Its a clean sweep at Prebend Gardens

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.