Moving some logs, spreading a little woodchip…

It sounded like the perfect start to the week. Twenty minutes in and there was only one question that needed asking: “How much do you think that weighs?”

How it started

10 of us met on the Meath Gardens basketball court for a variety of shuttle runs, single leg exercises, seated abs and core and some running drills, all set to “the worst playlist for a long time” according to Joel.

The team did good – as usual – not batting an eyelid as I threw in one more balance challenge (“It’s really good for your glutes”) allowing just seconds for stretching at the end.

Into the woodland…

And the team size slowly grew - by the time we gathered for our briefing and headed to part one of a three-part task, there were no fewer than 17 of us.

Our first job was to roll three huge logs into the woodland space, to create a seated, fenced-off area for park-users and TH residents. It was a vast effort, assisted by a new recruit and his excitable, engaged canine friend.

All three teams did good, particularly those manoeuvring the biggest trunk – no mean feat as they rolled this way and that to re-position it a zillion times before it reached its designated spot.

After a moment to take in this huge achievement, it was onwards to Part II: spreading woodchip over flower beds and gooseberry bushes. Again, the team busied themselves doing this at a great pace, finishing in no time, leaving a last couple of minutes to weed the tree cages.

We completed our session with a couple of stretches, a cheerio and the start of the plan for next week’s session.

Until then.

Next Hour: No precipitation

Dark Sky usually meets the expectations of an app that enjoys 32,095 decent App Store reviews, but this evening however... 🤷‍♀️

But we didn't need to worry. Because despite dry, warm conditions being rapidly replaced by a cooler temperature and rain, no fewer than 10 runners appeared on Middleton Green's basketball court to whizz through 30 minutes of mini band exercises.

It's all about the mini band

"It's great, it's the stuff I always mean to do but don't get around to," enthused the team. Such was the positive response, despite spending 30 drizzly minutes crab-walking, clam-ing, waist-crunching, single leg-deadlifting...you name it.

And so we left our workout to head around to Rocky Gardens for tonight's gardening catch-up with Margaret. Lots to do, lots of us to do it...Re-sult.

Weeding, raking, scraping, un-potting...

Teams were divided into two: six to dig up spider plants (Ois renamed them snake plants for the night, which we quite liked) while six headed to the vegetable bed borders for some much needed weeding. In between crevices they scraped and scraped, reminding us all to book a visit to the hygienist.

Lots was done, lots was discussed: running, running injuries, cinema must-sees, dinner plans, store cupboard leftovers...We covered a lot.

In fact, we were quite incredulous when Margaret instructed us a few minutes before 8 to start packing away. Snacks were devoured (the group were clearly divided into Team Swizzels vs Team Fibre, so it was a relief there was something for everyone), pics were taken, Air Drop navigated (Ois, you're the best), cheerios said. And the best bit? More basketball workouts next week, before we head back to the pond....

A lovely night for everyone - well done, yet again.

Until next time.

✅ Rain: check

✅ Wind: check

✅ Mud: check

But that didn't deter 13 GoodGymers from showing up at Bethnal Green Nature Reserve to undertake the sixth visit to what I think is probably the toughest task since I started.

So what's the story?

The Nature Reserve has been able to upgrade the pond of this important area, as part of the Mayor's Greening Fund project portfolio.

It's allowed the team to fund paid internships, and boost this area of biodiversity, which also serves as a dedicated local space whose objectives include improving both physical and mental health of all residents.

Where do we come in?

However, it's a big project, and emptying one large space, only to refill another large space with sand and mud takes, well, a lot of work. A lot of dark, damp evenings shovelling, wheeling and lifting heavy stuff.

But there they were, out in full force last night. Take two large sand mounds, umpteen wheelbarrows -ditto shovels and coffee sacks - and turns out you have the ultimate total body workout. (And, let's not forget to mention the members who showed up for the Middleton Green workout beforehand - way to go).

Don't Stop Me Now

The team didn't stop: from the moment they picked up the first shovel, to the last wheelbarrow being returned, it was one huge hive of activity. Mainly working in pairs, the GoodGymers shovelled sand into coffee sacks, wheeled them to the edge of the pond, before carefully tipping them out of the barrows and dragging them to join the lining line-up. Toughgoing, with treacherous terrain to boot, a huge amount was achieved.

"Look at that," said Michael as we approached the end of the evening. "Seriously, that is a really enormous help."

Quite.

Well done, everyone. That was a Monday night truly well spent. You rock.

Until next time

That just leaves me to thank Liz for this week's spectacular pun, and to shamelessly promote the second session at the pond this week: a 60-minute full body workout on Wednesday, once again, as a small team help Michael start lowering the sacks into the pond.

Until next time.

Hola, upper body extravaganza

The evening started with a speedy little workout on Middleton Green, just as the sun was setting. We whizzed through some laps of 'the little hill'; mobility and agility drills and the obligatory balance work.

We then made our way over to Bethnal Green's Nature Reserve where no fewer than 17 of us came together to help Michael and the team start filling hessian sacks with which to line the new pond.

It was an hour of heavy lifting. Anyone ever tried packing a large bag full of damp, tightly packed soil and moving it? Hola upper body extravaganza.

But the team did good: working in pairs and small groups, bags were neatly filled, expertly lifted and dragged and the job done, as per.

"How long have we got?"

"How long have we got? Shall we move some soil around to the billboard area?" asked Task Owner Michael at 7:40.

Yes, let's. It's not as if we need our lats for anything else for the rest of the week.

It was a brilliant evening of productivity. Fantastically managed, from start to finish, with bundles of equipment and lights; fab leadership from both the task team and our team (Simon, you are the best steward in town) and the usual huge commitment to Getting. The. Job. Done.

We came together for our cheerios, and planning our next sessions (this Weds at 6:30pm; next Monday's Group Run at 6:45pm).

Post-pond stretching

Then we dispersed into two groups: those who were headed straight home for dinner and feet-up and those who took a mini detour via Middleton Green again for some post-pond stretches.

A wicked night, everyone. Fantastic to see so many come out on a dark night to lend a hand that makes such a difference (this is a huge project, a big undertaking for the Nature Reserve and a lot of work that might not get done, or at least might take a whole lot longer without you).

Aaand the shout-outs...

Shout-out to Jess for this evening's spectacular pun.

And not forgetting the biggest shout out to our Charlotte who tonight reached her 50th good deed. Here's to the next 50, and thanks for all you bring to the party, Charlotte.

Until next time.