GFH3 Run #1,749; 26 April 2014

Next spring, try to remember that Sally and Richard have a hot tub, so you should bring your swim suit to their annual GFH3 hash out in Lovettsville.  And mark your calendar for the event, as it is well worth the drive to practically-West Virginia AND practically-Maryland for this event.  Their home is perched on a hillside with sweeping views of a vast field, a sylvan arcadia and some blue-tinted, gently rounded mountains bumping the sky.  All of this easily visible from the hot tub.  Plus... wait, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

And did you notice the Hash flag, marking the right driveway?

Twelve runners, eight walkers, three sitters and two hosts made the drive to farmland for today’s hash, and they were rewarded with glorious blue skies, the puffy kind of clouds that may be cumulus, ideal temperatures and a world in bloom.  Also, a not-too-challenging run of about five miles, mostly on roads, although out in these parts, ‘roads’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘pavement.’  Before they set out, Sally did a lyrical interpretive dance to ensure that the hash marks they’d used mean what this group thinks they mean.  They do.  It’s all okay.  So everyone leapt uphill into the backyard, then downhill into the front yard (ha ha!), got mixed up with the walkers, and made it to the street.

The walkers were ambling Hiddencroft Vineyards-ward!  This was Sally’s recommendation, and not half bad.  The vineyard, a bit over a mile from the house, is owned by two NGA alums and self-taught vintners.  They are doing impressive work with the Chambourcins and Vidal Blancs and Cabernet Francs and Tannats, which we know because 5.5 walkers and a rebellious runner enjoyed the vineyard tasting.  Our kind hostess provided a ride back to the house, in case the walkers couldn’t hold their liquor.

No, seriously -- this is a running club.

The runners were all back by the time the walkers returned, and had made vicious work of a couple substantial cheeses whilst awaiting the schnitzel.  It arrived in due course, to round out the robust potato salad that Richard assures us is the main part of the meal in the Czech Republic.  Salad, baked potatoes and cookies ensured no one went hungry; several boxes of Black Box and a diverse selection of beers that included Guinness and Tecate ensured no one dehydrated.  Peanut, Mango and Kantje provided a bit of entertainment.

The Mufti provided a roll call that revealed the double sixes for Gale, the triple sixes for Easy Strider (whoOOOoo-ooOOooo) and the return of Rrocks Starr, finally bored with all that blazing sunshine and warmth they give him on the west coast.  The Oral Advocate got credit for the meeting for showing up, despite having claimed that sixty-some miles of bicycling and 90-some miles of driving exempted him from the run; Phoenix Rising got no credit for asking Air Horn please to tell the Mufti that he demanded credit on grounds of some feat of athleticism committed elsewheres today.  The fire kept the worst of the gnats away, and the dogs played some more.

Floor show.

Next week:  Saturday at Spurt’s on the 3^rd, and then we switch to Wednesdays on the 7^th, with the Mufti celebrating 1,500 runs and BC3 celebrating 500, at the Reston Pavilion I believe.  In case you need reminding which one is the Mufti, you’ll find him pictured here, along with a few of his dearest.

THIS JUST IN:  From Bad Fred a/k/a Cums Too Fast - he improved his time in this year's Boston Marathon from 3:15:08 last year to 3:09:55 this year.  For those of you asking why he couldn't break three hours, please note that a) breaking 3:10 was a significant achievement, b) he's qualified for Boston 2015, and c) he's preparing for a 12-plus mile swim around Key West that takes place in late June.  Good thing he's a C-lister, right?