“We’ve hit Rock Bottom, What’s a team to do? We can’t head back up, so we’ll start digging through!”

Tonight 16 people ran 10 km to do good for Dalston Eastern Curve Garden

Again, tonight saw some very welcome new faces at the GoodGym, and may I say Brave ones, too, considering the particularly laborious nature of this evening's task, the wet weather conditions, and the fact that some of us GoodGymmers are currently in training for Run Hackney. This can seem rather intimidating & serious at first if you are new to running or are just looking for a gentler, more fun way to improve your health & engage with some great people & places in your community. But, our group runs are tailored to cater for both the Run Hackney training plan, and equally as a general group run for anyone else, no matter what your pace or ability. No one is ever left behind with the GoodGym – on our group runs, unity is paramount!

Tonight’s task saw 16 of us back at the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden to continue digging through a mega mound of mulch. Here, a pathway was required, leading through the compost & into the garden via the rear entrance double gates, where the compost was piled so high as to render the gates unopenable!

After a wet warm-up & running a 5 km route there we were met by the lovely Brian. We were briefed on the task, armed with spades, pitchforks, shovels & gloves, and we got stuck straight in with a determination even the rain couldn't put a damper on. Digging United, dust in our faces & turf in our trainers, the feeling when our spades hit the hard concrete floor beneath the warm compost pile raised a group cheer and within 25 minutes we'd successfully carved a clear pathway right through the compost heap; one of the gates was able to swing fully open again, and we all felt a real sense of teamwork & satisfaction by the end.

The return 5 km run took us splashing through the wind & rain, back up through the beautiful side streets of Hackney, all around Hackney Downs, weaving through central Hackney dodging deep puddles & umbrellas as we went, until we all arrived safely back at base – muddy, soggy, but satisfied!

Andreana Sutherland