A terrific turnout

A great Tower Hamlets turnout saw us heading punctually off to the beautiful Meath Gardens this evening for an evening of weeding, planting, carrying, wheeling and watering.

Our task owners for the evening, Julia, Joanna and Tunde from Friends of Meath Gardens, were exceptionally well prepared – this was project management like no other.

And so to work...

Teams were soon despatched to clear the areas around the new trees, so the trees were ready to be watered, while other teams headed to the canal to fill oversized buckets and wheel them back on trolleys (or carry, in some cases). Further gardening teams were assembled to tend to borders in need of weeding and plant newly donated shrubs.

So efficient were the runners, Tunde was soon having to dart off and find additional buckets. Joanna quickly stepped in with trowels & gloves and redirected the displaced runners to a nearby border while they waited for more water vessels.

A Good Gym-er without a task needs fixing quick. No wild flower-spotting and enjoying a break for these runners – they like to be busy like no other.

Back to base - at race pace

All too soon it was 8.15 and time to assemble for the group pic. Then we headed back to base at 3 different running speeds: thanks to Becky and Dave for heading up the 8-minute mile lead and navigating the route back; Laura and Izzy for the 9-minute mile pace and task force member Leanne for back-marking, both there and back, and leading us back at an 11-minute mile pace.

Tarmac-toning

On arrival back at base, the team took the news very well that not only were we going to perform some seated stretches on the tarmac, we were also going to squeeze in the Boxer’s Crunch and Captain’s Chair – so our cores didn’t feel left out after all the upper body work of the evening obviously.

And then we headed back to the hotel pretty much bang on 8.30…hurrah!

Well done...and welcome

And so to this week’s other thank you’s and welcome’s… Thanks to Bryon for leading the route out with me and co-navigating (and not even waiting to be asked about navigation); task force members Leanne, Bryon, Sarah and Becky, for being so hands-on, as always: early and available to our new runners, and, along with Becky G, helping to make our Olympic dream take shape and become reality…

And welcome to Ignatius, Ellie, Briony and Ellen, whose first run it was. Thank you for all your hard work, for learning all the ropes so very quickly, and for becoming part of the team so effortlessly. I really hope you’ll join us again soon.

We're a two-task run next week...

Next week it’s a two-task week: we’re needed at Hollybush and Weavers - two, great, fun outdoor tasks, doubling up as a good little workout again, no doubt, so do sign up here.

And, I for one just can’t WAIT to do it all again then.

Have a wonderful week in the meantime!

The Beast from the East was no match for the group that headed to Stepney City Farm for Week 2 of the painting and decorating task, getting the farm's gallery and classroom ready for Spring activities.

Having promised everyone it was an indoor task, the classroom was soon filled with more runners than rollers, however, so two further teams were formed and despatched outside to chilly tasks of hosing down and cleaning the large plants pots, ready for the plant shop, and...emptying large bins (as the farm has been exceptionally short staffed this week). Minus any moans and groans, Team Tower Hamlets simply rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in with their usual stoicism.

The classroom was no sooner prepped for painting as it was finished, so the team headed to the gallery to start - and finish - a second room.

Such was the speed of the runners tonight, a new crew soon gathered for a core class, where, taking great care not to over-balance into newly-painted walls, the group 'enjoyed' standing oblique crunches, single leg squats and deadlifts, along with a crash course in locating the Transverse Abdominis and pelvic floor muscles, just in time for The Big Half, before an exceptionally chilly, speedy run back to base. Upon arrival at the hotel, we decided to head to a warm room for post-run stretching, thereby switching from Siberian to Saharan climate in seconds.

A big warm welcome, along with a massive well done, to new runners Steve and Kimmy - hope to see you again really soon - and a big roar, a shout-out of all shout-outs, to the whole team for another super-productive, thoroughly enjoyable evening at the farm.

Can't wait to do it all again next week! Do come and join in the fun - we're thrilled to be joining Tower Hamlets' Big Clean Up event. Sign up here - and bring a friend!

5 fitness Finding GoodGymers got the first Fitness 4 All- Tower Hamlets started in style!

On a beautiful East London evening we got down to some running technique refining drills to really tap into our Inner Speedy runner!

Focusing on the all important knee drive together with our feet landing underneath our bodies. We laid some great foundations to allow us to become more efficient and in turn faster runners!

Throwing in some top top lower body conditioning and the ever important and perfectly executed core exercises. We smashed out an awesome session and really look forward to building on this on each Thursday in June!

Look forward to seeing you all next week

Smooth Running

Joel