January Hash Report

2017 kicked off with 8 great hashes, the first being the North of Seventy Eight (NOSE) hash #149 in Morristown, NJ on Wednesday January 4^th. About 15 hashers showed up at the Speedwell Park ruins for a trail laid out by “Not in my Hair” who received his running kilt the same name for hashing 78 times with NOSE H3. The trail included lots of stairs, hills, false trails and a section of the Patriots Path. After the run we all moved to the Famished Frog for food and beverage.

 



Next up was the newly formed Taco Tuesday Hash House Harriers’ 2^nd hash on Tuesday January 10^th. Road Runner Sports generously offered up their store for a meeting location and a discount for those in attendance. Roughly 30 came out to run around Cherry Hill, NJ but mostly for the tacos at Chili’s after.

 

The next night was to become a night that the NOSE runners will not soon forget, although we’d like to. It became to be known as the night of the tickets. We had a great showing this night with 17 hashers eager to run the trails on Pyramid Mountain and so we did. It wasn’t until we were enjoying the view of distant city lights that we found out it was actually illegal to be up there after dark. We observed blue lights down by our parked cars and the night’s silence was interrupted by a voice on a loud speaker demanding we get off the mountain. By the time the night was done, Morris County had earned itself some $1207 in fines as we each were charged $71. On the bright side I did earn my NOSE hash socks for picking the NOSE 24 times!

 

The next Thursday night, January 12^th was a full moon so Princeton H3 popped up a Full Moon Hash with trail set by “Hair in my Zipper”. It was a beautiful night, especially for being January. With temperatures nearing 60 degrees and the full moon it was without a doubt the best night I’ve run in a long time. Seven hashers and one trail dog, “Flip Flop”, came out and enjoyed the trail which took us through parts of Village Park, Mercer Meadows and Rosedale Park. Two more hashers met us at the house of “Yo Hey Pauly” for pizza and beer.

 

Wednesday, January 18^th, NOSE met at the house of “A**-Q” in Boonton for a hilly run and pizza party after. Wednesday January 25^th we met at the Morristown Train Station for a trail set by “Stretch” taking us out once again to the Speedwell Park ruins followed by food at the Tavern off the Green.

 

Two nights later the Bimbos of Jersey hosted a birthday hash for “Go4Hole” in Jamesburg Park section of Helmetta, NJ. Six runners enjoyed the trails, a beer stop that included hot-toddies and Jiff Pop Popcorn, and then pizza after at Maxi’s Pizza.




Finally, on Sunday January 29^th I hosted a combination Hashrun/Pub crawl through Browns Mills, NJ. Unlike a normal pub crawl, this included 4 sections of trail and a series of clues written around town, in chalk, where to look next.

 

 

Dec 2016: Goal Achieved

Goal achieved! On July 1^st I set a goal of running 50 hashruns for 2017; and, on December 18^th I realized my goal. I actually finished 52 by year’s end. Here’s how December went:

On Thursday, December 1^st I travelled down to Washington D.C. to attend the Albanian Independence celebration. As soon as I found out I was going I started my internet search for a Hashrun I might attend. I found out that Everyday is Wednesday Hash House Harriers (EWH3) run on Thursdays and they were hashing in nearby Bethesda. I quickly left my travelling partners at the hotel and found my way to the Red Line train. As soon as I got off the train and ran up to the street level I found an arrow pointing to the gathering place where some 60-80 hashers were milling around. The theme for their 977^th Hashrun was “Farewell to Fidel” since he had recently died. Setting a diabolical mix of true and false trails were: Pinocchi-Ho; Goldman Ballsacks; Atari 6900; Don’t Ask, Don’t Smell; Just Hanna; Just Franny. They took us down busy streets, walkways, alleys and numerous parking decks. Thankfully they also included 2 beer stops and 2 shot checks. The On-after was at the Barking Dog Pub where I hung out with fellow visiting hasher, Dazed and Confused from the Beijing Hash House Harriers. A couple of local hashers were kind enough to ensure I made it back to the Red Line for the last train back to D.C.

(Fidel hanging with the hashers) 

(Here I am with my new friend "Dazed and Confused" from the Beijing Hashers).

On Wednesday December 7^th I made my way up to Woodland Park, NJ for the North of Seventy Eight (NOSE) hash #143. I arrived early enough to get in an extra run on nearby Garret Mountain Reservation and checked out the views from Lambert Tower. Just Guido laid a fantastic trail in the historic Rifle Camp Park where Washington’s troops used the elevation vantage to observe British movements during the Revolutionary War in 1780. Trail included great views off northern NJ and New York City’s night skyline. We went to Joey McBride’s Pub Bar & Grill for the on-after where 2 of our hashers participated in the Open Mike night, after much bantering. Nocturnal Emissions delighted the crowd with his vocals as he sang the Sound of Silence. Just Guido on the other hand put the likes of Stevie Wonder and Elton John to shame as his fingers banged out the tunes on the keyboard, song after song. This earned him his new hash name, Finger Bang Her.  

(NOSE #143) 

 (Beer with a view)

On Saturday December 10^th I travelled north to River Road Park in Bedminster, NJ for the Summit Hash #1767. Fourteen hashers braved the frigid temperatures and cold winds. Secaucless set a great trail which included thick forest, open pastures and horse paths.

 (Summit #1767)

On Tuesday December 13^th I again joined Summit H3, this time for their monthly Full Moon Hash. We gathered at the Galloping Hill Hot Dog restaurant in Union, NJ. True trail ended up being about 6.5 miles with some of us running closer to 8 while we searched for trail marks. We passed through one neighborhood that stunk of so much weed that I almost thought I was back home in Jamaica.

 (Summit Full Moon)

The next day, Wednesday December 14^th I drove north to Millburn, NJ for the NOSE Hash #145. The hare, Deer Bitch, did not use traditional hash markings. Instead he wrote clues around town telling us where to go next (i.e. “Fire” clued us to go to the Fire Dept or “PO” for the Post Office). Since none of us were familiar with the area we had to ask people for help as we passed them on the street. We eventually climbed our way up to the top of South Mountain were we enjoyed a beer stop with another fantastic view. All but three of us opted to run back to town using the roads. Three of us followed true trail back by literally running down the Rahway River, through the canal, and passing under 5 bridges and even one building before climbing back up to street level. The on-after was held at Liberty Tavern. This place was awesome! Not only did they have Guinness on tap; but, the juke box had the long versions of Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” (28 minutes) and Iron Butterfly’s “In a Gadda Da Vida” (17 minutes). Oh, and the owner gave us all free shots of Jameson! How cool is that?

 (Kings of the Mountain)

 (Quick break before passing through another tunnel)

Saturday December 17^th I travelled to Metuchen, NJ for the Summit Hash #1769…who said 69? Trail weaved its way through street and woods, through Centennial Park, and ended with a pot luck dinner and Secret Santa gift exchange.

 (Summit #1769)

 (Post run party)

The next day, Sunday December 18^th, I achieved my goal as I hit my 50^th hash for the year when I travelled to Roosevelt, NJ for a combination MDL/ Bimbos of Jersey/ Princeton hashrun. Rear End Wrangler set a fantastic trail which included stream crossings, lots of false trails, hills, fields, and lots of home brew and a pot luck dinner.

 (Pre-run photo)

 (One of the many water crossings)

 (These ladies were so happy to see the "Beer Near" sign)

On Wednesday December 21^st I drove up to Morristown, NJ for the NOSE Hash #146 “Holiday Pajama Pub Crawl”. Fifteen runners showed off their pajamas to the town as we stopped at the Hops Craft Beer & Wine Bar, Revolution Bar, Sona Thirteen, and the Famished Frog.

 (NOSE Pajama Pub Crawl)

My last hash for 2017 was our own MDL Hash #12. Bragadeer General set trail in the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest. We had 2 beer stops along the 6 mile route which circled Lebanon Lakes, crossed icy streams and passed through old cranberry bogs. The 8 hashers and 4 traildogs congregated at Bragadeer’s house for dinner and drinks. The deer meat and chili was awesome!

(Beer stop)

 (Blood on trail)

(Swans)

(Traildog Sparta wanted to play with the swans)

 (Honda the Aussie and Roller Girl crossing the bog)

That’s it, 52 hashes, goal achieved! Hello 2017.



Nov 2016: 43 Hashruns in 2016 and Counting

November 2^nd, NOSE Hash #138 at the Hilltop Preservation in Verona, NJ: I arrived early enough to get an extra 3-4 mile run in before the other hashers showed up. The Preservation has some beautiful rolling trails full of rocks and switchbacks and a whole lot of wildlife; and, is the site of the former Essex Mountain TB Sanitarium from 1907-1977. Eleven hashers took part searching through the darkness for marks of flour on the trees and ground on our way to the awaiting beer stop. We all went to the Verona Inn for food and beverage after.

November 9^th NOSE Hash #139 in Mahwah, NJ: The nights hare, Semper Feline, had laid what he described as a “Great 5 mile trail” in the woods for us; but, local law enforcement decided the park would close early that night so he quickly set a new trail of flour along the nearby roads. Since it was raining very hard the shorter course was well received by a few of the hashers since it meant an earlier trip to the Mason Jar Pub for the On-after and food and beer.

 

November 13^th MDL Hash #9 “I Survived the Elections Hash” at Loveless Nature Preserve in Lawrenceville, NJ: I set a trail through approximately 6 miles of forest, streams, fields, powerlines and up over Rider Mountain, the highest point in the area which a whopping 40 feet above the rest. The trail also took the 4 hashers past a homemade survival shelter, through Rider University, around Centennial Lake and approximately ¼ mile of very thick thorns and brush that had them crawling to get through. I also included 2 well-received beer stops.

 (Wild women of the woods)

 (True trail)

 (Just a little shiggy!)

November 16^th NOSE Hash #140 “Making Hashing Great Again Hash” on trails in the Mills Reservation in Cedar Grove, NJ: Douche Brag set a very nice trail full of rocks, brush, and lots of false trails to slow down the front runner keeping the pack of 17 close together. We all went to the Alexus Steakhouse & Tavern for the On-after.

November 19th Hockessin H3 “PubeHeAteHer’s 40^th Birthday Hash” in Newark, DE: Approximately 30 showed up for the hash which included 2 beer stops and 2 shot-checks. The weather was great to start with temperatures close to 70 degrees but a cold front quickly changed that with temperatures dropping to low 30s by trails end. The On-after was at Pube and Necro’s house where about a dozen musicians jammed the night away in the basement.

 

(The birthday boy bang'n out the beat)

 

November 20^th MDL Hash #10 “Roller Girl’s Pool Party Hash” in Browns Mills, NJ: On this day my daughter, Roller Girl, was to set her virgin trail in the woods near her house; but, she didn’t show up so I ended up setting trail for her. I set a 6 mile trail with plenty of stream crossing, swamp, roots, thick shiggy, firebreaks and sand. The trail also took the runners completely around the “Lake of the Woods” on Fort Dix, past the wreckage of the Tit-anic, and through the Deborah Hospital parking deck. I included 2 beer stops and 1 Jameson shot check along the way. Roller Girl staggered out of her door about 30 minutes late but since we hadn’t yet started we waited for her to get her running gear on. She achieved what I believe to be a hashing first; she was DLF “Dead F’n Last” twice in one hash being last to the hash and last to the finish. She paid dearly for that during the post-run accusations. The On-after was at Roller Girl’s house with plenty of pizza and beer. Did I mention she was DFL twice? I will not let her live it down!

 (Minus Roller Girl who was still sleeping at her own hash!)

 

(She finally woke up!)

 (The crash of the Tit-anic)

November 23^rd NOSE #141 “Thanksgiving Eve Short Beer Mile Hash” in Tabor, NJ: It was held at the house of T&A. About 25 showed up for the hash and the beer tasting that followed. Everyone had to bring some type of beer they wanted to share with the group, the stranger the better.

 (Guinness on trail...best trail ever!)

November 27^th Summit Hash #1765 “The 23^rd Don’t Be a Turkey Hash” in Westfield, NJ: Dog Meat and Milk Bone set a very nice trail around Westfield which included both road and trail. This was a kid-friendly hash and there were about a dozen “Future hashers” in attendance. The On-after was at the Station Bar & Grill in nearby Garwood, NJ. Dog Meat and Milk Bone arranged for a great buffet dinner for everyone and I got to watch my New England Patriots beat the New York Jets so it was a truly great night!

 

 

 

November 30^th NOSE Hash #142 in Morristown, NJ: Lumber set a trail which took the 12 hashers through some very rich neighborhoods, through thick forest, past a lit Christmas tree in the woods, and over the nearby hills before finally returning to our cars. She also included 1 beer/shot check along the way. The weather was not nice. It was cold and raining very hard. Luckily there was a gazebo in the parking lot where we held circle and got into dry cloths. The On-after was at the Revolution Bar where we ate dinner and tried out many different craft beers.

 (Not the only wet balls on trail that night)

I also ran my first race in months. My team, the Pineland Striders travelled to Wilmington, DE on November 26^th for the Delaware 5K Cross Country Championships. This was the last race in the USATF Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Series. I ran alright for not doing any speed work this year nor really having any desire to race; but, it was great to be back out with the team. There were four races on this day including a 1.1 mile kid’s race, the Women’s 5K, Open 5K, and Men’s Master 5K. Our team placed 4^th  which put us 4^th overall for the series.   

So there we have it, 43 Hashruns down, 7 to go to hit my goal of 50 for the year. In the words of my high school cross country coach, Russ Pickering, I will "Get It Done"!