2008 Tour duh Hash

As the sun sets on the 2008 Tour duh Hash, we few runners to complete the entire event are tired. As with anytime groups are faced with adversity, relationships become a little deeper and more intense in nature. For those of us who are done with it, we can take pride in our accomplishment. Our legs are worn; covered in cuts, scratches, poison ivy, and mud. Our stomachs, while looking flatter and more toned, reject the very whim of drinking more beer. It is in our hearts and minds where we have gained the most though. The 34 runners who completed all 9 stages of the tour will be inexorably linked by the ordeal. It makes one appreciate the savage difficulty of a truly grueling event or tour, like the Tour de France. Over the last 10 days, we have been led through all four corners of the DC metro area; through streams and ponds and flood plains; through chest high saw-grass and rampant poison ivy; up hills and through tunnels filled with shoe sucking mud. We have seen a little bit of everything over the course of ~45 miles of shiggy-filled trails.

During the tour, I was poignantly reminded of why I enjoy the hash. It’s than promoting fitness among members, working up a thirst through running, and satisfying that thirst in beer. It’s more than just a social outlet. While I wouldn’t go so far as to suggest that our thing is a way of life, it could be described as a philosophy in a relative sense. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, or where you’re from when at the hash. No one really cares anyway. We have doctors, lawyers, military officers, cancer researchers, capitol hill workers, etc; all the way down the other side of the spectrum. And you know what? It just doesn’t matter. Like Bill Murray’s “It just doesn’t matter” speech in the movie Meatballs; it simply doesn’t. What does matter to this special group of people is much less obvious and many times more ambiguous. Generally speaking, a good sense of humor and the ability to not take one’s self too seriously are among the main criteria for maximum enjoyment of the hash. Everything else is just icing. Cheers to everyone that finished the tour and best of luck until next year!

Get Silly

Wow. So the last entry was from May 23rd and talking about Kenny Loggins…Alrighty then. Anyways, I suppose a great deal has happened in the days and weeks since. Jacqueline had her birthday, which was great fun and everyone who came to the Under the Sea party seems to have had a rather good time. Softball season started and though I have been solid defensively so far, my offensive output is well below normal. There have been more baseball games and museum trips, and more friends who have come to visit. Lots of running too as I am in the middle of training for a sub 40 minute 10K and I have a friendly wager with a buddy as to who will have the better showing at Beer Mile this year.

I am now in the middle of preparing for the GMAT, and getting classes lined up for the fall. Blah. Going back to school is going to suck, but I would be foolish not to take advantage of corporate benefits. This week, however, we stand in the vortex of this year’s Tour duh Hash. Washington, DC is a place without peer when it comes to this, a favored activity of mine. Nine hashes in nine days. That’s right. Insanity. Today marks day three, and it should be getting good this week. I am looking forward to completing the Tour this year. More on that next time.

I sometimes feel that running through the daily events of my life is a very boring thing to do. In reality, my life has become very domestic in many ways; more ways than I care to admit to myself even. All in all, it’s not a bad thing. I have had many strange and wonderful experiences; so what if it doesn’t happen every day anymore. The truth is, I now live in an adult world and I am expected to act accordingly. But it still sucks.

There are good facets as well. I am in phenomenal shape so far as diet, hydration, and cardiovascular fitness. I need to spend more time in the weight room, but I do okay. Professional and personal life are very good too. Jacqueline keeps me grounded, and is a very positive influence. Either way, I will have to write more later on. It’s raining and I am not really feeling overly creative right now, as it probably shows in the quality of my writing. Back tomorrow hopefully.

Live triumphantly.