A strong team of 24 completed two tasks to help two separate organisations in York!

We had two requests for tasks tonight so we decided - as a July special - to put on a long run and a short run. With a little something for everybody, regardless of running ability, we had some brilliant new runners come along to join us. Let's give a massive cheer to:

• Alice
• Jaanika
• Jihad
• Elaf

With all of our run leaders; Leanne, Paul, Aron and Nick leading looking after Team Long, I took on Team Short with Maddy as my back marker. We headed to St Clements Church, where a local organisation called Planet South Bank look after a community garden.

Plants in the garden had been donated plants by Edible York and there was a brilliant selection of edible stuff, not that we let that distract us from the task or anything..

Our job was to edge and weed all the vegetable patches ready for the Edible York open day this weekend, as well as cutting back the overgrown plants around the boundary of the garden that were spilling into public space. The team on the pruning quickly discovered the amazing raspberries and redcurrants whilst the edging team were munching on sweet peas, gooseberries and blackcurrants.

That's like drinking Ribena neat! - Ellie, GG Yorkie

We left every vegetable patch with a beautifully neat edge and filled a gigantic rubble bag with all the trimmings from the edge. With a wee bit of time left, Maddy suggested clearing the weeds along the exterior fence too so with all hands on deck, we got rid of the lot.

What Team Short hadn't realised was that we had loads of time left for FITNESS, yay! We did some brilliant partner-work and some push-pull games to work our arms and legs. Then we did some plank games and finished with a highly competitive few rounds of Elves, Wizards and Giants!

(Second part written by Leanne)

Meanwhile Team Long Run, led by Paul, set off on a delightful run along the sun soaked riverbanks towards Rawcliffe where we met with Mick from the Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows who explained our task for this evening.

We were to pull all up the Himalayan Balsam we could find on the banks of the Blue Beck, a site of Special Scientific Interest. Our efforts would help to make room for native plants that have more riverbank-friendly root systems. We were also under strict instructions to leave the Tansy plant in situ as this is the sole food source of the rare Tansy beetle, which only lives in this part of the world (apart from 6 who live in Cambridge apparently).

Who hasn't had a sniff of the Tansy yet? - Mick, FoRM

Fortunately the Tansy plant looks (and smells) nothing like Himalayan balsam, so it wasn't too much of a challenge. All 13 of us had chosen to dress in short sleeves and shorts or cropped leggings today, despite the wealth of GoodGym experience amongst us. Only new runner, Alice legitimately had a reason not to expect to be wading through nettles and spiky weeds. Nevertheless, everyone bravely waded in and started pulling up the balsam, enjoying the satisfying 'pop' as it eased from the ground. Rob seemed most keen to get to the balsam right on the precarious edge of the bank. Given his track record (he's front runner for best injury of GoodGym York 2017) we all kept a close eye on him. Luckily, he didn't fall in!

After clearing all the balsam we could find within reach, we set off back towards base. Since Egg wasn't around, we stopped for a bit of a sunbathe on the way back... Only joking! Aron led a fitness session which saw us running loops, making use of a conveniently steep (but thankfully short) hill, with some lunges, squats and mountain climbers thrown in between reps for good measure.

With both teams throughly fitnessed (it's a word), we had a team stretch back at base before a well deserved beverage.

Remember, next week's run is a beginner-friendly 2km total! There'll be a great big group fitness session too, so get yourself signed up.