Baaa-d Gym

For this week's farm-based run, we set off from the Arch Gallery towards Stepney at an easy pace (all the better for chatting). We dodged traffic and games of tag in the street as the city gave way to an incongruously rural landscape. Once the farmhand let us in, we really put our back into our work- turning compost, raking straw, and putting down bedding for the animals. Mark showed us how incorporate lunges into our raking technique, which had the double benefit of toning our legs and saving our backs from aching.

"very distinctive smell"

We got a big kick out of the animals. Although the sheep had suspicious-looking horns, they BAAA'd in a very pleasing manner. The goats, or the other hand, had a very distinctive smell. Some of us observed that after cleaning out their pen that chevre would never be the same for us.

"planning nefarious deeds"

With the farm tidied and the compost turned, we decided to split into two groups for the run home. The longer run went along the canal back to Mare Street, but actually made it to the Arch Gallery faster than the short run. Those of us on the short run thought we had picked the lazier option, but ended up running intervals in Museum Gardens with Mark. We practised running at "gear 3" (not the fastest, but enough to make you breathless).

"evil suggestions"

Exhausted but happy, we rejoined the rest of the group at the gallery only to find them planning nefarious deeds. In preparation for the big summer party this coming Friday, we're creating a game to play called "BadGym." It's not yet clear exactly how this will be played, but we've thought up lots of different stations already that are the antithesis of GoodGym- fake muggings, fistfights and bad deeds galore. If you've got any evil suggestions for the game, send them in. See you at the party!

Kate Bagley