Goodgym Islington were thrilled to return after a well deserved festive break, catching up with Alison, Emily, Caitlin and Maggie at St Mungo's Hilldrop House. Area Activator Simon lead a 2 mile run from the Arsenal Community Hub and back, connecting Camden Road and Caledonian Park on route.

St Mungo's Hilldrop House is a homelessness action charity and outreach just on the border of Islington and Camden. The team had recently dropped Goodgym Islington a line to see if we could help with revamping their front entrance garden space ready for future residents in the new year, and we were happy to oblige! One of our main objectives for the evening was to clear away lots of long, overgrown grass surrounding the centre, and to remove any litter that remained. We also set about raking up plenty of dropped leaves and foliage from the surrounding paths, and clipping away overhanging branches around the space. Very satisfying and transformational work- we gathered four full rubbish bags of litter, and at least two large building merchant bags of green waste within our 50 minutes of gardening help- well done everyone!

---

Goodgym Islington News

—-------------------------------

Achilles International VI Guide Running Sessions- Emirates Stadium

Thursday 4th January 6pm, Arsenal underground station

Every Thursday, the all abilities sports charity Achilles International holds a group run session at a London location. This week, we will return to Emirates Stadium (Arsenal underground station) for loops around the floodlit concourse.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/come-and-guide-run-with-achilles-international-emirates-stadium-3f7219cd-ce62-4be7-9fc2-fb682dd691eb

—---------------------------

ON Running and JENKI run club- Thursday morning matcha runs!

Every Thursday, 7am, ON Running Spitalfields, Brushfield Street

Area Activator Simon has set up a series of morning runs, hosted every Thursday morning at the new ON Running store in Spitalfields market.

A social 5km before work, with the option to take out a pair of ON Running shoes for a test spin. Followed by complimentary matcha and hot drinks provided by the team at JENKI, Brushfield Street.

First run on Thursday 4th January:

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/jenki-matcha-with-on-running-spitalfields-group-run-january-specials

—------------------------

GG Race Team- Met League Hill Training Session! - January

Friday 5th January, 7pm, Pembroke Castle, Chalk Farm

Goodgym Cross Country is back! We will be returning to the Met League in 2023 and 2024! If you have never tried cross country, it is amazing muddy fun. A definite challenge, but accessible to all who want to give it a go, and are part of a UKA affiliated team (like the Goodgym Race Team). To coincide with the events, Area Activator Simon Fitzmaurice (who is a UK Athletics Coach in Running Fitness or CiRF for short) will be hosting a series of hill interval training sessions at Primrose Hill over the Autumn and Winter months. https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/gg-race-team-met-league-hill-training-session-january

This session has been scheduled to co-incide with the first Met League cross country fixture of 2023.

Met League Welwyn Garden City (race 4)

Saturday 13th January, 12 midday onwards

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/met-league-cross-country-welwyn-garden-city-274823d4-9ad0-4792-82e7-56681fbec46c

—---------------------

Finsbury parkrun Catch-up & 9 years of Goodgym Islington!

Saturday 6th January, 8.45am, Finsbury Park

A catch up with the Goodgym crew after the festive break, in line with 9 years since Goodgym Islington began!

Free weekly 5km social run/walk with volunteering opportunities available, followed by breakfast as Blighty café on Blackstock Road!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/finsbury-parkrun-catch-up-9-years-of-goodgym-islington-886d8468-44b0-45bb-bc63-b1e914fea8c5

—---------------------

GoodGym London - January Social- Market Halls Canary Wharf

Friday 12th January, 6.30pm, Market Halls Canary Wharf

Our next all boroughs social will be held at the awesome Market Halls London venue next to the new Elizabeth Line station in Canary Wharf. Excellent food, plenty of refreshments and good times!

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-london-january-social

—--------------------

Run Tour of Islington Parks #2- ON Running Group Run

Tuesday 16th January, 6pm, ON Running Spitalfields, Brushfield Street

Did you know that the borough of Islington contains 121 listed green spaces according to The Green Classroom?

To celebrate a great year with Goodgym Islington, Area Activator Simon will be planning a social run to visit as many of these as possible within 45 - 60 minutes! We are planning to continue this project over the month of January, to see if we can visit every Islington green space during Goodgym runs. https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/tour-of-islington-parks-2-on-running-group-run-1bbd1f19-0e98-49af-846d-b259f320ed9a