It's almost like everyone know it was the last chance to climb up the January challenge leader board...or the prospect of painting...or perhaps the promise of drinks after the run...or maybe a combination of all of the above... ...either way...18 wonderful people gathered in the lobby of the Marsham Court Hotel.

There was a real buzz around the group, lots of things to catch up on and so many lovely faces to say hello to!

We had Molly back for her first run in a long time! Same as Lea, both overcoming injuries and starting up their running journey again. We're very happy they chose to do that with us this evening! And even better news that they came through their test unscathed.

Karen was the proud new owner of her dashing GoodGym shirt and wore it proudly! Mind you, by the end of the evening everyone was wearing cream paint splatter on some part of their clothing!

We arrived at the IAAC hub where we had a warm welcome from Denise. After showing us all the progress they had made since we had last been to help with painting the walls, she let us know what was the challenge for this evening.

Lea, Keith and Sam hung up the IAAC frame by the entrance and used an app on Sam's phone to make sure it was all level....genius!!

The rest of the group grabbed brushes and rollers and headed to the back of the unit to paint the masonry walls a less depressing colour. From Kermit green to soothing cream colour. With only 40 minutes to complete the whole corridor and having to deal with a wall with lots of grooves in it the gang knuckled down and used their best team work skills.

Keith taking one for the team and getting down to do the skirting board edges, others on chairs and the rest shoulder to shoulder, some rolling and other with brushes making sure the ridges were covered too...

We didn't quite finish it all....but we got mighty close!!

Denise was super grateful as always and it was a pleasure to help her and her charity again. We will be back!!

With the good deed done, we sprinted back to the hotel, looking forward to heading out for a drink at our local. Painting and drinks...pretty perfect if you ask us!

See you all next week!!

Tonight called for a change of plan...from going to see Mark at Hope Housing to going to see Denise at It's all about culture in the Sovereign Centre.

17 of us gathered, ready to take on any task and distance that was needed to do good and give it heart!

Our route out to the task took in as many wind assisted routes as we could find, soon cracking out some Strava segment PBs....in our minds at least. And it was amazing running with a lot less effort than usual.

When we came into Boscombe high street we were trying to figure out what the lights were. Were they Christmas lights, or Easter ones? Well when we got closer we realised they were hearts! So it must have been from Valentines? Or they knew that the GoodGym theme for February is Give it heart! We took it as a sign to take a group photo right there!

Denise was very happy to see us when we arrived and soon gave us the low down on what needed doing.

Team bunting, consisting of Karen, Charlotte, Molly and Hannah took on hanging up the bunting at the entrance to the unit....and did an ok job......but then we realised that it had to go higher up, so Marianne climbed the ladder and with some help and direction from David tidied up the work.

Roshana and Fredrika got their hands on the two hoovers and cleaned the floors, the other cleaned and dusted all over and another team of Laurie, Daryl, Sophie, Keith, Chris and Phil put another coat on the green mile we didn't quite get to finish last time.

We also manged to tidy up the kitchen area and leave it with lots of space to be able to work in and allow new cabinets to be brought in.

We had time for another team photo but then we had to set off and try to make up some time on the way back, but also try to avoid the strong head wind that was our friend on our way out.

The route back took us away from the coast and on some parallel roads, lined with pine trees.

All back safely we stretched and headed home to the warm!

Next week we're heading to Bishop Aldhelm's school to help with a clean and tidy up of one of their arts rooms.

Thank you Fredrika for back marking for us and Hannah for taking some snaps too! See you next week!!

With only a few week left until we stop doing "official" good deeds with GoodGym for the Christmas break, it was time to break out the big guns....the big guns (doing Christmas present wrapping, decorations etc etc) weren't available so we had to get the next best thing.....and well painting is pretty much up there with the best tasks ever!

To add to that, we were helping a new charity called It's All About Culture (IAAC). A charity looking to bring more culture into Boscombe and celebrate diversity. Denise, the organiser, had received a new unit to use as their offices in the Sovereign Center and with a bit of funding, was able to get paint and supplies to give is a fresh coat of paint. And just as their logo, we used a lot of amazing colours!

And just when you thought the evening couldn't get better....we welcomed two lovely new runners to their first group run. Oliver had heard about GoodGym through our own Chris...... Samuel had seen us on Instagram, followed the link and signed up there and then! You two are great, we can use your painting skills again next week please!!

We also had Andrea back with us, it was the first time for her meeting at the Marsham Court Hotel, a location she helped to organise after our old place became inhospitable....

CC or Claire and Chris graced us with their presence....and the task definitely left it's mark on Chris....he got so into it he was covered in different coloured paint splatter!

Our run to Boscombe took us along the overcliff and Neil, our health and safety specialist, suggested we take the most lit up route...which meant down some stairs to Boscombe Pier....which was lovely but it meant that to get to the high street we had to run up Sea Road...great name....great gradient too! But everyone ran to the top and then pretended not to be out of breath at the lights....or was that just me?

The rest was easy. Into the shopping center where Denise was waiting. Sam and Daryl tackled the entrance walls with a nice warm yellow colour. Oli took on the role of masking tape specialist, Claire and Fredrika chose blue as their choice of paint, Phil, Neil and Sophie had Jelly Bean....Chris, Sean and Hannah had exotic cream.....and Andrea, spoke to Denise about potential funding opportunities for IAAC. So not only did we manage to help out with practical work, thanks to Andrea, IAAC could be in for some extra help too! We love it when a plan comes together!

Hannah started to have eyes for another colour....and slowly sneaked into Jelly Bean land. Oli having taped up the whole place, joined the blue team. Chris having finished the big cream wall joined the Jelly Bean team and soon all the walls we had started on were finished!

We do need some 6 ft 10 people to come and help us put masking tape along the top edge though....does Bournemouth have a basketball team??? Start making tall friends people!!!

With our time up we helped tidy up and put the brushes away. Took some photos with Denise and the IAAC banner and promised to come back to help out again in January! We can't wait!!

Our route back was a little more direct, chilly and also speedy! Good pace taken on by Oli, Neil and Sophie in the lead pack!

Thank you Hannah for back marking! You're a star!

Next week we're heading to Bishop Aldhelms School, to do some more PAINTING!! I know.... it's like Christmas has come early!!! And we're also meeting for a drink after the group run, so come to both if you're free!!

Well done everyone!!!