Good Gym Ipswich got the New Year off to a great start tonight with a Group Run to support the Salvation Army.

And despite cold temperatures and traffic holding people back, we all arrived together to get stuck in Lucy, Imogen, Bruceand Leanne.

Catching up on the run about Christmas, New Year and resolutions, it turns out there are fitness goals and intentions a plenty in the gang - with half marathon plans being ticked off and miles put in the bank for total mileage targets. Impressive stuff!

We quickly got to work tidying the donation room full of clothes that are available for the male residents. No sock was unturned (sorry, feeling the puns tonight) and we quickly established the criteria for keep, clean or rag.

Less said the better about one pair of pants (isnt that right, Lucy) but it took no time at all to get the room near, tidy and ordered. Also revealed tonight was my Marie Kondo tendencies - can I come back and re-order by size and colour...?!

Great to be reunited after the festive break and see everyone rejuvenated and raring to go.

Welcome to Arpit who came along to their first group run tonight! It was great to meet you!

After a task 'pivot' due to a last minute cancellation, four Good Gymers rolled up their hi-vis sleeves, lit their torches and got to work collecting rubbish strewn along the waterfront and river.

And light work was made of the task as we filled three large rubbish bags. We also disposed of another carrier bag that had already been packed with litter. Has our litter collection started to sow seeds of clearing up? Fingers crossed!

But clearly the colder weather is impacting our appetites as the real conversation turned to food: whats for tea?! And as four veggie Good Gymers, plenty of dinner inspiration was shared! And that's one of the beautiful things about Good Gym: turn up yo collect rubbish, leave with new recipes. Win win.

Well done everyone, especially as the evenings are shorter.

A great turn out at Good Gym Ipswich tonight on one of the hillier routes, too.

Welcome to first time Good Gymers Leanne and Carmen- great to meet you! And welcome back Bruce and Imogen after the Summer break. Fantastic to have you back.

One long hill completed the run to reach Blue Cross Animal Rehoming Centre but we were rewarded by a warm welcome by Tracey who has everything prepped for us to get going. Due to light levels there was a change of task and we set about cleaning the foyer and staff room. Floors were mopped and hoovered, surfaces cleaned, fridges wiped down. With so many busy hands we made light work of it and got the job done with ease. Talking of light, there definitely has been a change in season as it was much darker on the way back. More hi-vis needed!

Great work gang and note for next time : leave five extra minutes and glimpse something cute and fluffy....

We kicked off tonight with a different run route heading out past the other side of the waterfront with Natashaleading the charge.

As the planters were in fairly good shape today we pivoted and added in a litter-pick and headed back to the skate-park area of the waterfront where last time we filled six whole binbags full of detritus. On our arrival we were shocked - pleasantly surprised in fact - the area was relatively litter-free. Had our previous efforts been rewarded with people being more careful? Had we encouraged people to be more considerate? Well, can't be sure but we'll take it as a Good Gym 'win' ! Thanks Lucy and Natasha

Today was the best of times and the worst of times! Due to the rain and planters looking in good shape, we pivoted and litter picked along the river.

Anyone who walks , runs or cycles along the river will know 'the spot' we are referring to, constantly being left in an absolute mess.

Lucy and Natashawere as usual not put off by getting their hands dirty and we were determined to leave the area near the skate park clear. Check out the 'before and after' photos courtesy of our in-house photographer, Lucy!

The best of humanity : a young gent saw what we were doing and equally upset about the rubbish went off to find a carrier bag and joined in unbeknown to us. 20 minutes later he walked past with a bag full to the brim. *happy face

I guess you could say, thats the power of GoodGym - leading the charge!

The worst of humanity - people flagrantly dropping litter in front of us picking it up. *sad face.

We hoped we sowed a few seeds that might register later.... fingers crossed.

Great run too ladies, along the waterfront and through the woods.

Well done, team!