Hash Run #4

Last night, we met at the UH Astronomy Center on Woodlawn with the pack heading out at 5:30. I understand the hare was laying the trail live, so it wouldn't be too complex. The nice thing about this, is it tends to result in a lot of trail checks, so the slower people in the group (me) have a chance to catch up with the faster ones as they expend their energy looking for the path.

The trail was entirely on roads, but it was a varied route, going through shopping centers, schools, neighborhoods, and along streams. Manoa is a very nice area, all the houses are old and each one has a unique style, there are very few "cookie-cutter" houses here. It's nice to run along and look at all the variations in architecture.

There was one glitch though, apparently the hare made a chalk mark on someone's driveway, and the owner wasn't happy about it so they washed it off. It caused some confusion when the trail disappeared, but the path was eventually relocated and everyone was on their way again.

After the run, there was the normal "on-after" for which I stuck around a little while. It was a strange experience as they started singing hashing songs that apparently everyone knew. One guy would start the first few notes and everyone would catch which one it was and join in. These seemed to be focused on people drinking beer out of odd containers, like a vase, a hospital pee jar, etc. The songs also always ended with the words "down, down, down" as the beer drinkers tipped back.

I eventually made my exit around the time people started talking about "naming" me. Right now, I'm being called "No Name." I reminded the naming crew that this was only my fourth run and they aren't supposed to name me until after my sixth or seventh. Still, the speculation went on, the leading contender appears to be "dot.com" (with an appropriate hashing variation) due to my occupation. It should be interesting, but in the meantime I have to hope I don't do anything stupid through which they come up with new inspiration.

Altogether, another great run. I just wish this nagging pain in my hip would go away. It's odd how I rarely feel anything while I'm actually running, but it hurts when I start walking around after having been sitting awhile. I figured that my hiatus from running would have fixed it, but apparently it's still with me. I'll really work on stretching it out this week and if it's still bothering me, I'll go see a doctor.

UPDATE: I did go to the doctor. I have tendonitis. The bad thing is that once you have it, you pretty much always have it. The good thing is, I can keep running, it won't do me any harm other than being annoying.

Progress

Down two pounds to 126. While deep down, I'm giddy at the thought of losing two pounds in two days, the logical, cynical part of me nastily points out that it's too good to be true and I should brace my self for an upward bounce in the next few days. Still, here's what I've been eating, the calories are somewhat estimated:

Food - Calories

Monday (128):
1.5 cups cereal - 285
soda - 150
salad - 200
mini-candy bar - 50
10 almonds - 70
salad - 250
wine -120
TOTAL: 1125
Exercise: None (lightning, pouring rain, hell no I'm not going out there)

Tuesday (126.6):
2 cups cereal - 380
soda - 150
subway 6" - 350
almonds - 90
lasagna - 350
bread -150
wine -200
TOTAL: 1670
Exercise: ran w/ H3 group, about 4.5 miles

Wednesday (126) (planned meals, not yet eaten):
1.5 cups cereal - 285
soda - 150
subway 6" - 350
lasagna - 350
bread -150
wine -200

Hashing

No, not that kind... The running kind. I've been to three of these so far and I just love it. All three have taken me to places I never would have known were there. How we can start in an urban area and end up in dirt and mud where no cars can be seen just blows my mind. I had no idea all these places even existed let alone so close to the boring roads I've been running.

The last one was in Makiki, starting at Roosevelt High School. We ran around the edge of the school, turned into the campus for about 30 yards, and went through a gate in the fence. From there it was trail until we hit a road where the arrows pointed us up a HUGE hill. The entire group was reduced to sporadic walking from the steepness of the hill. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate hills? Flat land is only disliked, and I'm actually rather fond of downhills, but uphills? Not so much.

After an eternity, we reached the top and it was back to trails. This really degraded into hiking rather than running. The trail was rough and there was a lot of climbing up big stones and over fallen branches. I really pushed myself to stay with the group because I don't know if I would have gotten out otherwise. Eventually, after the group scattered to hunt for signs and calls of "Are you?" from all directions, we found our way out and back to the roads just before the sun really started to set.

From here on out is was all downhill to the finish, hooray! Again, another amazing experience I'm happy to have had. Still, I think I better start bringing a flashlight.

Swamp Romp!

Over dinner the other night, my BIL's girlfriend leaned over and said "Do you like to get dirty?" Now, many thoughts went through my head at that moment, and none of them seemed appropriate for dinner conversation, so I figured I must have misunderstood. I asked her to repeat herself, she complied, and I heard the same thing. Huh, she seemed like such a nice girl.
How ever was I going to tell my DH about this?

At this point, she must have noticed my baffled expression (rather like the RCA dog with the head tilt), as she elaborated. It turns out she's not perverted, she's just trying to get a team together to do the Swamp Romp in February. She's having a hard time finding girls who don't go "ewww" at the idea of wading through acres of mud. Who knew?

I immediately signed on, and we proceeded to rope in our significant others, promising each that they would look like a sissy if his brother agreed before he did. That always works for some reason. Sibling rivalries never die, and I'm not ashamed to manipulate that.

Now we just need another couple to complete the team. Anyone going to be in Hawaii in February who likes to get dirty?

Oh... My...

Ok, this is hard to say, so I'm going to spit it out... 128lbs. That's right, I'm up to 128. How the H.E.double-toothpicks did that happen? Surely it had nothing to do with the umpteen Frappacinos... Or the many nacho-and-Margarita nights... Or the endless pastries that were the only breakfast option at the conference... Or the utter slacking on the excercise front. No, it's just unexplained weight gain. Maybe I should get my thyroid checked.

My scale just gave me the will, so now I have to figure out the way. So, food diaries are again in effect, along with scheduling exercise and journaling the before and after for accountability, and making sure we have veggies ready for rapid salad assembly. Oh, and restrictions are in place on going to Starbucks. It's going to be a nasty month until it all falls back into place. Keep your distance, it's for your own safety.

Here's the plan for the week:

6 Mon: Group bike ride and master's swim (we're having lightning storms right now, so may not happen).
7 Tue: Hash House Harrier run
8 Wed: Group MTB ride
9 Thu: Indoor soccer
10 Fri: Swim/Run
11 Sat TBD: Hash run, or MTB ride, or HBL road-ride
12 Sun Softball and rest, or use as a makeup day

We're having wacked-out weather right now, so all this is subject to change.