After a windy, overcast day, it blossomed into a beautiful, balmy (balsamy) evening, perfect for 17 GoodGym runners to take to the hills around Richmond park and tackle the tropical marshland taking over the towpath. Of course, the hills had not been advertised, nor had the nearly 2km extra that we found ourselves running because Mark “got a bit carried away” on Strava route mapping. Anyone would think we were here to get fit…. Much as we like to grumble about those hills, it was a nicely challenging route with the always good company of old, new (Emma and Nick – welcome!) and visiting runners from Hounslow, Hammersmith and Kingston.

"Every Monday we're shuffling"#Goodgym #Richmond #Richmondgreen #warmup #fitness #running #volunteering pic.twitter.com/rna6BB0s6c

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) August 13, 2018

We were back to the site of a recent task – that of the towering Himalayan Balsam. Fiercely protected by head height stinging nettles and guarded by tropical-size mosquitos, this task is not for the faint hearted. Indeed, Indiana Jones would not look out of place here. And, we had been warned, the plant may be about to seed. Apparently, this could mean showers of black pods bursting into the air and scattering far and wide when we pulled the weed out of the ground. A bit like Gremlins, then, and causing just as much havoc. As it happened, we could see no signs of exploding seed heads, so all that remained was to battle through the nettles and get pulling.

Hard at work!#goodgym #volunteering #doinggood #richmondcouncil #petershamtowpath #weeding #balsam pic.twitter.com/RaHs2JkJdO

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) August 13, 2018

With not nearly enough time, we nevertheless got through a swathe of the overgrowth, piling the giant beast of a weed around us. We were bitten, stung, muddied, but triumphant. That’s the last of the Himalayan Balsam for this year. Guaranteed we’ll be seeing it again next summer though…

Awesome Balsam!!@goodgym @LBRUT pic.twitter.com/MhZIW28QH3

— GoodGym Richmond (@GGRichmon) August 13, 2018

p.s. Drinks after running next week to celebrate our lovely Jenna for achieving 100 good deeds – a marvellous excuse if ever there was one – do join if you can

A note from the Run Trainer - The hills were alive with the strides of GoodGym , you all did an amazing job of making those hills look flat!