Plant Get You Out of My Head

It's a task SOS!

So there we were, all lined up up for a straightforward trip to Stepney Farm when an urgent call came in on Friday from longstanding task owner, Margaret at Hollybush Gardens, explaining that some urgent digging was required for planting in Rocky Gardens. After a great big GG shout-out, many pairs of hands came to the rescue this evening, so we were able to despatch two, impressively-sized teams, to two tasks.

Tonight's intro took place on the Town Hall steps (daylight, warmth...bliss!) as we were a big crowd and felt like we were at a rather crowded house party in our hotel room. After a warm-up in Peel Grove ("Let's play a game: who's got the tightest hip flexors...What do you mean that's not fun? Actually, I'm sure flexibility-shaming's a thing, come to think of it.") we went our separate ways.

Hot footing it to Hollybush

Leanne took the Hollybush team off to see Margaret and Michael, where the team turned over the soil in the planters, ready for new crops to help supply the local food bank; cleared and tidied plant pots and then re-housed some grateful snails. The group then took a long Victoria Park-detour back to the hotel, planned brilliantly by Bryon and Leanne, led and data-recorded by Dave, taking the Hollybush crew to a respectable 5K. Thanks to Gabrielle for some brilliant back-marking.

A fast pace back from the farm

I led the Stepney City Farm team down the road where Clare, our task owner, had several tasks lined up: one team led by Patrick were in charge of woodchip-ing the entire plant shop (a meatier task than I'm making it sound - it involved moving many plants, planters and heavy compost; shovelling and wheeling woodchip) while Lianne was Bin Team Leader (we're still working on a more glamorous task title for her), her team tasked with emptying 10 big bins. Fitness Feat of the Night goes to Patrick for his unstoppable and impressive wheelbarrow-running. After a quick breather to look at the bunnies and piglets, we finished with some delightful lateral lunges, sweeping-leg-planks and our tuck'n'roll-for-the-tum before heading back to base.

Our plan was a tempo run back to pace and 'comfortably hard' was the recommendation. For most of us, it was an 'uncomfortably hard' pace trying to catch Danny who led us back to base, really kicking it up a notch. Thank you Danny - please come back and lead some more speedwork, it was a totally exhilarating end to the task. And a massive well done to Polly for quite a spectacular sprint finish.

What a team

What a night! Thank you everyone - yet again you wowed our task owners with the sheer amount you were able to accomplish.

A very big warm welcome to first time runners Zeina, Jess, Clio and Martin & Rosemary - it was a joy and a privilege to be with you at your first Group Run. Thanks for your smiles, your hard work...thank you for making it a brilliant night. I really do hope you'll join us again very soon.

A big thank you too, this week, to the brilliant Tower Hamlets Task Force: Becky one of our regular running-data gurus and our 'social secretary' (again, the title's a work in progress); Bryon for lots of behind-the-scenes planning with me (and for putting up with weekend planning-panic emails); Leanne also for lots of behind-the-scenes planning and for heading up a fantastic night at Hollybush, and to Dave for leading and recording the route, and our back markers for the night, Patrick and Gabrielle.

When can we do it all again?

Next week, we're back at the farm so do join us for another night to remember - I just can't WAIT to do it all again.

(...Keep your eyes peeled for details of our May 6th gathering at The Coburn where we join forces with Mile End Parkrun for the pub quiz! It's a Sunday but NOT a school night, as it's a long Bank Holiday weekend, so do put the date in your diary).