Hard Core Hash

I made a resolution in 2011 to run 12 events that I have never run before, so today's Hard Core Hash was perfect. The only other Hash I participated in was the Freezing Cold Hash in Edison and wanted to try a Princeton hash house harrier event. Races are scarce in January & February so when I came across this one, I figured I would jump in and join fellow RVRR runner, Mark Strawn.

Hashes are not really races, but more of social events with some drinking along the way. The meeting spot was the intersection of Agress Road and Rising Sun Tavern Road in Millstone, NJ. The hash was to start at noon, but I hear most hashes don't start on time, mainly because we are drinking before hand. This was a small intimate hash with 17 hounds, one hare (Mark Covitz), and Max a very friendly pooch.

We hit the roads at 12:26 and into the snowy woods we went. There was some running, but we all soon realized that knee high snow was not conducive to jogging. The hare set out a good course through the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area with plenty of hills. I would like to see this course in the spring because it must truly be beautiful. Tough to see the beauty with 2 feet of snow.

We hit the first beer stop after 45 minutes of slogging thru the snow. Not sure how they got a case of Coors in the middle of a 6300 acre preserve, but it tasted great and less filling, ooops wrong beer.

My running shoes and socks were soaked at this point, but not cold so another 20 minutes of running would be fine. I decided along with Mark and a few others to take the long way back to the start. The rest of the course was not marked so we followed the hare back, which took a lot longer than I anticipated. We did some running, but it was getting harder so it turned into a snowy hike. My thighs were starting to get tired, but I knew we getting close to the finish.

Met up with every one at the finish and enjoyed a few beers and lots of pretzels. These guys and gals were a great bunch of folks and I am sure I will hash again with them.

Got home and took a 45 minute nap because I was beat despite the 16 oz Wawa coffee. I woke up to make my Stromboli, but I won't go into it because it turned out bad. It tasted good but had no bottom because it exploded in the oven. I need to work on my stromboli more often.

On-on fellow runners. Looking for a few good races in February as well as a few new running friends.