, it went something like this: "there's a worldwide pasta shortage and hence a ration, you're allocated one pasta type forever, and a requisite sauce of your selection, what do you pick?" Endless pastabilities, eh? Rigatoni alla Norma, Arrabiata w/ mozzarella and bacon, Penne and Pesto and Rigationi Amatriciana were some good early answers. We also had some outside the box thinkers, who tried to cheat the system carefully in order to be fully prepared for this rather unlikely hypothetical scenario; "Fusili because it can be used in a salad", "lasagna so the sheets can be used to prepare other pastas". But my favourite: "Rigatoni, tuna AND chicken, so I can pick out one of the proteins to suit my appetite".

We jogged north through the rain, discussions ranged from rowing back on green policies, cycling into a headwind and travelling to the North East Coast. Perfect work for the weather awaited us, hard physical labour, to be more precise: shovelling stuff into bags. We had Team Soil and Team Sand. Both clearing tonne bags into smaller black bags. The time flew by, I'm not sure exactly how many bags we filled, but probably a cumulative forty plus, we definitely made a dent in those bags. Bravo squad.

I've just a received a message from Su, saying how super appreciative they are. I'd reiterate that, but especially for grafting through nonstop rain.

Next week we head to Rosie's place of work, Plaistow Primary. We're going to be back on the tools, digging around the edible garden and filling up beds. It's going to be glorious. Get stuck in, sign up here

Till then,

B

An eclectic squadra congregated at the curvaceous Aquatics Center yesterday, with a long run to Newham Hospital on the cards.

Couple of lovely new faces joined us, Jess and Andy, their first GoodGym runs and they dive bombed into the deep end, our longest run by some way.

We had a quick recap of Bruges and shenanigans, a large collective went out there last weekend - partying, PB's and low carbon travel - the holy trinity? There were some gritty efforts, with huge improvements on previous HM times. Exceptional progress guys. Hats off to Shaz and Kev too, no PB, but minimal training recently after family loss, cathartic blast a timely medicine.

RWQ this week "What's your favourite Podcast?" Infinite Monkey Cage for the scientifically minded, Desert island Discs an oldie but a goody, Serial and S-Town representing the American export, Athletico Mince a niche comedy production, 80,000 hours to help with moral choices of your productive hours left on earth, an Al Murray History Podcast, More or Less for numerical closure, Guardian Footy with the man James Richardson, Moral Maze for a savage topical debate and From Our Own Corespondent providing in depth current affairs. And as always...plus a few I couldn't remember. I quite like how obvious it is whose podcast is whose.

The radiant lightly perspiring group arrived at the hospital in decent time, in spite of their trainer accidentally sabotaging their efforts and directing people the wrong way, just another one of life's tests, you passed. Resident doctor/hero, Ruthy Ruth, traded in some scrubs for her GoodGym tshirt and met us in the reception. We took instructions from Mbemba, who proceeded to lead by example and get stuck in. Weeding and pruning the Dementia Garden. You guys managed to fill 6 large bin bags in half an hour, not bad at all, considering the light, or lack of. Yoe may not immediately realise the impact it makes, but we've had glowing responses from patients and staff alike. Nice one guys.

A breakaway group led off first, with another group ripping out a few more weeds then promptly following suite. The half marathoners were feeling the cumulative fatigue, but no one got left behind. The recovery will get you back to your striding selves, increasing muscular regeneration via extra blood flow.

Next week is social week, we also say our goodbyes to the excellent duo that is Dan and Ruth. So food and drinks post task. Speaking of which, I have nothing booked in at the moment, but that will be all sorted by the weekend. Fret not, not fret.

Have a good weekend folks, Sunday looks like prime long run weather, Saturday only for the hardcore (that's not reverse psychology... or is it?)

Till next week

B