15 GoodGymers ran 4K to Rhodes Estate and conquered a mammoth task of digging, shifting and carrying in one of Hackney’s most physical tasks ever!!

Thanks to everyone who was able to come along this evening!!

A short run and monster task was the order of the evening while listening out for the football cheers in the background.

A shout out to the magical GG Olympics and for additional volunteers at the British 10k.

Then we were off a short 2kish run to Dalston where we met Alex and the Rhodes Estate Community gardeners.

After a mountain of compost was delivered with a bit of error in the tipping we had been recruited to dig and shift it back into the designated store area as to not incur the wrath of the council.

We got digging and shifting the tonnes of over flowing compost back into the designated area at a Bolt like rate lead by Elite Shoveller Dominique.

The compost also had secondary locations and we loaded up wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow to disappear to the far side of the Estate and air the growth of the gardens there!

30 minutes of hardcore digging and shifting we had victory!! All soil present and correct in the right areas!!

We turned our attention to the 6 massive 100kg Railway sleepers. Team work makes the dream work! And with many hands making still heavy work we carried the sleepers 200 meters using sticks to carry them. Creating a blockage so that naughty drivers couldn’t drive over the flower bed to get around the bollards in the road.

We so much physical work complete we drifted back to base after very much earning our endorphin rush!!

Catch you next week!! Don’t forget about the Summer BBQ at the Wick garden on the 17th.

Smooth Running

Joel

25 Hackneyites ran 5km and helped St Luke's Church with some gardening

With Joel recovering with his new knee it was my pleasure to cover for him. Welcome along to Valentina, Carolina, Claire, Aimee and Brenna - lovely to have you along!

In the news this week:

1. This month's long run is on Sunday 24th June with either 11km or 16km options - all details here
2. Danny is organising volunteering for the British 10km, with a GG team taking over an aid/water station - in return you'll get a free entry for a Virgin Event. See full details here

After a quick dynamic warm up we headed 2km to St Luke's Church, this is a regular task for GoodGym, the team making a big impact over the years.

Upon arrival we split into two teams tackling weeds, leaves and overgrowth. A team of 3 delicately picked weeds from a beautiful flower bed while the rest of the team cleared as much as possible from the churchyard gardens.

24 GGers + 30 minutes = 12 hours of work!

Over 30 minutes we made a huge impact, filling 12 bags of rubbish and weeds - nice! After a group picture we headed to the local park for a fitness session - getting into pairs one person sprinted while the other did a conditioning exercise - including press ups, squats, balancing, plank & squat jumps!

Sign up for next week here when Joel is back and you are off to help the Hackney Wick Community Garden Team!

PB out.

26 slick GoodGymers ran 6k to cut back the hedging at the Hollybush Nature Reserve.

An awesome evening in Hackney welcomed some new GoodGym faces to the gold for the first time!

With a late change to the task we had unusual adventure of heading a little South of the Hackney boarder to the multi award winning Hollybush community Gardens. A little over 2k to the gardens to meet the irrepressible Margaret.

Arming ourselves with a variety of hedge type cuters we spread out around the parameter of the nature reserve and gave the overgrown hedging a sharpe short back and sides. With some very precise cutting and done uber efficient scooping, wheelbarrowing and compost piling we made a slick unit! In 40 strong minutes of action we had totally completed the task! Always nice to compete and with a Spring in our step we said our goodbyes and zipped off!!

Wanted to up our running game we went in search our a couple of Strava segments expertly found by Chi!! The first a test of our middle distance endurance was an 800m stretch along Queensbridge Road where we put our foot down and cruised our way to glory. A short rest and regroup got us prepared our speedy end to the session with a 500metre dash to Broadway Market! Peaking at some lightning quick speedy we climbed high in the Strava leaderboards!

A little warm down back to the Bakehouse, stretch out and the Sub Quiz Masters Rich/ Phil had us in number knots working out the Drizzy Drake was the first to a Billion plays on Spotify for a single track.

Next week the crew are off to St Luke’s and are in the very secure hands of Islington and Camden Trainer and all around GG legend Paul PB Bown!!

Hopefully see you in a couple of weeks!

Smooth Running

Joel

26 Spridng stepping GoodGymers ran 6k to help the amazing Hackney Wick Community Garden.

Loving having so many GG newbies along this evening!! Thanks to you all for coming along to join the Hackney fun!

Heads up that next week our superstar Anna will be hitting her 100th Good Deed next Tuesday!! To celebrate we will be heading to Tad Turkish restaurant after the group run. Please come along!!

Another shout out for the GoodGym Olympics!! We need a big, strong squad this year!! Will be loads of fun so please sign up here.

Weather you are running, cheering or volunteering at the Hackney Half we will be setting up came at Here East (opposite to Wick garden) post run for food and GG Olympic craft!!

If you want to be in with a chance to run London Marathon the ballot is open!! If you want to enter Click here

Running in the sunshine (although a little cold) was a lovely start to the session! With peteR leading the way we navigated to the river Lea on 17 swift minutes of running!!

Splitting up into 5 groups we got going, Watering (soaking shoes), wood snapping (breaking tools), wood pallet shifting (throwing pallets), flower bed creating and digging over (cutting water pipes), and filling a tin bath with bags of clay (Phil nearly making have another knee operation).

40 minutes of graft and smiling action, with a little time to visit the secret second garden where there are peanuts planted!

With reward for all the hard and fast work we got our refuel with oranges, biscuits, water and nuts!! Happy days!!

Needing to get a shift on we split into 2 groups for the run back. Rich and Eva guiding one group directly back to base. While the Ladder Squad ran to do battle with the ladder roads next to Victoria Park!! Dropping serious pace on the long straights before a short recovery across the tops of the road! One almighty interval along Well Street Common to finish and we were done!!

Thanks for coming out and look forward to seeing next week!

Smooth Running

Joel