Mijas 1242

Today was the memorial run of Daffadildo who left us a year ago to the day. Shagadelic was the hare of course and was assisted by another Welsh dragon. Guaro was the place of course although the last of the almond blossom had disappeared. It was a nice trail bit minuscule amounts of flour made it hard to follow in places. The weather was probably the best this year so far and we had n extended circle to remember Daffa. His mother and father joined us from Wales and some of his ashes were scattered. We also had several visiting hashers from the US of A. Two were friends if Wide Open and the third from New Jersey where she works in the fire service and us taking a year out to see the world. She plans to run in Edinburgh next month. Pussy Galore was acting GM.

HHH Weekend

I was rather pleased with the trail I had recce´d for the Malaga Hash and so on Saturday morning, in spite of waking up with a cold, I set about laying it. It was a lovely day and it took me the best part of three hours to complete.  I was not sure how many hashers would turn up as there had been some confusion firstly over who would lay the run directions via email and as Foreskin was unavailable the website was not updated. In the event it was a poor turnout of 4!! Still they went through the motions and Salmonella Rushdie ran the trail and pronounced it very good. The 3 walkers also gave positive feedback. We had a brief circle and then tripped off to the Venta Los Morenos for an early supper. I will adapt this trail for use with Mijas in the near future.

The Sunday Mijas run was from Entrerrios and in slightly cooler and windier conditions. This was my 120th run with them. The stand in  hares had done a reasonable job although the markings were poor and the trail longer than most would prefer. I got lost and probably added the best part of 2km to te 12km I clocked so the trail was close to 10km. My cold was in full flow and I felt pretty dreadful before I set out but  pretty good by the end. However, as the temperature drops very quickly as the sun sets I headed off home soon after the start of the circle. My feet  were also wet from crossing a river.

 

Mijas HHH

Today’s run was in La Cala courtesy of Yogi and Dipstick. We were up in the hills and enjoyed fabulous weather. The beer stop was particularly noteworthy. The hares had found an old fire watch hut and converted it into a beach bar. This was open country but much of it fenced off which presented a challenge in terms of the trail and checks and it was as a result something of a runners’ run. The downside was it was short at only 5.5km. The circle was uncharacteristically short and I was home shortly aft 1800 hrs much to Madam’s surprise.

Hash

Sunday´s run  was in familiar territory -  Ranco La Paz – set by novice hares Uncle Fester & Sticky Tart. The weather had improved considerably to the point where I was able to run in just a t – shirt for a spell. It was however woefully short at only 4.5km. As soon as the sun dropped on the horizon so too did the temperature so I was glad of the extra layers.  One of the Russian girls was celebrating her birthday so my body warmth was also boosted by a shot of vodka!

Fitness Fanatic

Even by my own standards I overdid it this weekend. The Malaga hash was a good 6km of cross country on Saturday. On Sunday morning Irene and I did a close to 10km walk in Guaro to view the almond blossom. The weather could not have been better. The hills could not have been steeper!  We ere joined by the Michies, Buxtons and Chishicks although only Irene, Sandy & I took on the long walk; the others opting for a 4km stroll!  To cap it all I then dashed to the Mijas Hash to be told by the hare, Kindergarden Cop, that he had laid a “ball-breaker” alternative with me and other runners in mind.  Meantime Irene et al tucked into a nice lunch. My run turned out to be a 12km one through what can best be described as country lanes. It was excellent and I amazed myself by mostly running it making my weekend total some 17-18km. Both Irene and I have sore muscles this morning!

Hash Horrors

I missed the previous weekend´s Mijas Run by mixing up the time! I realised this too but I had to go to the run venue anyway to collect the beer for the run UI was to lay yesterday! I timed my arrival at The Stupa in Benalmadena in what I thought was reasonable time for the front runners to arrive. I waited more than an hour before the first weary runner appeared with tales of scaling the mountain behind as far as the antenna … some 1000 metres and probably 6-700m metres higher than the run start.  He and the other runners who trickled in were not amused. Another hour almost passed before the back markers began appearing but by now I needed to head home so I never did attend the circle and colect the beer. It was however awarded hash shit! Swiss Roll met me in the Lidl car park on Friday to hand over the beer!

The weather outlook had been forecasting rain tomorrow almost every day last week and the Rain Alarm on my iPhone had been pinging incessantly but none came. On Saturday, despite the forecast of rain on Sunday I laid half my run to and from the beer stop. The route to the beer stop was darn good but I was not overly happy with the way the second half was panning out. I had also alarmingly covered some 10km.  However, whilst short cutting back to the car I came across what I thought was an injured motorcyclist waving to me (as the area is popular with bikers and I started toward him to see what assistance he might need. The terrain meant that he was not always in view and suddenly I was aware of  a lot of angry bees and my instinct was to run for my life. As I was running several bees were buzzing near me so I was flapping my baseball cap. I was conscious of being stung at least once but the adrenalin propelled me at speeds I did not know I could manage. Eventually, I must have outrun the radius they venture from the hives. I was pouring sweat and was shattered not least because I was also nursing a cold. The motorcyclist turns out to have been a bee keeper warning me. How was I to know! Once back home Irene scoured my scalp for stings and removed one.

That evening after some deliberation I decided to attend the Malaga Hash down near Mijas Golf. I struggled to run as my cold worsened but found the second half a little easier. Overall the run  was close to 7km.

On Sunday my cold was really developing but very fortunately the rains had stayed off and we awoke to a nice dawn.  I needed Irene to ferry me to different parts of the trail so I could lay the missing sections. The first part from the run venue to where I picked up the trail on Friday took me just over an hour to lay and I was well pleased with the result. On completing the second half I figured I had done a reasonable job but feared that the pack might consider it to be too long and challenging after the beer stop. At 1400 hrs when the hashers turned up a slight breeze had developed but the skies were still beautifully clear. The 40 strong pack set off and just over an hour later appeared at the beer stop. Pleasingly the entire pack of walkers and runner arrived within 5 minutes of each other. The commentary was exceedingly positive.  After refreshments I sent them off on the second half with slight trepidation. I did signal a short cut option to thos who I thought might need it!  however, when they reappeared at the start there were still smiles all around and my run drew my best score to date of 8.4 wit 9+es from the real runners! I was well chuffed and after the circle joined the 25 or so who went across to the Venta Los Morenos for a beer and a bite.

 

On On

MIjas Hare of the Dog

I turned up for the Hare of the Dog run on New Year’s day which was from the village of Benahavis, a good 40km distant. This was also a memorial run to remember the hashers we have lost in recent times. In fact the run was laid partly with the ashes of one runner!  The turn out was sadly poor at only 13. It was a stunning day and a stunning run with two beer stops and spectacular scenery. I stretched it to almost 9km with my enthusiastic checking. We had a nice short circle with Yogi as stand in RA. Thanks to Mummy’s Boy and Just Say When for a first class run. It was also nice to be home in daylight following the early start at 1230hrs.

Mijas 1227

Sundays run was from a hill atop La Cala. The weather could not have been better – bright and sunny but cool at the same time. There was a good turnout for Yogi´s run.  He and Marcus Skiddius had been at my Malaga run the day before. The trail was the right length at close to 10km but there was a lack of marking and the trail headed to the town and the beach including some unattractive sections while the countryside would have offered a better option. We waded downriver and it was above knee height in parts. The trail along the beach had been obliterated by the incoming tide (Da!) and I looped several times searching for it. The second half was a lot of tarmac. Overall it was an average run for quality but better for quantity (although I added close to 2km while checking!) The circle was too long and my feet were wet and beginning to get very cold as I forgot a change of shoes and socks.

Malaga HHH

I laid the run yesterday and I did not do any recce.  Instead I relied on my local knowledge. I set off from near the Ciudad del Cine hotel with a vague plan which I deviated from almost immediately!  I took the run into an area I did not know well running the serious risk that I might not reach identify a sensible beer stop or worse not be able to complete a loop within an 8km trail. I was somewhat lost at one point but thanks to Endomondo GPS I was able to find my location in relation to my start point and to join the dots. It was a cracking day to lay the trail, bright and sunny and when I arrived back at the start point I had a beer in the new El Dorado angling club. I then went home, showered, lunched, and returned to greet the runners. no-one, but no-one turned up on time by 1645 hours I had a decent turnout and sent them ff. They were well pleased at the beer stop and even more so at the end. After a circle we went into Monda for dinner. The recommended restaurant  was shut and the other ne we like did not open till 2000hrs so we tried a new one which was very fine indeed. good run; good day!

Rainy Day Hashing

Last Sunday in spite of torrential rains I made my way to Estepona for the Mijas run. I was pleasantly surprised by a turnout of some 20 brave souls as often times this has been less and that in less inclement conditions. Perhaps it was the two attractive harriettes (Wide Open and Jocelyn) that attracted so many of us. The trail had of course washed out so the hardy hares laid a live run and it turned out to be a very good one considering.  Jocelyn managed to empty a bag of flour all over herself as she was running and laying the trail. I volunteered to hose her down at the veer stop. I managed to add about 2km on to the length (making it 7km in total) through excessive checking! Although the rains continued throughout the circle they eased off and on the journey home Just say When (whom I had given a lift to) and I were treated to a nice sunset in the rear view mirror.

On On