Swansong session yesterday, with a tremendous turnout of some of my favourite people, a lovely conclusion to a job that gave me so much.

It transpired that I've run out of Random Weekly Questions, trying to refrain from a deeper enquiry about change or anything of the tear-jerking variety, hence I was blank; so we rolled a positive and somewhat sentimental question: "Favourite GoodGym organisation ?" Turns out there were loads, no clear winner, an indication of how broad our church is and how many remarkable local projects there are.

I then proceeded to say a few words, delving into what GoodGym has given me. For those who know me know that discussing and interrogating my emotions isn't what I consider a night out, I'm a huge advocate for the dated practice of bottling things up, but the occasion was worthy.

To reiterate what I may have mumbled, I'm mostly grateful for the lifelong friendships, enforced by the experiences of volunteering, running, British weather, travelling, racing and drinking. With a special nod to a lovely couple, whose relationship was forged by a series of Wednesday evening connections. Proud, for the impact we have had on the locality, the number of messages I get saying "how amazing your volunteers are". Equally, proud for the transformational change many of you have undergone through running. Loss, because I will miss you all. But I always end with this positive feeling; I think because it's now left in a very capable set of hands; arise Task Force.

Amongst this milestone, we did actually do some good yesterday, in the form of my least favourite task, flyering. The morale was high, so it was hit easily absorbed. With the return of some long-serving sisters, Mel and Ruth (and later Charlotte), it felt like 2019 again, what a treat to see you, appreciate the effort to come. With big numbers comes big effect, and we managed to get our flyering done in no time, leaving many moments to loiter and talk curb-side.

With the realisation I can't summarise nor do justice to my thoughts on my tenure, I'll wrap this up now. But not after a huge thanks to my lovely photo-book compilation.

It's not bye, but see you later.

Till next time,

B

Grey was the day, peppered with spittle throughout, the evening had more in store. Bright blue skies above as the GG crew settled into some chat at base. Ruth and Mel with surprise appearances and Dan dancing along just in time. We spoke briefly about the Sue Gray report, the chaos and comedy of Westminster, featuring 4am parties and wine up the walls. I've just had a look at the 'highlights' of it now, all sounds about right.

Onto the Greenway we ran, to loosen and mobilise the body and, importantly, to get to Abbey Gardens. We arrived to a group enjoying the late sun and pumping some funky saharan beats, the cafe was open and a GG fan said " you're GoodGym, amazing, go go go...."

Barbara came and gave us the instructions, loads on this week, just the right amount; laying fifteen or so bags of sawdust between the raised beds, weeding and moving some very large shelving type structures. Very much a group effort, the weeding team getting out a good amount of unwanted flora. The dust team, inhaling most of the dust, but definitely laying some down. The final job was a satisfying coordinated team effort, I've got no idea what those units were for, but they were pretty tough to shift. A successful completion of the mission laid before us - we had to sacrifice a few of us to nettle stings, spider invasions and bare-handed slug squeezing grimness - but asides from that all was well.

Next week it's time to bare no flesh, as we get into the nettles once more, clearing a space for a forest school area. Sign up here

Till then,

B

An unexpected fitness session sprung upon unsuspecting runners. The evening rain caused Manor Park to make the call that a watering task wasn't worthwhile, they'll report back with more useful tasks soon, they want a memorable opener. This gave us a window of athletic opportunity - and we seized it.

After a natter in Stratford we made our way to the Olympic Park. With old timer, Mel, joining her chums once more, we were buoyed, a pleasure to have her back. Shame we never saw Eugene, but wedding attire ain't going to buy itself, hope you got something to complement those cracking calves.

A longer progressive warm up completed; training stability, coordination, speed and power. We then began the main session, six bridge sprints off a minute recovery. Focus was on top-end speed - increased muscle fibre recruitment, technique building and delayed calorie burn effect. Some fast and ferocious efforts out there. A small bodyweight circuit to conclude our session in the gorgeous evening light.

Apologies for those expecting something else - however, next week we are actually at a community garden. Sign up here for some local horticultural based joy.

Till then,

B

Better late than never, a quick recap of our relaxing dusk hour in an East London Park.

Double digits for a Community Mission, pleasantly surprised by that, perhaps a positive sign of things to come. We met Ricky, resident gardener/Ranger of West Ham Park. Couldn't have had a lovelier bloke, as the GG consensus quickly concluded after.

He took us to a small tucked away garden, with winding paths and a deep pond, a haven for local wildlife and not usually accessible. Simple instructions to cut back the weeds, revealing clean path lines, our range of tools was a match for the job. Fresh sharp shears, solid effective hoes/rakes and gloves christened by the GoodGym touch.

The hour flew by. The unquestionable highlight of the session was having Dan back, following Ruth's surprise attendance last week. The polite and affable man-machine is back with a vengeance. What more could you want from a Wednesday evening?! Nothing. However, as we left, there was a gorgeous backdrop of sunset hues melting around the trees, a warming end to our session.

B

Finally, Group Runs returned. The regular, week-in week-out guaranteed session providing a dose of fitness and chatter. It will take time and patience to build them back up to their former state, but am keen to give it a right good go.

New runner, India joined us for her first session in Newham, having completed tasks in other areas. She also works for Expressway and was the driving force behind us having a base there. Big thanks to her!

We did some covid secure high knees, from afar, no patellas were caressed nor fondled. RWQ was: "Name one positive thing to happen to you during the pandemic?" Realising how important the GoodGym community was and is to you, becoming overly adept at packing food parcels into black cabs, cherished moments with close family, developing highly transferable rubik's cube skills, expanding cooking repertoire, horticultural based satisfaction and finding awesome house-mates. It's useful to inspect the silver lining now and again.

Then onto a baking 2.4 ish mile to help Emma from RDLAC, it began with a lovely waterside section, under the old shipping cranes, then quickly became more industrial. Upon arrival we underwent a surprise stretch from Emma, she's a qualified masseuse, so all were safe under her muscle lengthening supervision.

Quickly to work, tugging out thistle and bindweed mainly, to unveil a rather sumptuous assortment of plants growing under the vigorous weeds. Think we managed about 30mins - but the impact is there to see in the before and after pictures.

Upon our sweaty and radiant return back to Expressway we indulged in some home-made cake by the man himself, Eugene. It went down as could be expected, bloody well; a soft, moist glucose based delight.

Next week, we roll over to Cody Dock, sign up here

Till next week

B