Tonight was a sensitive task as we visited the baby gardens at the local cemetery.

This all started following the appeal of a small local charity, Tyler's Friends, for volunteers to help their garden clean up. It coincided with our run night and although we had another task booked, it was moved around so we could support this event and join the team of volunteers.

There was 2 options on the table tonight on the run there - both involved running up! The first option was a gentle incline up and the second a longer route way round to add in extra half mile or so whilst going up. This option also gave the runners who wanted it, an option to do some additional hill work as they looped back round. Pleased to say the majority opted for the longer run! We even found a shorter section for a quick sprint 100m or so where Rob as ever showed off his sprinting ability and shot past the rest of us!

On arrival at the task, we met another half dozen or so volunteers, many of whom had personal links with the gardens. Kirsten from Tyler's Friends was there and pleased to see us and gave us some task direction. It is a small baby garden with a round 30+ graves from young children to premature babies. We spent time just clearing leaves away, pulling weeds, raking areas and making it look a lot tidier! After 30 mins the difference was really clear and Kristen was so pleased that 15 of us being there for 30 minutes could really make an improvement and save many hours by just 1 or 2 people alone.

Thanks to Richard for back running tonight as a new runner too! Welcome to new runners Julie, Ruth, Lauren, Karen and Sarah x2! You all got stuck in with the task and chatting to each other in super quick time!

Kristen was happy for us to take a final pic although we didn't take pictures during the task tonight out of respect

It all started when buches of runners (33 in total!) starting gathering in the lovely warm courtyard of Daveena's cafe.

We were then joined by some official looking types with a little less lycra from the council including the Council Chairman, David Flagg! One of the councillors Mark Howell was however willing to join us for a run and his first for goodgym along with 22 other first time Goodgym runners! 9 runners who had previously completed a Goodgym task joined us from as far as Bristol and Swanage so showing fantastic committment to Goodgym!

After the pics and speeches, we headed over to the park for a quick warm up where most of us runners demonstrated our lack of balance with the flamingo stand and hopskotch as well as usual warm up drills!

Kirty Weston from Upton parkrun core team led the way through the park and whitecliff to cover 2.1 miles including the gradual incline up Evening Hill. We were met at Lewis-Manning by Sandra and Mark who had even had cold drinks and biscuits ready for us as a welcome treat!

We soon cracked on in 4 groups and everyone was super organised in their groups to get the tasks done. Painting crew included first timers Shelley and Kirsty (whose ankle is fine by the way after a huge branch came at her on the way back!) painted on with Ann, Aaron and Catherine amongst others to complete a rail within 15 minutes! Hedge cutters included Karina, Kristy and Mark who made some clearance for cars to park against the bushes Around the back, the team with a view had rakes and gloves to clear some woodland, leaving James to keep his mileage up by running back and forth with the bin. Gemma, Lisa and Rob amongst others cleared leaves and all sorts! Finally we had a bunch of sweepers who worked to the end getting moss off the car park area.

Amazing what was achieved in 25 mins and we hope to go back for a second coat of paint and a bit more garden clearance.

We took the opportunity to take a photo at the top of Evening Hill, after moving along Oakdale runners who photo bombed!

Finally we ran back down to the park and 3 runners took up the offer to finish up around the park with a short interval circuit as clearly they had not worked hard enough already!

It was hot, sweaty work in the muggy air but the chat was continuous and great to hear the chatter amongst many previous strangers.

We had also been joined by Ed and Nikki from the central Goodgym team who quickly scooted off for their train after, albeit a bit smelly!

Super atmosphere on the runs and all during the task so we can honestly say Goodgym Poole you rocked it tonight!

Next week we are over in Poole park but don't worry - we will still get a good run in before we crack on with the task in hand - It was truly a pleasure to be part of Goodgym Poole launch - I know we are going to be fantastic!

This evening took us to Hope Housing where shifting soil turned into lifting grit! 10 of us met up at Flirt and were soon jogging along the pedestrian zone as our usual warm up area had been taken over by a soon to be....upside down house....yep I have no idea either. So many questions and zero answers!!

We welcomed back Tara which obviously means we didn't scare her off last time! Wooohoo!

It was also grit to have Catherine and Steffi back running with us!

We took the scenic route to Hope Housing and although it included a very long hill...we did get distracted by the view of a huge harvest moon. What a beautiful view! And then we get to the top of the hill, turn around and see the sun setting and a stunning display of colour! How lucky are we to live in such a stunning place!

On arrival Mark let us know what we were going to be doing....and it wasn't going to be easy...a team on the roof made up of Daryl, Steffi and Lee, Mark on the roof of the van, Caprice on a few planks level with the floor of the van and the rest of us lifting bags of grit and passing them to Caprice, who then passed them on to Mark who then threw them onto the roof for the others to organise and stack ready to be spread....

Again, amazing teamwork...Catherine and Nicole soon had the great idea of using a wheelbarrow, Millie looked like she had done this many times before...even had the dexterity of a clock repair person to undo the knots tying the pallets of grit together!!

After a total blitz of 35minutes...10 of us shifted

7 TONS OF GRIT

That is amazing!! And Mark was saying that thanks to us doing the hard work the charity had saved £1,500....that is a huge amount! No wonder they want us back next week to move some turf onto the roof.....it's going to be a messy job....but there will be a quiz and beers at the pub after as reward!!

Thank you Caprice for back marking and Lee for our photos!

Well done everyone!! See you next week for a spooky group run!!