Well, I don't want to make any sweeping statements but tonight's task could have been a Halloween nightmare when I found out that the task owner couldn't been there to let us into the school. Fortunately we found a way around this and we were still able to complete our task.... LEAF SWEEPING. And so many leaf and related puns to be had.

On the way up to the school the run group did a little balance/agility exercise before running up Fratton Road. We managed to avoid most of the trick or treaters but did see a group of youngsters who tried to emulate our running expertise but couldn't quite co-ordinate their legs...

Once the run group met up with the walk group we got into the school and saw how many leaves there were to sweep up... an unbeleafable amount! Over the course of half an hour we swept up approx 20 bin bags full of leaves - that's more than a bag per person! Don't stop beleafing in the power of many hands making light work - there were even some fireworks overhead to celebrate our amazing achievements.

Val said she heard the trees talking to her.... they said

leaf us alone

OK, that's probably enough leaf puns for one night! After a quick relay on the playground agility course we headed back to the community centre where most of the group stayed behind to enjoy a curry and some great bakes afterwards.

Roll of honour: Big thanks to Jo for leading the walking group, Mel for back marking, Angela & Rachel for bringing treats along to enjoy after our curry. Kudos to Angela (amazing GoodGym Girl superhero outfit), Lou, Jo and Sianne for their Halloween costumes too.

Have a great week. Don't forget there are 2 beach cleans this weekend - Saturday and Sunday if you are at a loose end and fancy adding to your good deeds!

Our second visit to Portsmouth Disability Forum saw a return to previous tasks but this time in the proper dark! Due to all the outside bulbs going at once we were lit only by headtorches and one work light. We do love a challenge!

Tony got back into the planter digging whilst small groups cut back the scratchy bushes in the car park, painted the benches and gave the table another coat of blue and harvested the grapes off the vine (you have to look carefully in the dark photo but there's a pile of grapes there!). As no-one in the group had wine making skills we have left them for Lynne to ferment! Jo took the indoor job of shredding and made her way through a good pile of paper. Tracey joined us for her first GoodGym task - hope to see you again soon.

Post-task and group photo we headed to a well lit, quiet area for a game of domes and dishes. Jo refereed and apparently tried to take a video.... let's hope that doesn't become a You Tube viral hit. Well done to team domes for the 11-9 win (woop!). Nice to get the heart rate up with a bit of fun.

Then it was back through the colourful alleyways by Fratton Park (makes a change from the Fratton Road takeaway highway) and homeward bound after lots of discussions about cake to make us hungry. Judy mentioned it's her birthday tomorrow Happy Birthday, enjoy your day out and Charlotte came up with this week's pun thank you!

Next week we are going back to Manor Infants, where it all started back in May. There will also be a walking option, fancy dress, cakes (please feel free to bring your bakes) AND a curry afterwards (please bring cash if you're having curry). Now, that is A LOT of reasons to sign up to next week's group run/walk, hope to see you there!

Firstly a big welcome to Alison who joined us for the first time tonight. Give her a cheer / support on the website as she starts collecting her badges. Top marks for the reflective gear too - it's glowing in the photos.

On World Mental Health Day and #runandtalk week we had our usual good feelings and general chat on the way down to our task. We paused to regroup whilst doing some lunge knee lifts and step ups at various points. Sorry to have not taken a photo of the step ups, it would have been amazing! We also had a guest appearance from Ashley, back to the fold for the run after recently completing his first half marathon.

All this running and doing good is definitely making everyone fitter as we got to St Judes much faster this week. Shout outs to Laura and Angela for recent Parkrun PBs proving my point! The light was already fading when we arrived so we got to make use of the head torches and the amazing work light to help us see what we were doing.

We had a big list of tasks waiting for us when we got to the school (we are always happy to know our task owners have lots for us to do). There was moving of boxes and sorting of exercise books; sweeping up crabapples (100s of them!); weeding; litter picking; putting down a weed membrane and stones to surround a new plant; sorting a paper cupboard and carrying a bookcase from upstairs all the way down and round the school to another room. Wowee! The team did brilliantly and, as ever, the staff were really pleased with what we had achieved in our time.

Next week we are off to the foodbank (feel free to bring donations if you want - longlife tins / juice or even toiletries are always welcome). We also have our additional runandtalk run tomorrow - starting early at 5:30 or just come for the talk/coffee at 6:15 if you're not home early enough.

Firstly, a big welcome to newcomers Rachel and Adam. Lovely to meet you both tonight and we hope to see you again soon.

Welcome back to Elly who's been doing lots of crazy long distance races since we saw her last and good to see Sophie and Luke again - hope your colds are better soon!

Tonight we had an indoor task at St Swithuns. Chris the caretaker had done loads of prep for us and had paintbrushes, rollers, pots, trays and all important floor coverings ready and waiting for us. Plus some much needed squash!

We set to work painting the hallway and a large classroom with the classic colour magnolia. Lots of good team work - cutting in by some, rolling & filling in by others, tall people doing the high bits and a couple of people even braving the ladder to reach the very edges. Laura was very excited to find a world map (spot the geographer). Special mention to Judy for painting herself the most out of the whole group - hopefully it's going to wash out of that nice new GG T-shirt!

Everyone seems to be getting fitter and we are getting to and from tasks quicker now so we had a chance for some traffic light lunges - well done to Adam for his enthusiastic jump lunges.

We've got lots coming up in the next week or so, hope to see you there:

• Beach clean community mission on Saturday

• Our usual Wednesday group run for #runandtalk week PLUS

• Additional #runandtalk session on Thursday from the Coffee Cup at Eastney - a little earlier so we have time to enjoy a drink afterwards

We also have the Great South Run social **AND ** I am planning a bit of a Great British Bake Off / halloween theme for 31 October... watch this space!

Happy Running! Katie

A small but select group of runners met up for tonight's task. Before we headed off, Anna from Fratton Big Local popped in to drum up support to help set up the Fratton Family Festival.... it's now officially a community mission so you can sign up and add to your good deed tally!

Our magnificent seven ran south down Fratton Road and along to St Judes to be set to work on the school grounds. There were lots of notices telling new pupils where to meet and welcoming the new school year. Angela and Jo had their painting skills tested as they added blackboard paint to two areas inside the school. The rest of us weeded & flattened a small area inside the gate which is getting covered in slate this week before getting stuck into our favourite garden at the front of the school. Our good work lifting all the paving stones before the summer holiday had resulted in a green carpet of lemon balm... which all had to be pulled up. It was a nice task for the before and after photos!

Next week, we are heading to Kingston Rec for a litter pick, tree tie and a bit of TLC for the horses in the park (wooden ones!). There is also the chance to win the golden trainer in the time trial (it's not an award for the fastest, it's for the person who can pace themselves). This is also a great opportunity for new people to see what GoodGym is about as the run is SHORT! So bring along a friend.

Other dates for the diary: Parkrun takeover on Saturday 22nd September, post-Great South Run social on 21st October. We're back to St Judes again on 10th October and 28th November.

See you all again soon. Katie