13 runners ran 4km to help the Canal and River Trust

Lots of new faces and lots of fun tonight as we ran to help the Canal & River Trust as we worked along both the Old River Soar and the New River Soar (Grand Union Canal) in Leicester.

Tonight we welcomed Lisette, Phil, Richard and Scott to their first GoodGym good deeds and Ed from GoodGym HQ on his first good deed with the Leicester group. Phil, Richard and Scott all work for the Canal & River Trust so it was fantastic to show them the power of GoodGym and hopefully this will lead to us developing our partnership and increasing the range of tasks we can carry out for them on the waterways within our city.

We split into two groups with walkers Dave, Mel and Sharon carrying the tools and completing an en route litter pick along the Grand Union Canal/ River Soar. The rest of the group ran past all the litter safe in the knowledge it would be hoovered up by the walking group, looping back to meet them after our 3km run at the Old River Soar in Bede Park. The two groups now one, we set to work clearing litter from the banks of the river and filled an impressive number of bags of the usual beer cans and the less usual debris. Katy scooped the weirdest bag contents title for the week, managing a football, a pair of shoes (no Lindsay, I didn't get to try them on) and a dog bed in an impressive haul.

Our task complete we aborted the planned fitness session on the outdoor gym due to it being otherwise occupied and opted to use the lap of Bede Park for some interval work with the runners using the handy 100m markings to set their own challenges of efforts and recovery. A short return trip to base and we stretched off, congratulating our newbies on their first good deeds. Hopefully we'll see Lisette back with us in the near future, and Phil, Richard, Scott and Ed, even though the commute is somewhat more challenging for you guys, you'll be more the welcome to join us again any time you're in town!

Next week we're off to do the planting at St Matthew's Big Local we did the prep work for recently and you'll be in the capable hands of Mr David Snutch, what a treat! Finally good luck to Mel who is running the London Marathon on Sunday, first one to post a picture of her on your TV on Sunday wins a prize!

HD