11 runners ran 5k and 2 high speed laps around a 400m triangle of paths

Last night eleven runners arrived at Coffee Is My Cup of Tea to pay a visit to St John of Jerusalem School to help them finish off a nature garden. It was my first time leading a GoodGym run, so I was as nervous as the new faces, but once I’d given the briefing and got the group running up and down outside to warm up I felt like I was in the swing of it.

"Raring to go"

We set off for a short run to the school near Victoria Park, me leading the way and Chris & Gary marking the back of the pack and arrived in 5 minutes flat. We then had a slight hiccup. I called the task organiser to let her know we were raring to go and found out that she thought we were coming the next day. Ah. The caretaker was also not to be found and instead a confused looking cleaner met us at the gate and informed us he didn’t know anything about our visit.

Not to be put off we set off instead on a good 5k run taking in Well Street Common, Victoria Park and finishing in London Fields. Jasmine & Sophie lead the way with me, keeping our eyes open for impromptu good we could do on the way. Litter and people struggling to cross the road were going to get the Goodgym treatment as we passed!

"Finish with a flourish"

When we reached Victoria Park we decided to tackle Ade’s infamous triangle, a triangle of paths that measure a perfect 400m, just right for a couple of intervals to make sure we finished with a flourish and made up for a lack of digging earlier in the task. We set off in pairs for 2 laps, the first running just slightly faster than our run so far and the second running full out. Our newcomer pairs, Matt & Laura and Helen & Caroline looked nervous as I explained what we were going to do, but did themselves proud pushing themselves round the triangle at a really good pace.

After getting our breath back we jogged back to Coffee Is My Cup of Tea for a stretch and a promise of more good to go with the running next week.

Lauren Garland