The athletics/running thread

[thebish]

Tonight I'm going out on a Hash for only the second time.

The Hash House Harriers is a 'drinking club with a running problem'

[Gooner Girl]

Off for my first swim without kids in a long time. No idea how many lengths I will be able to manage or not, its been a while since I swam any kind of distance but decided whilst I didn't have football on a Wednesday I should try and get in some more exercise. Ran yesterday and will run tomorrow but then I'm away on holiday for a week so will probably do sod all then...

[LeverEnd]

Tonight I'm going out on a Hash for only the second time.

The Hash House Harriers is a 'drinking club with a running problem'

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... 9260,d.d2k" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You start and finish in a pub and follow a Hare and Hounds type course around parks with blind runs and loops aplenty (the idea being that the faster runners are thrown back to where the slower runners catch up. One of the members of my club runs the Enfield Has and it's their 15th Anniversary run tonight.

So I'm off for a beer, a run, a beer and some cake. On On!

I've heard of these guys. I'm envious, brilliant.
Me and my mate are still talking about organising a chunder mile at Bolton track. Corporate facility management types won't like it though. Could do it at the abandoned cinder track at Harper Green.

In other news, went to watch the Horwich 5 miles race, bumped into Mr and Mrs Genshaw, had a trot round, then went to the bowling green clubhouse for a pint which I dropped and smashed all over the place right next to the green. Whoops. At least I'd drunk 3/4 of it. Still wearing the rest, time for a bath.

[Gary the Enfield]

Well I survived!

I cannot recommend this Hashing thing enough.

We met at a pub in Enfield Island Village, just off the M25. This was, as I said a special occasion, being the 15th anniversary of Enfield Hash. Special t-shirts were distributed and the route and rules explained for 'Virgin' Hashers (I had run with them once before so didn't count).

We set off round an estate with the lead runners spotting pre-set marker arrows and stopping at junctions or 'checkpoints' before carrying on with shouts of 'On On'

Out into the Essex/ Hertfordshire countryside with random tasks like singing and 'antics' including an impromptu trolley dash at the top of a hill. We saw stunning views across to Epping Forest and a glorious red sunset across Essex.

Piling through public footpaths and across fallow meadows chest high with grass we rendezvoused with part of the group who were walking a route (known as 'short cut bastards'). We then ran back to the starting point (pub) where we were served with large home made pasties and a free beer.

Once we'd changed we had a 'prize giving' where selected runners had to down half a pint in one (this was on top of the other drinks already consumed). Nominees included the Virgin runners, race organiser, best Julie Andrews impersonation and bleeders (those who had come a cropper on the run). A birthday cake with four candles was then brought out and duly consumed.

At this stage I left them to their revelries (I wasn't drinking as I drove) and went home.

It was only 5.5 miles and the pace wasn't too taxing with regular breaks. They seem a good bunch too with odd songs and quirky ways. I would recommend any who fancy it to source your local Hash House (they are an international organisation) and get stuck in.

On,On!

[thebish]

^ suddenly running sounds interesting!

[Gary the Enfield]

^ suddenly running sounds interesting!

Bish, I think you'd love it!

http://www.hhh.org.uk/content/hash_deta ... ash_id=275" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thebish]

^ suddenly running sounds interesting!

Bish, I think you'd love it!

http://www.hhh.org.uk/content/hash_deta ... ash_id=275" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A Bristol Hasher was overheard bitterly complaining about missing pub time and vowing never to run with Taunton again saying, “They are all a bunch of bloody athletes”. Well, obviously he hasn’t seen the latest lot.

[Gooner Girl]

Swimming was good! 40 lengths so that's about a kilometre. Okay to start with considering I haven't done any fitness swimming for ages. 20 lengths on my back and 20 breaststroke. Felt hard work at first but gradually got easier and I could have gone on longer.

GtE, hash sounds great fun! Lever End, don't take up cricket will you?!

[Gary the Enfield]

Swimming was good! 40 lengths so that's about a kilometre. Okay to start with considering I haven't done any fitness swimming for ages. 20 lengths on my back and 20 breaststroke. Felt hard work at first but gradually got easier and I could have gone on longer.

GtE, hash sounds great fun! Lever End, don't take up cricket will you?!

What about freestyle? It's all about the crawl!

[thebish]

I always thought "freestyle" meant you could use whatever stroke you wanted? (and it looks like she did!)

[Gooner Girl]

I always thought "freestyle" meant you could use whatever stroke you wanted? (and it looks like she did!)

It is, but crawl is fastest so in a freestyle race people would swim crawl. My front crawl is weaker then my back and breast stroke. My fly is pretty poor too. I took a float and meant to do some work practicing my arm pulls and breathing but by the time I got round to it the pool was closing. i'll do that first next time.

[Gary the Enfield]

Furthest pool swim tonight. 1950 metres. Knackered but happy.

[LeverEnd]

Surprised myself in a good way at the Christleton 5k with 16:15. Was aiming for 16:45 so well pleased with that. Tremendous race, that placed me 41st! Felt ridiculously fast and never felt comfortable after an opening k of 3:10, but was worth the pain.

[Gary the Enfield]

Surprised myself in a good way at the Christleton 5k with 16:15. Was aiming for 16:45 so well pleased with that. Tremendous race, that placed me 41st! Felt ridiculously fast and never felt comfortable after an opening k of 3:10, but was worth the pain.

16:15 for 5k? Was it all downhill?

Seriously, well done!

[Gary the Enfield]

Just back from my Standard Tri race at Welwyn. Had a mare as my cable/ derailleur broke last night so I was stuck on big cog only. Got in under 3 hours though so very happy.

[LeverEnd]

Surprised myself in a good way at the Christleton 5k with 16:15. Was aiming for 16:45 so well pleased with that. Tremendous race, that placed me 41st! Felt ridiculously fast and never felt comfortable after an opening k of 3:10, but was worth the pain.

16:15 for 5k? Was it all downhill?

Seriously, well done!

Thanks. A few questions have been raised about the course but mate's garmin (Distance 3.11 mi | Time 17:23 | Avg Moving Pace 5:34 min/mi | Avg Speed 10.7 mph | Elevation Gain 27 ft) says it's ok and it's been going for 27 years. It's i.75 laps of a flat road loop and the field is so strong it drags you round. I might be doing a track one in 2 weeks and then there is the Horwich town centre 5k on June 15th, will aim for sub 16. Tough but you never know.

[Harry Genshaw]

Surprised myself in a good way at the Christleton 5k with 16:15. Was aiming for 16:45 so well pleased with that. Tremendous race, that placed me 41st! Felt ridiculously fast and never felt comfortable after an opening k of 3:10, but was worth the pain.

Jumping Jehovah! great performance. Well done. Had a feeling you'd do well when you flew past us last Wednesday on your 'jog'!

That must have been some field for 40 runners to beat that.

Not run for a week but I'll have a bash at Harrock hill Wednesday. You still going to give it a go?

[LeverEnd]

Surprised myself in a good way at the Christleton 5k with 16:15. Was aiming for 16:45 so well pleased with that. Tremendous race, that placed me 41st! Felt ridiculously fast and never felt comfortable after an opening k of 3:10, but was worth the pain.

Jumping Jehovah! great performance. Well done. Had a feeling you'd do well when you flew past us last Wednesday on your 'jog'!

That must have been some field for 40 runners to beat that.

Not run for a week but I'll have a bash at Harrock hill Wednesday. You still going to give it a go?

Cheers but going to stay off steep descents until my back is 100%, it's still niggling a bit. Have a good run. Might be doing the Bowdon 5k on Thurs if I can get a late entry.

[Gary the Enfield]

Open water swimming again tonight in the pissing rain. 1500 meters followed by a 2k sprint around the lake.

Felt really strong after Sundays tri race.

[Gooner Girl]

Open water swimming again tonight in the pissing rain. 1500 meters followed by a 2k sprint around the lake.

Felt really strong after Sundays tri race.

Nice one. Any thunder and lightening this time?!