9 musically gifted Goodgym runners (including first timer Emily- welcome!) came out for our carol singing finale for 2019. Slightly different to our usual tasks, we planned to promoting and fund raising for one of our favourite task owners (Freightliners Farm) by singing carols and Christmas songs outside Highbury & Islington station. Mega props to Steve for the excellent festive elf costume (with matching jingle bell gaiters) and for providing additional Santa hats for all!

Before we set off, we performed the count off, and asked whether anyone was planning a Christmas Day parkrun or not. The answers were as follows:

• "I didn't know parkrun happened on Xmas day!"
• Exeter parkrun
• Wilmslow parkrun
• Gladstone parkrun
• Pontypool parkrun
• "Ha ha, definitely not!"

We made our way outside the hub, and performed the "12 dynamic workouts of Christmas" as a warm up:

• 12 stars-a-lumping
• 11 mountains climbing
• 10 abductors twisting
• 9 upward springings
• 8 hip flexor swingings
• 7 hamstrings sweepings
• 6 heels-a-raising
• 30 second plank!
• 4 squat jumps
• 3 static lunges
• 2 press ups
• and finish with a single burpee!

We then separated into a running group and a walking group. Group 1 ran a slightly longer route to Freightliners Farm to pick up some leaflets for us to distribute (sadly, these were either not there, or we couldn't find them). Group 2 walked directly to Highbury & Islington station, and we gathered up at pretty much the same time.

A medley of Christmas songs and carols had been pre-printed and prepared for this evening, and we got straight to singing some of our favourites for the commuters leaving the station. A small collection tub was set up, accepting donations as we sang. We started with Merry Christmas, working into Winter Wonderland and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Then we started singing some of the more traditional carols: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, O Come All Ye Faithful and Silent Night were popular. Before we left, we made sure we did a lively rendition of The 12 Days of Christmas, and set off back to the Emirates for mince pies and stretching!

NEWS

Goodgym Islington is now closed for Christmas and New Year, but we will be back again on 6th January 2020 for our annual Xmas tree collecting task. Please note that this task will start at The Arc Centre, not the Emirates Stadium, due to a rare Monday evening football game being played.

Sign up here for more details.

Crisis at Christmas

If you are still looking for a Goodgym-style task in December, then consider signing up to help with Crisis at Christmas offer some assistance for those in need over the festive period. They are looking for all sorts of volunteers, from creative folks and warehouse assistants, to friendly faces and team leaders.

Have an utterly wonderful Christmas folks, and a Happy New Year!!!