Well folks, an exciting night for GoodGym as the BBC Television crew were shadowing the session and litter picking task. Dave led a short warm up and welcomed new runner Bex. It was also great to have Leigh, Lee and Louise back with the gang after a time away. Lindsay led the group on a 1.5 mile jog along the river with Jimmy as the back marker. When the group arrived at Bede Park, Mel, Lee and Louise had prepared the litter pickers and bin bags for us. With the presence of the camera crew we had attracted attention from the locals who were on the park. One chap asked if he could help and was soon at work looking for litter, on his departure he shook hands with Dave and said we were doing a good job. The BBC filmed the litter picking task and followed the GG runners around the park. Nic, Frank, Jim and Dave were then interviewed about the benefits of GG, the tasks and their involvement. After light refreshments the fitness task consisted of circuits - hops, flying 20s tree sits and use of the outdoor gym. Find of the night was an NHS issue childs crutch which we shall duly return to the Leicester Royal Infirmary. Finally the jog back to DMU for the cool down,again filmed by the crew. Keep a lookout on the Leicester GG facebook page for details of the broadcast time and date! Thanks all for a great turnout tonight.

It was a lovely late summers evening for tonights run and task.

8 runners left the DMU for a leisurely run along the canal paths to The Lohana Center. Lindsay led the group at a fair old pace, obviously getting ready for her Great North Run.

A source of amusement en route was watching a lady ,under her husbands guidance, try to steer a long boat through a lock gate, which was only half open! On her completion , in true GG style we gave her a round of applause.

On our arrival at The Lohana Center we were greeted by Nilesh who showed us to the room where the windows needed cleaning. A task we have performed in the past so it didn't take long for the GG runners to set to work.

Armed with cloths we did our best to bring a sparkle and shine to the windows.The lighting wasn't too good so the pictures are mainly silhouettes!

A break for some well earned light refreshments and we were off to Abbey Park for a short hill session, up hill effort and downhill recovery then reversed.

We would like to wish our GG buddy Lee Melbourne a speedy recovery.

A double celebration tonight.

1st, Jims Black shirt caused much consternation - you must interrogate him said Mel, I want one!

All was soon revealed - Jim is a our first GoodGym Hero having completed his 50th Good Deed - well done Jim.

2nd, Its our Birthday! - yep, where has that year gone? 15th of August last year 35 of us landscaped the garden at St Peters Church after being set off by the Lord Mayor of Leicester - 51 group runs later, here we are still going strong and the book is pretty much full till November.

The task - more bramble clearance at Safron Acres. Michaela met us on route, Amber and Mel went direct. Stu had a car breakdown so sadly had to drop out so it was just the fab 4 blokes who set off from DMU. Michaela joined in at the KP and at Aylestone Park the unmistakable smiling face of Rach came running towards us.

Arriving at the Acres at 6:30 we let ourselves in and set about clearing the brambles. Frank had forgotten his running glasses so self appointed himself as the barrow boy while everyone got stuck in. Every now and then came a shout of "Ow" as the thorns made their way through the thick gloves but no harm was done.

Although small in number we made a big impact as usual. It must be theraputic as once again I had to drag people away. The mention of juice, half time oranges, cake and more cake did the trick - refreshments courtesy of Mel - very little was left - hungry work that bramble clearing!

Michaela caught a lift with Mel - looks like she has the beginnings of an injury - look after it M and get well soon. Amber shot off in the car and Rach parted company at Aylestone Park so the fab four were left to do a fartlek snake/sprint session on the run back.

Humid night, good distance, physical task - felt like a good work out to me.

The local Scope shop had just had a delivery of new stock donated by Boo Hoo and the lovely Jean held it back especially so we could be the ones to sort it. Scope is the nearest task to our base so its only a short hop along the Newark and then Belvoir St to get there. I dont think anyone was complaining too much as it was a hot a humid night.

We were there by 6.20 and Jean escorted us to the basement and offered cold drinks - most welcome.

As we did before the task was to sort the stock into like for like types, Ladies Tops, Ladies Bottoms, Jackets, Jeans, Undergarments, Kids stuff etc etc.

I never thought I would see GoodGymmers getting quite so excited about a task but sorting through clothing obviously appeals massively.

Both Mel and Amber not only helped Scope by doing the task but also put some money into the coffers by buying some goods.

Carlos must have wondered what he had let himself in for, but like all the Leicester team he just got stuck in. Jim once again was chief labeller and by the end of our half hour or so we had sorted over 20 bags ready for Jean to put out on the shelves.

Jean was very keen to take a photo to send to her Head Office - Scope works with GG in quite a few locations and we are very please to support them. Jean also told me she is happy to have us back again any time so that bodes well for some of those cold dark night tasks later in the year.

Much to the delight of Stu the fitness task was circuits on the outdoor gym at Bede Park - the length of the circuit was determined by the time it took a pair of runners to circumnavigate the park. Katy and Amber missed the shortcut so my arms were aching by the time they got back.

A final group lap of the park and it was back to base for the announcements. Most notably, Carlos is taking part in a 50km ultra trail run in the Italian Dolomites at the weekend - he even promised to come back and tell us all about it next week (if he can still walk - his words). We all wish Carlos the very best of luck and we look forward to hearing how it went.

I will see some of you at the Beacon Solstice run on Friday or at Prestwold on Sunday - failing that, next Tuesday is a litter pick led by Lindsay as I shall be away.

A pleasant evening welcomed the Leicester GoodGym regulars as we assembled at the DMU for our weekly outing.

Tonight it was a return visit to our regular gig at the council's Prebend Gardens, a very pretty piece of public open space which sadly has to be locked up in the evenings these days due to anti social behaviour - but no worries, we have a key.

I had been along to the LCC tool store at Victoria Park in the afternoon to load up with brooms and shovels, in hindsight, hoes would have been more use than the shovels but we cannot win them all!

Taskforce trooper Mel had agreed to drive the car up to the task site with the tools, and Stu who has just had the good news (his words!) that he must not run for 3 weeks also went up by car.

The remainder set off for the short hop through the Newark, by the Magazine then up New Walk to the meet point on DeMontfort St.

Jim and Lindsay led out in front, I tailed with Ben for a bit then when we got to New Walk I rejoined the main group as Ben agreed to bring up the rear.

We welcomed back Amber to her second run and I was please to hear that the injury that has been plaguing her has subsided for the meanwhile. The ever enthusiastic Rachel and Lee made up the rest of the contingent.

Mel was there to meet us outside the Belmont Hotel and the boot was opened to reveal tonights weapons - half a dozen sturdy brooms courtesy of LCC, a couple of shovels and a few of our own stock of litter pickers,

As we marched off to Prebend - about 400 metres away - Jim broke into song "Hi Ho, its off to work we go" it seemed the most appropriate.

Unlocked and into the gardens and shortly joined by Stu we were into the task, which tonight was to sweep all the path edges to put the finishing touches to the edge clearance we did last time.

One sometimes goes to a task and thinks "mmm will we be able to make much difference?" but then when we have done it we usually think "wow what a difference" - tonight was no exception,

As ever, Mel buzzed around taking the action shots as everyone got stuck in. Ben worked so hard he wore a hole in his hand and the First Aid Kit had to be deployed for only the second time in our history. Rachel was like a woman possessed and when it was time to go we had to drag her away as she was so focussed on her work.

The path looked particularly splendid when we had done. We posed for a group photo leaning on our brooms, did a head and equipment count then made off back to the car. Just one point of amusement before we left.... "OK" I said "Theres a bottle of water and a bottle of Lucozade by the bags, I know the water is Ambers whose is the other?"....silence... then Jim said "Oh I think the lucozade was here when we got here".... so in the bin it went. As we exited the gate a voice then said "Oi! wheres my Lucozade?"....... Sorry Stu, thats the price of a Lucozade that needs billing to me then!!!

We put the tools away in the car and set about a short "experimental" fitness session - not out of any book, just straight out of my imaginative head. Hill reps with progressive speed over a short track! - Very useful if you need a sprint finish uphill???? - well, you never know.

To my delight everyone seemed to have great fun with it and for sure no one was holding back, the competitive spirit certainly came through. I gave a little coaching advice about arm drive and it was good to see all trying a few minor adjustments to form.

With the heartrates up and the lungs pumping it was a steady jog back down the hill to base for stretches and home. Over 40 weeks done now so we must be fast approaching our half century of good deeds - thats quite a bit of free labour given to our community and something we should all be proud of.