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Fook Me I am unfit. I spent most of the weekend recovering from last Thursday’s run (plus hangovers), but Jeez I am out of shape. Back to the Maejo lake today for the G, and this time it was straight up the hill. On a good day, back when I was fit, that took around 8 minutes – (PB 7.26), today I just about collapsed at the top in over 12 minutes. And when I say nearly collapsed, I had definitely pushed myself into the red zone.

A check at the top had Graven scamper off left, Cartoon begrudgingly head right, and of course I was turning left along with Piggy. The trail here is mostly flat along the top of the ridge, but I had nothing left already. One by one I was passed. Given that I haven’t been about so much, it seemed like most wanted to have a bit of a chat as they passed me, so I apologise if I came across as rude – I could barely muster the energy to walk, let alone hold a conversation.

It seemed lacking in checks, which didn’t really bother me, as there was no chance I could keep up with Emma. And so, we turned down the steep trail, my legs like jelly. I figured most had passed me by and not long after the water I’d drunk before setting off decided it wasn’t enjoying life in my stomach and preferred to soak into the ground. A hasher I didn’t know appeared behind me, kindly offered water, but I didn’t think it would stay down. He walked with me for a bit, but at the next junction (no check), I knew a shorter way of getting back, so we parted ways again.

I reconnected with trail at the 5 point junction, and plodded my way back. Not far from home Emma breezed by and I was left to trudge up the road to the cars with Graven close behind. Embarrassingly unfit. I sat – I showered – and still felt terrible. Certainly didn’t want a beer, so opted to head home to at least enjoy the aircon in the car. Finally perking up now, but my legs aren’t happy with me. Will I make the effort to get fit again? Or will I stick with golf? Unsure at this point…

It’s Ballbreaker time. Despite battling a cold, I finally decided to go out an see what they had put together out past Doi Saket. It is one of Frozen’s favourite spots, so I wonder what new trails he found? The hares seemed happy to give up some inside information – perhaps noticing I wasn’t feeling that well.

I walked up the hill at the start and we found what might have been a circle check. This was roughly the OnIn in reverse from the last time Frozen had set out there and I clearly remembered Brownie chasing me down that hill. I confidently got a few checks right before losing some ground when we had to balance across a log – thankfully the hares had provided ropes, so unlike Titty Smoker I made it across without getting wet.

We continued doing the previous run in reverse all the way to the first beerstop at <4k. I wasn’t planning on doing it all, but 4k was a bit wimpy, so Frozen suggested doing the 3rd leg rather than the 2nd. We were about to set off to the 2nd beerstop, but the hares were worried about Silly Cow as she hadn’t turned up yet. Perhaps she had turned back? We waited a little bit longer, until a group of 5-6 harriettes showed up. One was Silly Cow, but the hares had forgotten about 5 others – most notably Frozen’s wife! Setting off on the 3rd leg I had the company of 4 ladies who seemed happy to send me off to check for them. There were a couple of checks that caught me, but mostly it was a pleasant walk back towards the cars. Thankfully there wasn’t as much hill this time and we dropped on to some trails that I wasn’t familiar with. It wasn’t long though before I knew where we were – lucky for us that was where the trail had been removed, so we were able to find our way through based on inside knowledge. Cheers hares, I know how much work goes in!

Gorf is back in town and haring. A day long hangover for boxing day, I had to do something, so I headed down to a random location (no signs!) near Hang Dong golf course. The hare brief wasn’t brief. Gorf is an international hasher so has picked up a variety of ideas from around the world, so decided to introduce us to the back checks off circles concept…

I do like innovation and change is generally good! I have hashed in the UK before where there was a few bits of powder in the wrong direction, but you knew by the 3rd blob that you were on… The hare warned us that there were some LONG false correct trails off circles, which just meant that we could not have any confidence with any calls… Surely when you are on trail it is ok to just call ONON… And surely it is a LOAD of effort to set false trails that may never be found? The hare sets the game, we play their rules…

Early on I was doing well – Poo not far behind, but I picked up a few checks until we got to a junction with no check. I’d heard someone behind me and it turned out Scooby sped past as we ran out of powder. Bizarrely Gorf was right behind us to put some powder down to make it clearer!!! Why the FOOK didn’t he just make it obvious the first time. Emmaroyde told him to go back to look after the bags.

Not long after there was mass confusion. It seems there were 2 checks either side of a road. Actually it was a really good check that went back and then up the hill, and it completely foxed us. Well it completely foxed me and it seemed to be a long time before anyone called it. I briefly saw Poo & Graven, but I’d gone from near the front to off the back. Sure it was a good check and I didn’t have much left to try and catch up.

Late decision, and I cruised to a halt at the Maejo reservoir about 5 minutes late. To my surprise the hashers were also late and still getting ready. The hare said it was 8k, so I was immediately planning for some shortcuts, unsure of my fitness level.

We were set off back down the road, told to look to the right. The hare should have pointed us up the hill, but he didn’t so I was already at the next trail when someone called me back. Just along from me was a circle though. At this point, I didn’t know if this was a circle near the end or a circle near the start, so I started following trail backwards until I ran into ABB. Confusion resolved, and it was back to the circle – presumably heading to the main trail head. It was, but not quite the route I took, so once again I found myself going backwards until I think it was Angry Inch leading the pack in my direction.

From this trail head the next couple of checks would be 100%ers, heading up to the 5 point junction. I had a bit of a lead, so I turned right and headed up the hill. I didn’t think I would find powder, but I thought I may well intercept the trail at the next junction as surely we would loop around and back down the hill to the lake. No powder at the junction, so my short cut failed – but not to be outdone, I pushed on to the next junction in the vain hope I would intercept trail there. Nope. I had 2 choices – I could just finish up the hill and do my own thing, but that meant climbing another steep bit for around 5k total.

Instead I turned back and ran back down the hill. Jogging down hill I actually started feeling good – maybe I am over the Covid? I figured I could cut out to the Tiger’s Head and intercept trail up the road the otherside of the reservoir. But as I was feeling ok, I decided to just follow the trail – overtaking a bemused Frozen in the process. We came out on the road and it was marked Wimp to the left and Rambo to the right. Whatever, lets do it. I turned right and ran down the road for a km – why didn’t they use the trail parallel to the right – I know Graven knows it!

The other side of the road by the dodgy shelter. I crossed the weir, only to hear and then see Mr. Poo up the hill above me. No way to cut up to him, but I’d be better off turning left, running along the bottom and intercepting the pack after the industrial zone. It worked out and I had company again – once Piggy figured out how to get to me. I walked for a while and then started jogging as Emmaroyde got close to me, slowly speeding up like a rabbit as he got closer. A loop around the hill and then the powder had been brushed away on the sandy road before heading up the road to the dam.

Pleasant run – I got 8.4k, but then it was bitterly cold! I really didn’t need any ice time!

Had the day off work, figured I’d make an appearance to say howdy to the returning hashers. Great to see Poo, Prison Bitch, Strangely and plenty more. I wasn’t feeling too great though – it’s been a lazy few months and then I finally succumbed to covid, and since that I’ve been struggling to do anything. I had tried to find motivation to have a walk around the moobaan, but since that didn’t happen, I figured I would drive all the way to the other side of CM to force myself to get some exercise…

I didn’t even stop to buy beer! But attending it progress right? I guess some people are wondering what is up with Byte’s mojo. Anyway, we set off with Titty Smoker keen to make the hare brief abrupt and then Kwazi on his now trade mark early attack. The hares had chosen leaf coloured markings to test our patience and I followed Kwazi as he constantly stopped right next to paper that he couldn’t see.

My intention was to short cut the wimp trail, but the hares told us it was 8k for the rambo or 3.5 for the wimp – the wimp would be enough for me… I kept with the pack for a while, and helped them out when someone mis-solved a circle check into the back of an FT. They were running around like headless chickens for a while. Progress was made, but I slipped off the pack – less than 2k in and I was already off the back with nothing left to give.

Fortunately there was the Wimp split and I took a left. It was a very easy trail, but even the little hill climb was a struggle. I need the exercise, perhaps I’ll get myself back in shape… I did catch up with the other wimps before the end, but afterwards I decided to take the aircon ride rather than going to source beers.

A new runsite with a great shelter! Wow – I’ve been all over that area and never found that shelter! Emma clearly had little time to prepare to set the run, so looked back on his old tracks, notably a run I set some months back – luckily it was a great run then, and just as good in reverse today!

We set off and, I started jogging – it is a hilly area, so better to make use of the flat & downhill while it lasts. Nobody kept me company so I pressed on. The first check got me thinking straight away – there wasn’t really any options, but we’d just past a possible check point, so I was pretty sure where the ONIN would be.

There was silence behind me as I ran on – should I be walking? Another check and I decided to check off to the right – it was wrong. I was reluctant to go down the hill on the nice little trail I used before, but hey, it was that way, and I was back on trail. Shit – is he really just setting my run in reverse? He actually found a nicer connect for the next bit, and hell the next check screwed me over. There was a nice trail to the right, but no paper… a nice trail to the left, but no paper… perhaps straight up the hill the way I did, but no paper… Then Piggy was back with me, along with a pack and someone found paper 40m from the circle…

That was actually a really neat connect – I missed it when I’d scouted there, so it did make the run better than what I’d set! From here, it was clear what was coming… We had a hill to climb, and I would much prefer to be running down that hill! But, it was a nice work out, and I pressed on. Scooby and Bus Bitch were closing in on me for a while, but then suddenly there was silence behind. I know I got the checks right, but I was surprised that Scooby wasn’t right behind.

There was a great circle check – except that I knew where I was and where the trails went. Silence from behind, so I was away again. Not long after trail continued, but Ha! It would be a FT, so I turned right and sure enough found paper. Another circle and it had to be down to the right, sure enough I was on paper and figured from here I would be alone. There was another FT towards the end, which I salute, but didn’t get fooled. As I headed up the hill at the finish there was a fruity banana present, which I donated to HRA who sat out the run with the hare. Afterall, last time HRA did that run he seriously hurt himself!

Softballs and Emma Royde teamed up by one of the lakes (or rather 2 of the lakes) between Maejo and Doi Saket. We’d been near here a few weeks back with ABB & Pussy Whisperer, but this time we were a little further East, so presumably doing something involving the other lake?

A decent turn out and we were set off – unexpectedly back towards the lake we’d been around a few weeks back. Hmmmm… Surely we’d be turning right soon? The paper was tree to tree scrambling along the side of the hill – no trail, no chance of running, but heading straight towards the wrong lake. I know that hill is high, so I guessed perhaps we would climb up the saddle and drop back down to the other lake, or perhaps we’d turn sharp left and drop down into the village. Neither was right, and I was playing catch up as we headed back around the lake.

Before we get to that, I just wonder why it took 10 guys so long to find paper off the first check when they all went the right way? Anyway, at the back corner of the lake most were headed towards the hill, but knowing where that goes, I was locked in on us doing the same as ABB’s run, but in reverse and sure enough I broke away as we went around the back of the lake. I was coasting along, way ahead and stretching my legs.

Descended steeply off the dam, and found a circle by a little hut. DAMN! I went this way, I went that way, I went all over the place. It surely couldn’t be too far left as we’d be close to the out trail, but as the pack caught up, I had exhausted all the other options, and finally found paper heading straight back to the out trail. ON FUCKING ON!

Mary Poppins was close behind as we hit good runnable trail again and we took off for quite a stretch without a check. We passed close to the cars, but kept going back along ABB’s old trail, but at the next check we turned left, rather than right. I wasn’t quite right, but caught Mary and we continued down into the village where it seemed the paper had been cleared up for a bit. I went the long way around a square before reconnecting with MP as we came out to the dirt road along the canal. A sharp left and with Titty Smoker and Strangely Anal just behind surely this was just a case of running back in and there would be an On-In any moment.

Nope – there was a check and when I didn’t find paper, I figured the hares had taken us up to go over the dam for a more scenic run in. Sure enough there was paper up the hill, but when we got to the lake, rather than having paper heading back to the cars, it was going around the lake?!? WTF?!? I was 7k in already, and the paper was going in the wrong direction around the lake!!! I guess I need the exercise, and its a nice enough trail around the back.

All the way around the lake, and I was on my own enjoying the view and the jog, until I caught up with the hare as he hastily stuck down an ON-IN. A solid 9km run!