NEW DIGS

On a wildly, windy Monday in Feb. 8 Goodgymers, ran 8k, to pick up 8 spades and fill 8 holes, for 8 baby trees. Now 8'nt that Gre8 to hear!!

New Digs, New Digs, New Digs!!!! and can we say..... wow, what a fabulous new home we have!! The awesome Queensbury gastro pub, opposite Willesden Green Station, greeted us with open arms as we piled into the entrance to take our first steps into our new abode. Planning our next post run knees up before we'd even started, it was clear the team were delighted with the switch up for 2016.

Without wasting anytime, meet, greets and housekeeping done, Coach Ellie explained the task ahead: A visit to our new friends, the good people of Sufra all the way over in Stonebridge Park. Yippee.

Sufra NW London is a Community Food Bank & Kitchen, based in Stonebidge Park, Brent. It is an amazing charity, that aims to support disadvantaged families suffering food poverty in the local area. Sufra, also made it their mission to purchase and regenerate a piece of destitute land at the side of their building. What was once a fly tipping jungle, now the blueprints for an iddilic community gardens, complete with plans for ponds, trees, children's play area and allotments. Lucky for us, we are joining the team just as the real changes need to get started. We will contribute to the plans overtime and watch this project grow into something wonderful!!

With no time to lose and a 4k run to knock out just to get there, we set off! As usual Coach Ellie was offering out a special dose of urban orienteering and the group were shown the delights of several strange back streets, bridges and ..... The North Circular and Wembley Ikea, ooooooohhhhhhh!!

With the wind in our sails, we blew off some steam and high tailed it on, until we eventually reached Pitfield Street. Horrah

We were greeted with smiles and a warm welcome from the team and a table of refreshments for the already sweaty crew. After the rehydration, we were shown what to do, led outside with gloves, wheelbarrows and spades in hand, to make our mark on the regeneration. Our job this week was simple, we were to fill and base some gigantic holes that had been dug out in the gardens, ready to plant new trees when the soil was in. Can you dig it? Yes we can!

With our eyes on the clock we set to work! Eyes on the prize...... The Mud Mountain!! This is where you learn, you have your running shoes.... and your GoodGym Mud running shoes, because by the end, we were all walking on moon-boots of our own personal mud-mountains.... attached to the soles of our own shoes LOL!

Unperturbed by the dirty work, the team attacked the pile with determination! Spading the turf into the barrows and running it over to the holes to fill in. Spading, heaping, rolling and tipping, the circuit went on! In the short time we had, we managed to fill 3 of the giant holes!!! Amazing work, but more to be done and a project we would commit to for the next coming months!

As quickly as we had arrived, we wished Sufra a hearty - SoiLong and went on our way, disappearing once more into the night.

With the wind on our side and pushing us on, our journey home was swift and filled with merriment. With Hannah the homing pigeon leading up front, assisted by newbie Lizzie, we all got our heads down for one last power up the hill to the final straight. Stretches on the wall outside and some foam roll demo, we finally closed the curtain on our session for the night.

One last thing before we left - Not one to miss a chance to celebrate, Hannah Lids had made ....CAKE!!! Belated birthdays and a toast to our new beginnings, at the new Queens(bury) of hearts.

Until next time team!!

DO GOOD. FEEL GOOD. INSPRE.