31 Runners ran 5-6k to help out with a few jobs around Caledonian Park

The run

We set off at 7pm from Somers Town Community Centre and made our way north along Camley Street towards the canal. With 30 odd people in tow we stuck together- performing a few obligatory warm up exercises on route to loosen up our stiff muscles. Despite a few spots of rain everyone seemed up for the challenge and we made light work of the 2.5k run.

Caledonian Park- former Cattle Market

We arrived at the park to be greeted by Bhupesh and Nick from Islington council, and Lyne from the Caledonian Park Friends and Residents Association. She is growing some beautiful fruit trees on the site with a little help from the London Orchard Project.London Orchard Project work with a host of people to create community orchards in London’s unused spaces, helping us rediscover the pleasures of eating organic fruit grown close to home, creating habitats for wildlife, and increasing the city's biodiversity. We will be going back to help her add some new stakes to the fledgling trees soon.

Nefarious Characters

After a safety briefing from Bhupesh (for example don't you dare put your hand in between Shear Blades), we broke into 3 teams- one group weeding the beds, one group trimming shrubs in the ornamental garden, and one group spreading barks on the paths in Prostitute Alley....well it wasn't called that but apparently its where they used to hang out before the park was beautified.

A blur of Activity

We smashed it- in 25mins we pretty much finished all the tasks we were set, so loaded up the van with the tools and headed for the exits. On the way home we broke into 2 teams. One group headed back home on the same route, while the other took the long cut along the canal path.

Tempo Run

In preparation for our tilt at the Hackney Half we pushed the pace a little- trying to run in 2nd or 3rd gear to force our hearts to pump delicious oxygenated blood round the blood. Yum. We got back in time for a quick stretch, a high five, and a cuddle before Caretaker Bob brushed us out of the community centre. Well done Y'all