29 people ran 5km to shift 3 tons of compost and concrete slabs for Patchwork Farm

A skinny moon and even few stars accompanied us on my first GoodGym run around Hackney. Considering London’s weather all of last week, I think this deserves to be mentioned in the first paragraph.  

I’ve heard about GoodGym from a friend and I was keen to find out how a coached run - including warming up before & stretching afterwards - and working in a social project can be done in a mere 90 minutes.   To be honest, I didn’t really expect us to help efficiently. I thought it’s probably more the thought that matters. I was proven wrong.

  After 2.5km we arrived at the Kynaston Patch just off Stoke Newington High Street. We helped to move three tons of compost and a number of slabs, which must have weighed even more. Sean Gifford, the head Patchwork Farmer and a volunteer himself for the community garden project was thrilled. “This would have taken us ages!”

  After some efficient shovelling, sweeping, carrying and a little bit of trunk chopping the 29 runners were divided into three groups: Fast, medium and “Taking-it-easy”.  

  We ran back an extended route and the endorphins started kicking in. Even though many people deny the existence of a runner’s high, I’m sure it exists. When a fellow runner went into a sprint I assumed we must be really close to our finishing point, so I joined in. I was wrong again.   The guy in front of me managed to keep up the velocity for over one kilometre. I felt that I had been way too ambitious so I joined the rest of the group for the last 800 meters. They took me back with smiles so I didn’t feel too embarrassed.

  When I walked home I realised that it was just after 8:30. Those were some truly efficient and really well invested 90 minutes of my life.

Felix Franz