This is what it's soil about!

On a lovely Tuesday in Penge, nine nifty runners took to the streets to run, do good, get fit(ter) and to make new friends. Perfect!

Tonight we welcomed just the one new runner, so all the cheers go out to Hannah, who heard how great group runs are from her partner, who joined us last week - great recruitment! We did have a tourist though (it wouldn't be GoodGym Bromley without a tourist or two!). Coming all the way from over the border at GoodGym Croydon, was Rachel, hello Rachel!

We may have had new people and visitors, but something that made me glow with happiness tonight was seeing two of our now regulars proudly strolling in wearing their red GoodGym t-shirts >insert big, happy-faced emoji here< Both Elly and Stuart looked lovely in the red and Elly was so keen to show off her tee, that she abandoned her packing for an upcoming adventure to be with us tonight!

This week we talked all things racing, hearing about the GoodGym Race Team and the many races that people sign up to and run together. I talked about the lovely local Petts Wood 10k, which a few of us ran last year and loved. It's a great chance to set yourself a goal and to try something new with the support of your fellow runners. The sign up page is here, but don't forget to enter the race through the link on the page, because it does sell out!

Our run was taking us in a new direction tonight, with a brief dip into Crystal Palace Park, for a quick warm-up and to admire last week's handiwork. We were soon marching up the hill and heading towards St John's and the lovely meadow. Meeting us were Berni, Helen and Hannah, all eager to share this space and everything that is going on here. We were shown a healthy pile of tools and a challenging patch of ground. In comparison, we could look across to the adjacent beds and see how this will look in the future, with all sorts of fruit, veg and flowers growing in every corner. Our task was to turn this soil, remove roots and, as Tim informed us later, work the soil to a fine tilth.

This task was hard work, it was back-breaking work, hot work, but very, very rewarding work! The soil was heavy and hard, but a combination of different tools and some good cooperation saw the surface clearing of roots, weeds and brambles and the fresh soil emerging. A popular tool was the pickaxe, which was passed around for everyone to have a go - seemingly using it as a stress-buster to ease away the day's frustration! This tool also became invaluable in a quest to unearth treasure, with Stuart turning out to be an amateur Time Team type, finding all sorts of rusted metal objects for us all to try and identify. As time went on, the turned soil edged further along and Louise took her chance to pick some of the beautiful blackberries, the perfect refreshment to look forward to on our return.

With St John's bells ringing, we downed tools and admired all that had been achieved. We will no doubt be returning to continue the good work and to take on the many tasks that will help make this space even more special.

Our return run took us back into the park, where I thought it was about time we took a dino-photo. Resident tour guide Tim now told us how this park was the first theme park in the world, with the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs being a draw for people from all over. Marianne mentioned that they used to have flames coming out of their mouths - we're not sure if this is true, but we hope so! Admiring the prehistoric beasts as we ran, we gathered around some benches for tonight's fitness session, a good old round (or two) of HiiT (high intensity interval training). All around were strong and perfectly executed press-ups, squats (some jumping), tricep-dips and squat throws - great work everyone! A gentle stretch now, to ease those aching muscles (digging AND a fitness session AND a run!) and a few slightly squished blackberries to round off the evening.

Next week we will be in Crystal Palace Park, heading into the Secret Garden (I can't wait!). We are also going to make next week our first official social, with a bit of food and drink at our start point, the Bridge House, after our run if you fancy. Sign up here to join in.