32 Goodgymers ran 5km to help Caxton House decorate a Christmas Tree and do some gardening!

Thanks to coming to Islington's Christmas Edition! It was spectular :)

The main news this week is to remember we are back from Monday 7th January, I don't expect to see you on Christmas Eve or New Years Eve - make sure you have a fun holiday!

Back to what happened last night - after our intro Huw (New Leicester Trainer) led a warm up with the theme of 12 exercises of Christmas. We splitted into two groups as we headed up hill 2.5km to Caxton House Community Centre, with James leading a faster group doing a lap of the Emirates. This fantastic centre provides a hub for community activities; including gardening, education projects and even a credit union.

Upon our arrival at the centre we were presented with a very large Christmas tree and some gardening to do. Splitting into two groups we got started with both tasks. Group One put the tinsel, lights and some stars on the tree. Meanwhile Group Two weeded the front garden and dug for bamboo. With Christmas music playing inside and out, joy was in the air!

Switch over the Elves

The teams switched tasks, with Group Two continuing the garden efforts, adding in some chopping back bushes. Meanwhile Group One put baubles on the train and of course Santa at the top of the tree. Nice! Once all the tasks were finished we had a mince pie, switched on the tree lights and took a lovely group photo.

After saying our goodbyes to Rose and Sue we ran home, and then stretched before going to the pub and for pizza #XmasParty.

Sign up for the first group run of 2019 (7th January) here.

See you in the New Year! Merry Christmas Everyone!

PB out

19 GOODGYMERS ran 5km to help Single Homeless Project and Mildmay Community Centre!

Welcome along to Sarah and Carly whose first time it was last night!

In the news this week:

1. A massive well done to Steve Coman who recently hit 300 Good Deeds and has now completed 60 months straight of GG, that's 5 years! Amazing!
2. The GG Islington Xmas Party will be on Monday 17th December after our last group run, full details here.
3. There is a North London Long Run this Sunday led by Graham and Alix - all the details here.

Back to what happened last night... After warming up we split into two groups one going to Mildmay Community Centre and the other to the Single Homeless Projec.

Mildmay Report:

A team of 9 of us headed east, around Highbury Fields and through Canonbury to Mildmay Community Centre.

Once arrived at the centre Teena showed us what needed doing, we were continuing our work from two weeks ago. Now with the beds cleared of roots and hedges we could get to stage two.

Armed with gloves and forks we dug out any weeds and twigs, and turned over the soil. Once that was done across both beds we emptied fresh bags of compost into the beds, this will be ready for spring planting. After taking a group picture we headed home to meet the other group and eat bourbons.

Double Tasking, double fun

SHP Report by Steve Lee:

The team led by Kike and Steve with Alix kindly back-marking ran a similar distance to Paul’s team on an unusually warm and thankfully dry December night. On arriving at the Single Homeless Project we were presented with our challenge - a mini-mountain of mulch to be moved.

After a quick ‘before’ photo we distributed tools and set about filling wheelbarrows and sacks with increasingly warm and steamy mulch, which will make their lovely big back garden even lovelier. Alix and Steve got all zen with some raking, as delivery after delivery of mulch was ferried from the huge pile in the driveway to the back of the garden.

Big shout to those who got their workout on and opted to carry sacks when the wheelbarrows were in use, meaning that by the end of the session we’d made a substantial dent in Mulch Mountain.

Tools down, a quick ‘after' photo and a brisk jog around the Arsenal stadium before a stretch and being reunited with Paul Bown’s team, and, of course, the biscuits. Well done all!

Sign up here for next week when you'll be off to a different Single Homeless Project site, I'm on holiday but Steve Lee will be leading.

PB out