Smashing Pumkins

12 people, spilt into 2 groups, and ran 2 to 3.5 km to clear a mini jungle and allotment for local people   I am new to Goodgym, and write this report (last night after the run) with slightly shaky hands. They have been put to good use tonight, not from the usual pacing back and forth you might expect from a normal running club, but from pulling on gardening gloves, grappling a rake, shovelling mud, turning out nettles, pumpkins and other unidentifiable objects, filling up bags and pacing back home again.   I was looking for a running club around London Fields and found Ade's name on the Hackney Council website. We met at 'Coffee is my Cup of Tea' 393 Mentmore Terrace, near to London Fields station at 7pm. 

There was a mix of boys and girls, some new people and some veterans. After a warm up outside the café, the group split into two. One group went to support a local resident, with learning difficulties, who needed extra help in his garden off Well Street Common, and the remainder of us did a 2 mile jog at a good pace up to Rectory Road Allotments. Our mission was to help the young families and community there claim back their overgrown, out-of-control green space so they can grow their own veg.    When we arrived at the allotments, the flood lights came on and the gardening weapons came out. Ade set a 30 minute challenge to clear as much as we could. As many hands make light work, we ploughed through the overgrown area until we had satisfyingly cleared through the lot in question.

We cleared 18 bin bags full of weeds, leaving a small stash of pumpkins and carrots we had rescued outside the resident's door. Behind us was a clear space for them to plant more vegetables and bring the place to life.   A quick sprint home, we were back to London Fields for 8.30pm where the rest of the group re-joined us after fulfilling their mission too. A very satisfying night!

Sofy Reeve