32 people ran 8 km to move planters for the Secret Seed Society at Dalston Roof Top

Yesterday, we ran back to Dalston Roof Top to help Secret Seed Society move 30, vegetable and herb laden, planters off the roof to the new garden at street level.

The GoodGym crew also had to crack an 8km training run - 4km there (at half marathon pace) and 4 km back (at a steady pace).

"pace"

It's important for all runners, whatever their level, to understand pace. On the way there we split into 3 groups. There was the 7 to 8 minute mile group, 8 to 10 and 10 to 12 minute mile group. Patrick, James and Abi, bravely headed the groups with a route map in hand and a mission in their sights.

The 4km run there, at pace, took the GoodGymers through Hackney Central, around Hackney Downs and along Shackewell Lane, and then south along Kingsland Road to Ashwin Street and the beautiful Bootstrap building.

The first team that arrived met Amy, our task host, and bombed it straight up the fire escape (7 stories) to start lifting the planters two floors down to the lift.

Runners joined the roof team as they arrived, and then a group worked to moved the planters from the lift 30 metres to the car park garden.

It was an extra good task to work out upper body muscles. People had to engage deep core muscles to lift each planter safely by the handles. In pairs, they then had to steadily move along the narrow gangway and then manoeuvre themselves and the planter down 2 flights of stairs - often backwards.

"Glues today"

I get the suspicion there will be sore (in that, not used these for while kind of way) arms, shoulders and backs, glutes today. So satisfying to see, and to see newcomers like Celine, Suzana, Francesco, Sarah and Victor throwing themselves whole heartedly into the task.

"hustle and bustle of Dalston"

Determined not to leave any planter on the roof, the team worked on against the background hustle and bustle of Dalston. Pairs came up with their own methods to lift and carry the planters, and wheelbarrows and trolleys were found and used to take the planters to their final resting place.

40 minutes later, 30 planters and been moved for Amy from Secret Seed Society. An organisation working to engage local young people in growing and cooking their own food.

So thoroughly warmed up, the run home was meant to be at an easy pace. Nice and steady, running back the way we came. Not these runners. Everyone came back to Coffee Is my Cup if Tea panting and gasping, spurred on by the support of others in their group and the good they'd done together that night.

Ade Aboaba