Wednesday 29 July 2015

The Cliffs are alive with the sound of Hashers

An outing from my local - The Dog & Pheasant

Having been away on holiday and not running at all during that time, I was a little bit worried about my fitness levels for this evening hash. I have been letting my fitness get away from me a bit and it means I am finding it difficult to get going. I was determined though not to let another day slip by without getting out for a run.


The weather has turned and instead of very hot and humid evenings we now have rain and wind making it feel as if summer is over. I donned a jacket even though my husband had said rain was only threatened. Still running down by the sea can mean a cool breeze but said jacket was soon removed once we got going and I found my running rhythm and could jog along nicely.


Well the rainclouds looked to be gathering to me as we
waited outside The Dog & Pheasant in East Mersea

Watches set and we're off a very unruly bunch running up the road - woe betide anyone thinking about driving through us!

The rain did hold off and it was quite warm once we got into our stride
We started on road surface and progressed onto fields, some of which had been ploughed which made for very uneven surfaces (even on the footpaths)

Know what that means? Well you are a better hasher than I am Gunga Din, as Kipling nearly says.

Through the fields of spinach

And past the old village green (blink and you miss it!)

Yes well, interesting choice of sweets at the sweetie break.

Would there be time for a game I wondered?

Another surface change coming up - the seawall before the beach

And down onto the beach - tough going but  lovely and soft underfoot (this route is part of my regular home run - best enjoyed with a headwind in the midst of winter)

I see no ships, I'm too busy running

Famous last words!
Obviously doesn't apply to hashers as you will see later!

The 'cliffs' at East Mersea - wonderful for the archaeologists amongst us

Red sails in the sunset

You have got to be kidding - mad as hatters and so wrong!

They clearly have not heard about erosion and the dangers of cliff fall

I stare out to sea so as not to notice what is going on

They were no sooner up than they were back down again heading towards the beach 

More beach running but at least it works up a thirst

Some have 'smell the beer' homing senses

It was a five mile hash on a lovely warm evening with plenty of danger and difficult surfaces. So who's up for another run next week?

Overheard:

Warning!! The following video is not suitable for children or non-hashers!!