14th December – CGH3 – Titty Smoker

I need to cut back on Sunday exercise if I am going to be able to run on a Monday – that was only 6.4km with <100m elevation change, but it was really, really tough! From out the back of Itchy & Suckit’s place, it is a maze of trails, creeks, little hills, rocky bits, sandy bits that all blend into one another. Even on a straight trail it is easy to get disoriented, on this hash we zigged and zagged around and I was thankful for the breadcrumb paper trail to lead me back out to safety! Initially the hares had carefully placed the sun to be right in our eyes and when in front it was a big challenge to look at the floor for footing, and yet up to see paper, being constantly blinded when doing so. It seemed whichever way I turned the sun was coming at me. I tried jogging for a short downhill stretch, but it became quickly apparent that my exertions over the weekend were weighing heavily in my legs, so I would at best be able to walk. When I nearly decided to short cut, I realised I couldn’t be sure which direction to go, so my best option was to continue following paper. Fortunately the checks were good, and this pack of CGH3 runners stayed close together. HRA set off late, but somehow didn’t manage to catch the main group, and while Sheep Shagger loaded up with rocks for his garden, he was still with the pack most of the way around. I am not sure I’ve been on all of those trails before – admittedly a lot look the same, but it definitely wasn’t just the same as usual. Enjoyable, but tough… I need a couple of days now to recover!