Teenage Kicks at the end of the night

24 runners shifted 3 tonnes of topsoil, and started building planters for a residents association

Despite a tube strike and the threat of rain a team of hardy GoodGym runners congregated at Somers Town community centre for a run.

We had two tasks to complete- one group headed to the Royal Free to help Transition Belsize. They are part of the UK wide Transition movement- aiming to create a network of vibrant local communities with a vision for a greener, more sustainable society. They encourage local people to join in- growing and foraging food, and reusing and sharing resources. Have a look at some of projects they promote on the link.

Here's a report from Axel;

12 runners set off to the Royal Free Hospital to help Transition Belsize establish a Food growing area. After exploring some new routes of camden (Lost? never) and a 4.5k run we arrived at the Royal Free.

We split in 3 groups, the first dug the garden, the second loaded all the topsoil in bags or boxes and the third group shifted and spread it in the garden. We managed to move 3 tonnes of it in less than 25 minutes and were ready to run the way back after a nice group photo for Transition Belsize.

On the way back to Somers Town Community we ran at a nice pace 5min/k, and some of us even tackled the very nice Primrose Hill just to enjoy the view! We finished the evening with some stretching almost without trouble...well not quite- a strange teenage passer by attempted to kick us as we made our way through Somers Town. We were too fast for them to do any serious damage!.

The other group had a slightly shorter run. They headed to Roseberry Avenue to a housing association block of flats near Grays Inn Road. Local residents there are attempting to club together and transform the unused roof terrace- eventually creating a children's play area and an area for growing food and relaxing amongst the plants. Its hard- they are trying hard to organise this ambitious project on their own without many resources. Any help is appreciated.

We moved some old wooden pallets up the terrace and started to break them up. Our goal was to fashion the slats into small growing boxes or beds. Some people started sawing the smaller pallets into workable shapes for the bases while the rest grappled with the pallets to break them up- it was seriously hard work. We managed to get some done but it was tough- we'll have to come back again with a crowbar!

The run there and back was nice though- slaloming through Coram Fields and dodging pedestrians around Bloomsbury. A great night all round.