Run 726 - Hearts & Flowers Valentine Run

Venue: Hearts and Flowers Hash from The Greyhound Inn

Hares: DITW & JB

Hounds: Bangkok, Grasshopper, M’Bongo, Big Bird, Nick, Dripped On, Pink 2 Lips, Paul, Baby Spice, Ferret, Liz, Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Why Bother.

In the pub: The Greyhound Inn

On arriving in the pub car park thinking we were late again when we noticed other reluctant shadows sat in their cars.  The shadows finally stepped out and comparisons of what red and pink outfits had one attired themselves were discussed and flashed.  At one point somebody mentioned anybody wearing red pants; at this point two thoughts crossed my mind:

1. What colour pants did I have on?
2. Oh and more concerning was I about to see bare backsides with red leather thongs, thoughts of the ‘Full Monty’ sprung to mind.

Thankfully the audience fell silent and ‘Just Bull’ started with the run brief.  We were all delighted to hear that mud had been avoided as much as possible again quite impressive after all the earlier rain.  We were off left out of the car park and a fast start along the road to the first fancy ‘red chalk heart’ check.  Hounds were already checking on the road and field so I reluctantly ventured into a field running along parallel to the road and as underfoot was uneven I was actually hoping not to find any chalk when ‘on, on’ was called and we were back on the road - fantastic.  I think there were 3 or 4 fast male hounds up ahead and they had checked the next point which meant we were now off road and into a field which ended up as a very muddy field, to which groans were made to JB with regard to the mentioned not much mud run but we had all misunderstood the instructions in that this was good mud but there would be less of the smelly mud!  On paddling through water and over a stile we were off again and not long before we were back on the road. Next check was at a road junction and then shortly onto a second check which was the start of a very long hill, initially on road and after another check it went onto a very muddy path, more water and into the woods and up and up it went! 

We found out back at the pub that ‘Why Bother’ and ‘Pink Two Lips’ who had arrived late for the hash only managed to follow checks until the start of the hill, apparently it was unrecognizable due to car tyres but I guess we will never know whether they just decided to skip the hill and have a romantic run of their own!!

It was whilst running up the long hill in the woods that I thought this is quite scary and I wouldn’t do this in the day let alone at night!  I decided to ease up and wait for Paul just in case my torch light gave up the ghost completely.  On on up the hill and a small descent where we had an impromptu gathering and waited to see if the late arrivals would catch us up.  Some of us started to feel the cold and decided as they were together we would get on.  Another check and into the woods, thick muddy paths and up hill again, once again thoughts of barking mad and what am I doing here sprung to mind when a squeal from right behind and a quick grab of the arm as JB nearly fell in!  All that effort and then we were heading back down again, many hounds making mincemeat of the terrain whilst I seemed to be tip toeing down with the fear of falling flat in the mud.  Briefly back on the road and a romantic sweetie stop with love heart sweets and chocolates.  Well nearly romantic apart from stopping near a chapel and grave yard…

On, on again and through a farm, only a slight whiff of smelly mud as promised.  Over a stile and into a field half of us running to the right along the edge of the field when we realized the rest of the group were running right through the middle. Again underfoot was good for running but with a weak torch I was apprehensively looking for some trip wire to catch us out!  No wire to be found and we were all back on track.  Then we negotiated over many muddy stiles slipping and sliding, ducking and diving as we worked our way through an over grown patch.  Back onto a track and again half a dozen of us headed through a gate and down a field only to be called back which meant running back up the field!  Back onto a wider track we followed the rest of the group to the road and back to The Greyhound Inn.

Great run with not too much of the other sort of mud but still plenty of the more common variety. Thank you ‘Just Bull’ and ‘DITW’.