Wall of honour

Fist Pump to Emma & Girija for being this weeks back markers.

Let's have a recap

Despite the recent stormy weather, last night 12 runners ran 7km overall to Galleywall Nature Reserve in Bermondsey. It was our first evening visit here of 2020, and the rain and wind held off as we set a good pace heading up towards Southwark Park.

On arrival we met Jane and Alan armed with head torches and equipment ready for the evenings tasks. Following Jane's instructions Joseph & Karen got the glamorous role of picking up litter and recycling, Francis & Nedelina took to planting a hazel tree, and two more groups began either cutting back branches or collecting twigs blown over the site after the recent storms! And the lucky pair Ian & Emily were set to the administrative task of rearranging the all important planning and information board, arranging the it into an excellent learning and informative display!

FACT OF THE DAY - Each year the Met Office chooses the names of storms to alternate between male and female and run from A-Z in the alphabet. However, in line with the US National Hurricane Centre, storms aren't called names beginning with Q, U, X, Y and Z due to the low number of names that begin with these letters. Next up will be Storm Ellen!

In only 30mins the ground was swept clear, we filled 6 bags of twigs, and 2 bags of litter. With the tree planted, and the ground for our next planned visit in the spring, we said goodbye and hurried back to Old Spike to keep ourselves warm! Finishing the evening with a social drink next door at Batch. #

Next week we're running 5km overall to deliver flyers to residents in Nunhead on behalf of Age UK.

Keep up the good work! See you soon Team.

Wall of honour

• Pat on the back to Dom for back marking the group there and back.
• High-Fives to Emma and Tom for joining us on their first group run!
• Three Cheers to JC for touristing over from Greenwich

Let's have a recap

Last night 25 runners ran 10km overall to Tabard Garden Allotmentsmaking it our highest ever average attendance in January, and our biggest group this year!! On the way to the task split into 2 groups to vary the pace, thanks to Sam and Girija for keeping the 2 groups together. After being held up by a few traffic lights, we made our way to the garden where Peter and Annawere waiting to instruct us with the tasks for the evening. We quickly split into 2 teams, the first group led by Stefan, Nate & Tom took wheelbarrows containing bags of manure (direct from our work at Surrey Docks Farm) and transported it to 'Beautiful Balin', garden another nearby community space looked after by the Tabard Growers. The second team armed with spades and forks got to work shoveling stubborn soil and roots into wheelbarrows, continuing the work we started before Christmas, to make a new planting bed ready for spring. Despite two wheelbarrows having broken wheels, the two Sams took care of the heavy lifting along with Paulin and Ben. Kim was the most keen to get her hands dirty, and Nelly summed up the evening with tonight's pun! In 30mins so much soil was cleared the bags were almost empty, ready for us to finish the job in a few weeks time!

FACT OF THE DAY Toponymy - is the study of place names, their origins, meanings, use and typology.

We made it back in good time, with some added sprints along the Surrey Canal, and lots of discussion about what was for dinner! Finishing of with a quick stretch and cool down.

Next week we'll be running 4km overall to the BRAND NEW Crisis store opening in Peckham! It is the day before they are due to open, so we will have exclusive access to help them get everthing ready! Followed by some fitness drills around Peckham Rye.

See you there team!

Wall of honour

• Raise a Glass to Team Southwark celebrating our 4th Birthday this week!!
• Fist Pump to Sally for reaching her 50th good deed and Civ for making it 10.
• High-fives toShiri, Stefan, Anna, and Lauren on their first group runs in Southwark! And Welcome to Emily & Chris from GoodGym's Hackney & Ealing.

Let's have a recap

Last night 23 runners ran 6km overall to the Salvation Army in Camberwell Green. On a dry night we kicked things off with some hops and twists to warm up, with Emily keeping the back of the group together. When we arrived we met Katherine who greeted us with water and biscuits! She instructed us to the evenings task of wiping clean all the toys used by the local children's and toddler groups. Armed with bowls of water, Dettol and gloves, six tables were laid out with everything from cars to instruments, houses and even a slide! Emily and Raj took charge of emptying the toy cupboard, and a system was set up to scrub the toys clean, placing them in a pile to dry, before packing everything away again. With everything now smelling fresh, in 20 minutes we had cleaned the lot! Leaving time for a quick round of knee tag, some forearm wrestling and everyone's favourite, Mexican squat waves! Followed by a quick run back to celebrate with drinks and cake next door in Batch!

LOCAL FACT OF THE DAY - 'Dilwihs' is the original name for Dulwich, meaning 'Marshy Meadow where Dill grows' - Thanks Emily!

Next week we will be running 9km overall to visit our friends at Tabard Garden Allotments for some soil shifting. Remember to wrap up warm and bring a head torch!

See you next week team

Wall of Honour

• Thanks to Dom for back marking and coming up with this weeks pun!
• Big Shout to Oliver for his first tourist visit to Southwark!
• Pat on the back to Manny, Nat & Kate for reaching 10 GOOD DEEDS this week!

Let’s have a Recap

Last night 14 runners ran 8km in total to the striking Stompie Gardens, to help the Tabard Growers in this community space that is home to a decommissioned Soviet Tank!

With the night being colder and a longer distance to run, we set off out the door promptly and hopped straight into our warm up. Once we got moving conversations were in full flow. We arrived in good time to meet Peter who had laid out gloves and bags for us, and directed us to the task of weeding and litter picking. Splitting into 2 teams we got stuck in clearing weeds all along the perimeter fence, and behind the huge tank sat in the middle off the garden! The ground was soft so the weeds were easily pulled out and in no time the garden had been cleared. Finishing off by picking up litter and placing all garden waste on a compost heap. There was even time for a bit of climbing aboard 'Stompie' for a creative group photo.

FUNNY FACT - Stompie the tank was bought as a gift by the land owner for his son. The tanks gun is apparently pointed towards the council buildings after a dispute between the land owner and the council who tried to get rid of it.

After a swift 30 minutes of work was complete, we said goodbye to Peter until we return to Tabard Gardens again next week. On the way back we upped the anti with some lampost strides, a game of knee tag and our weekly squat hold! With Nellyinstructing us that she couldn't stop moving! We kept the pace going all the way back to Old Spike.

Next week we will be running 10km overall as we return to Tabard Garden Allotments to assist the Tabard Growers with more digging and soil moving.

Great work Team! See you next week.

Sunday morning, early alarms set, 9 keen runners met at the starting point at 8am for a 13km run to cross 13 bridges!

An idea conceived by Dan to start at Battersea Bridge and work our way east along the Thames until we reached Tower bridge, crossing the river at every bridge we came to!

Fun Fact - Can you name all 11 between Battersea & Tower Bridge (excluding trains)?

As the pun describes (a song written by The Pogues, suggested by John) - it was a VERY misty morning as we made our second crossing over Albert Bridge. So much for the view! But with the unexpected fog and early start we made our way along beautifully quiet river paths, each of us pointing out areas we knew well due to work, commuting or social occasions.

A chatty pace was maintained with Dan in charge of photographing our journey, adding in some sprints ahead to capture the group in motion. After nearly 2 hours going up and under each bridge and the many stairs in between, we rewarded ourselves with some well deserved breakfast in St Katherines Dock.

Well done team, lets do it again in reverse!

Wall of Honour

• Big Shout to Sam for back marking and keeping the group together, making sure Allie didn't get lost!
• Pat on the back to Anna for completing 4 Good Deeds since Saturday already!

Let’s have a Recap

Last night 17 runners braved the rain and ran 10km in total to Tabard Garden Allotments. After discussing choices of leg wear and admiring Dom's new tights we set off for a quick warm up and headcount, with Abbie making her way by bike. Our route took us up the Surrey Canal Path and along the streets of the Q1 cycle route, what started off as light rain soon turned into wet clothes! After we had sped past the entrance, we managed we locate Peter a member of the Tabard Growers who directed us to tonights task - digging!

FACT OF THE DAY The Tabard was a historic inn established in Southwark in 1307. It stood on the ancient throroughfare that led from London Bridge to Canterbury, and is mentioned by Geoffrey Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales.

We split into 2 teams taking gloves, spades, and pick axes to remove weeds from the herb spiral and digging up soil emptying old builder sacks. The soil was soon scooped up into wheelbarrows and moved to another corner to create a new planting bed. After working solidly for 20 minutes the weeds were cleared and the diggers were delighted to get to the bottom of the soil bag, which had been sitting there for 10 years. Peter thanked us for our efforts which would have taken him 2 weeks!

Heading back we took our time, throwing in some extra squats, whilst making sure that no one got left behind - just a pair of black gloves, now in my lost & found box Anybody?

Next week we are helping out with TRAID in Peckham to get through their end of season sale stock. It will be a 5km run overall with some added fitness exercises thrown in to keep us warm!

See you next week Team! Stay Dry!

Wall of Honour

• Thanks to Helena for back marking and keeping the group together.
• Big Shout to Danny & Nelly for completing their first run with us!
• Pat on the back to Jenny, Emma & Kate for their first tourist visits to Southwark

Social Reminders

• Friday night is GoodGym Monthly Social - celebrating all things Puns, playlists and Good Deeds come join us!
• Saturday is the Cross Country League an 8km race taking place in Welwyn. All the details are on their website here

Let’s have a Recap

Last night 24 runners ran 6km in total to Theatre Deli - Old Library in Burgess Park, a charity that transforms unused spaces into creative community venues supporting local groups and emerging artists.

With many regulars and some new faces we hopped through a quick warm up and successfully managed to count all the way up to 24! We took to the back streets up to Peckham Road and sliced our way through Southampton Way with social discussions in full flow. Upon arrival we met Emma who had carefully prepared the areas which required brightening up with a bit of white paint, ready for the upcoming awards ceremonies being hosted here.

Everyone grabbed a tool and we had 20 minutes to roller the walls, paint toilet doors and cover all spots around the hall with a white winter coat. Any spilt drops of paint were quickly wiped up by the white spirit brigade! A handful of runners were treated to some squat pyramids and bear crawls while we shared out the brushes between everyone.

FACT OF THE DAY - 'Paint the town red' most likely owes its origin to a legendary night of drunkenness by the Marquis of Waterford in Melton Mowbray in 1837, who ammoungst other pranks painted a swan statue in red paint!

With the task completed we thanked Emma for having us and continued our run back through Burgess Park, along the Surrey Canal path and back to Old Spike, finishing off with fast paced footwork and a good stretch.

Next week we will be running 10km overall to Tabard Community Gardens for some weeding and digging. Bring a head torch if you have one! Bring your oyster if you would prefer to take the bus back.

See you next week Team! Wrap Up!

Southwark News

• Looking for plans THIS Sunday? Join us for a Gardening Workshop from 2-4pm at Surrey Docks Farm! Grab the last spaces here

Wall of Honour

• High Five to Tara for completing her first run with us!
• Big Shout to Allie for running tonights session with a 15kg backpack! Ready for her Rhino suited Half Marathon next week!!
• Show it off! This weeks Champions are Sam for completing his first Half Marathon in under 2 hours! and Helena & Ed who ran the WINE drinking Marathon Du Medoc last month! Thirsty work!

Let’s have a Recap

Last night 15 runners ran 6km in total to the beautiful Bell House Gardens, home to a magnificent Grade II Listed building, and charity offering educational needs such as dyslexia support.

It was a dry night (after 2 heavy days of rain!) but with a slight temperature drop, conversations once again debated how many and which layers to wear for the evening!? We jumped through a brisk warm up passing the first test of names and numbers (always a tricky one!) and headed on a straightforward route up Barry Road and through the peacefully dark Dulwich Park. Managing to not get locked in and with Helena back-marking we arrived to meet Graham in the Bell House tool shed.

The daylight was well gone, but fear not we came prepared! With head torches and garden lamps we got to work on our first task - moving over 20 large bags of manure! Despite the smells and varying weights a chain was formed to deposit the bags into the compost heap at the back of the garden, with thankfully few mishaps!

Reece & Richard gave some man power to a tired lawn mower and helped move the heavy machine from the bottom of the garden back into the shed! And although we faced a challenge in the dark, we were able to illuminate the back of the garden so that the final task could be completed in true GoodGym style, turning over soil and digging out weeds working in an organised team being careful not get a stab in the dark! Much to Graham's surprise ALL 3 tasks were completed within 25 minutes, so we bid goodbye to the garden until Spring!

Leading the way home Richard navigated us along Woodwarde Road, sharing a few jokes along the way! And back up the hill towards the library. After adding in some loops backs and extra sprints for the front runners we all arrived together for a final stretch and appreciation for Allie's Rhin-ormous effort!

FACT OF THE DAY A Black Rhino’s skin can be up to 5cm thick! - No wonder those costumes are so heavy!

Next week we will be running 6km overall to our friends at Salvation Army in Camberwell. There will be plenty to get stuck into helping clear up after their recent building work! Sign up here

Dom T will be taking the ropes next week. Any queries, please get in touch at dom@goodgym.org

See you soon! Chin Up!