On May 15th, I ran my first race since having my
left Achilles reattached and everything went really well. The Coventry Woods
10K was run in beautiful Coventry Woods Park in Pottstown, PA. Both the 5K and
the 10K started together completing a short loop before heading up into the
hills. The two races split around mile one as the 10K continued to climb. The
first half was mostly uphill which meant the second half would be more to my
liking. I’ve always been a better downhill runner than up and have been told I
border on reckless. To me running downhill is almost a religious experience. In
the split second I am free falling down the hill I have to have faith that my
foot is going to find something solid to land on. By keeping my knees bent and
my feet moving fast I feel less likely to twist an ankle and this is where I
pass the most people. In fact all the times I have twisted my ankles over the
years have come on relatively flat sections of trail. The race was a good test
to let me know how my recovery is truly going and while my overall speed is not
back yet I am very happy with my progress.
Other than running the Coventry Woods 10K my ambition to
race lately has taken a back seat to my ambition to just run and have a good
time doing it. This has led me to seeking out more Hash runs. My last post told the story
of two hash runs I ran in April but I didn’t explain what a hash run is. Now if
you are already a Hasher you’re probably rolling your eyes so just have a down-down
(drink) and gaze at the pictures while I educate the rest.
"The premise is simple, one harrier (the hare) lays a trail
of flour over a course (s)he chooses. The other harriers (the hounds) try to
follow that trail to the end where we enjoy munchies and beer (or soft drinks
for those disinclined to imbibe). The typical hash is 3-5 miles over hill and
dale, through suburbs, woods, malls, et al. The hash isn't a race - no prizes
to the swift. Following the trail is the challenge, camaraderie and beverages
are the rewards" (www.harrier.net). These
trails also include many false trails which aren’t used just to mess with the
hounds but also serve a real purpose, to keep the pack together. While the
front runners are searching for the real trail the slower runners have a chance
to catch up. The goal is for everyone to reach the finish around the same time
and have a lot of fun doing so. All hashes end with a circle where accusations
and penalties (in the form of drinks) are paid along with announcements of
future events and assigning hash names to previously un-named participants that
did something memorable on-trail.
I visited the Bimbos of Jersey Hash House Harriers (BJH3) on May
27th for an evening hash. We had daylight to start out but our
headlamps were soon needed which added to the difficulty to find the true trail.
Working together we found our way back to the host’s house where she had food
and beverage waiting for us. When the circle was complete we gathered around
the camp fire while “Rear End Wrangler” entertained us with song and jokes.
Most camped there overnight as well.
Identity hidden for National security purposes (doesn't want to be embarrassed about getting stuck).
On May 29th I hared the second McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Hash House Harriers (MDLH3) hash in
Country Lakes, NJ. We had a good turnout with 18 hashers and three dogs searching
for the correct trail through the forest. I included a section thru what I
named the Browns Mills Marina. It’s actually just a couple boats that have been
dragged out into the woods by some locals to use as a paintball area. I took
the hounds up, not across, the Greenwood Branch Creek which felt amazingly refreshing
on an otherwise blistering humid day. There was a "clothing optional" section for those that dared to be bare (no photos available nor would you want them). I also included three beverage (aka beer)
stops along the way to keep everyone well hydrated. Fun was had by all and that’s
what its all about; running and having a good time doing it!
