Hashing in beautiful Manningtree

Pile up the sawdust here come the Hash House Harriers

What a brilliant way to spend a Monday evening. Yes, it was time for another outing with the Mersea Island House House Harriers. 

This time we were off to the beautiful town of Manningtree in the Essex countryside. It was a warm and humid evening and Matilda (my mini clubman) and I first picked up Becci in Colchester and then went on to Ardleigh to pick up Linda.

Starting off along the very pretty seafront

After taking a false turn (what a good start for an evening of trail finding) we arrived just in time for the start at The Skinners Arms.

Ready for the off from The Skinners Arms in Manningtree

The wonderful thing about this Hash is that a small group (who will happily carry your keys, phone etc) have a lovely evening walk whilst we are running. Such a great combination to keep everyone pleased.

• Where we go
• Where we ended up
• Favourite quotes of the evening
• Where we will go next
• Final thoughts on the running

Where we go

We set off through the town and along a tiny bit of water front which gave us just enough of a taste of how beautiful the scenery is here before we started climbing up hills past some picturesque houses and cottages.

Through a spinney

There were lots of checks which is where you have to stop and decide which of two or three new trails is the correct one. After you have found five piles of sawdust someone calls out 'ON ON' and the rest of the runners, whichever direction they were in, can then return to the right route.

No one gets left behind on a hash as there are always stops to re-route or to have a much needed sweet when slower runners can catch up(never take the bag offered as you will end up having to carry it!).

Stopping for a much needed sweetie break

We ran by the water, under bridges, up banks, through spinneys, into suburbia and out again, across the fields and into an industrial area and finally back along the stunning scenery of the waters-edge back to the pub.

The call 'on home' 

Where we ended up

Well where we started, of course! Yes, The Skinners Arms where Becci kindly bought us a pint of lime and soda (see previous post about detoxing - oh well) and a packet of crisps which we enjoyed in the pub gardens before heading back to Matilda and home.

Favourite quotes of the evening

Apparently it is customary for hashers to be given nicknames and for any they choose for themselves to be quickly changed by the rest of the runners. I have not learned any yet but I did hear some funny things last night:

• "'ON ON' - sorry just shouting it out to help" (someone in opposite direction)
• "They didn't pay attention to the trail marks - they'll be back in a minute" (someone standing and watching runners disappear into the distance - downhill)
• "CAR - mind out everyone" (to which the dry reply came "you are the only one actually in the road")

Where we will go next

The Lion at Lamarsh is our next outing on Monday 16 June 2014 which looks like a lovely area to have a hash.

The Lion at Lamarsh pub

Final thoughts on the running

These Garmin stats say it all really. A run long enough to burn up some calories so that the crisps I ate felt earned. A really warm and humid evening with a lovely pub to slate a worked for thirst. Good company and good running fun. Oh and it was Becci's birthday - what a great way to celebrate a Birthday, Becci! 

A beautiful finish to a lovely evening hash in Manningtree