Holly Folly

Last night's run started from the newly hung 'Dazed and Refused' exhibition at Arch Gallery. By the time we left the gallery we'd assembled a merry band of runners ready to tackle the worst the Victoria Park could throw at us.

"ready to tackle the worst the Victoria Park could throw at us. "

We'd been asked by Play Tower Hamlets, who are massively keen on children playing outdoors, to help them turn a Holly copse into a spooky play area for children. These people had already made us install a massive solid wood canoe - so we knew they were serious. Someone from the last trip said:

"Last year we found ourselves installing a half tonne sycamore canoe in Victoria Park ahead of the Olympics. Approaching the park this time round we saw some familiar figures and some all-too-familiar heavy looking pieces of wood."

Our mission last night was to install some huge paving slabs that had been mosaic'd by local school children, and to drive 30 logs 2 feet into the ground to form magic seating circles.

"drive 30 logs 2 feet into the ground"

We arrived and were briefed- and everyone immediately got stuck in; grabbing spades, shovels, digging bars and post hole diggers. Teams of three rapidly bashed and slogged their way through the rooty earth until the logs were well and truly stuck and the tiles were perfectly level.

For the run back we split in to with the faster runners taking a loop led by Jasmin and Will - and the rest of us doing a lap of honour around Victoria Park before ramping up to a sprint along the canal and back to the Arch for some stretching.

Special mentions to Alison and Louisa for digging the largest hole and to David, Dan, Hannah, Lizzie and Anna for running their hearts out on their first runs with GG Tower Hamlets.

Also nice one Jasmin for leading the faster run back along the canal.