On a beautiful sunny evening we ran to Stoke High School where we met Head Teacher, Andrew, who explained our task. To dig out a hole on the school field to create a bunker as the first stage in making a one hole pitch and putt golf course for students to use.

Wood you believe it the ground was rough and very dry so digging was a challenge. We did manage to break a spade in the hard ground andit was driving us mad! . But everyone chipped in, clubbed together and putt in enormous effort - directed by Tom , who had the foresight to (a) know what a bunker should look like and (b) had done this before! - the patch of grass began to resemble a "bunker shape". With Tom's guidance it even looked like a bunker that sloped down with a higher bank at the back.

As the bunker emerged from the green turf there was some discussion around golf themed puns - I'll be using everyone one them - Thanks guys!

With the task done we headed back onto the road for our return leg run, stopping off for a hill effort taking in a hole loop of Belstead Avenue. We then sliced a route down onto the riverside for a further set of interval efforts on a familiar route that was par for the course.

Finishing with a gentle pace run back to base along the waterfront with the sun shining and birdies (definitely saw and albatross and probably and eagle) singing to bring another wonderful Goodgym evening to a close and we all went home for tee and sand wedges

Starting off with a big thank you for Andrew for stepping in to cover the start of tonight's session due to traffic chaos on the A12 conspiring to delay my arrival

Also massive congratulations to the same Andrew in reaching the 50 task milestone - the 4th Ipswich member to earn the coveted black shirt!

So, when I (eventually)arrived the task was well under way....and what a turnout - probably the highest attendance since our launch. Everyone was getting stuck in to the job of painting a classroom. I've never sen so many goodgym t-shirts in such a small space!

The task was set up by Andrew (a different one to our new black shirted Andrew) the school Head Teacher with the aim of making the room much brighter for a new teacher at the school. With so many hands the job was completed within 40 minutes and we headed off to run back to base which included a fartlek interval session along the Waterfront and taking in part of the Twilight 5k race route many of the group had done on Saturday with great success.

Next week we return to Castle Hill for a long(ish)run - find out more here

It was a Goodgym first as the task owners joined us on the run!

Our task tonight was at Stoke High School and Head Teacher, Andrew and Deputy Head, Karen; ran from the school to meet us for the outward leg of our run.

So after a brief warm up with the wind gusting strongly around us making the balance challenge slightly more difficult, we headed out for the 1.5 mile run to Stoke High School with Tom, Daniella and Adeline covering as aback marking squad .

The Belstead area leading out to the school is notorious for being hilly and our route reflected this with more to come later!

On arrival at the school we were shown to a large woodwork classroom with six benches to be sanded and painted. The preparations was perfect with two benches already sanded for painting and trays, rollers and paint neatly laid out with sandpaper, blocks and even an electric sander. Another plus point was the drinks provided by the school - we'll be coming back again!

Splitting into small groups the benches were "attacked" in a whirl wind of sanders while two groups began painting the already prepared benches. It didn't take long for the first benches to be completed in two different colours - followed pretty quickly by the others. Amazingly all the benches were painted within 30 minutes of our arrival.

The return leg run just had to take advantage of the hilly terrain, so to everyone's delight we had took in some hill intervals en route- one long one and several smaller ones, before completing a steady pace back to base.

Thanks to Andrew and Karen from the school for hosting tonight's task and it was great to have you join us on the run.

Next week we return to an old favourite - Castle Hill Community Centre - see more info and sign up HERE