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Hash House Harriers Offer a Different Kind of Race
By JOE SHAFRAN
Isn’t it Nike, the running shoe company that uses the slogan, “There Is No Finish Line” ? I have an idea what Nike means by its slogan, but this past Sunday in Eastport I found an event that we might call a race , that has no finish line, but having absolutely nothing to do with Nike. This is the group called the Hash House Harriers... It’s been around a while, but I happened to come upon it at the meeting of the Maritime Republic of Eastport a week last Tuesday night in the lounge of the Chart House in Eastport. I had stopped by the meeting for two reasons. One, to see if I’m still in the system as a Deputy Minister of Propaganda, a post that I was appointed to nine years ago, but I didn’t go to all the meetings in recent years and I didn’t do much propaganda . Secondly, I wanted to know if a date had been set for my favorite run, the annual.05K (that’ s point oh five kay) across the Spa Creek draw span in downtown Annapolis, in the spring. . They elected a new Premier that night, Mark Travaglini, of Eastport, , a hands-on, assertive type of man who said if I come to the meetings I can keep the job. As for the bridge run, he said a date has not been set but he was appointing me to the planning committee to not only set the date but do the run. Now that I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut, here’s some information on the Hash House Harriers. It’s organized by: Stephanie Hertzog and Jeremy Miller, both from Eastport, naturally. From what I heard at the meeting, the race sounded interesting, so I stopped by the start line on Sunday in the parking lot of the Eastport Shopping Center, right by the deli and the former movie theater. Last Sunday was the Eastporterican Independence Day. Twenty five or thirty people were there and for the race which isn’t a race necessarily. You more or less jog. No? Try for personal bests. The course works out to be about 3 miles. However about the only things that resemble a race are the direction markers on the sidewalks and trails that lead you to what we runners call water stops, which are more than water stops. They are the back yards of people who provide refreshment and a place to relax . Each week is different. Sunday, if you followed the arrows , you ended up at Second Street and Spa Creek which happens to be the Chart House. This event begins at half past three in the afternoon. Hertzog tells me they are the local chapter of an international club organized many years ago on an island in the South Pacific... Hertzog’s phone number. 410.271.8846.
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Race of the week Saturday Feb.17th, The Presidents Day Greenbelt Marathon. Three area runners, . Laurel Bell, Holly Marcum and Maria Shield are using this run to show up the men, hopefully. They are setting up the Skirt Challenge. Tried last year they lost, so they’ve hatched a plan. They propose that ‘rag tag’ groups of Annapolis Striders form teams and the losers will pose for a picture on the “coldest day of the year” wearing the latest in running attire, the running skirt ,the picture ,to be framed and hung in perpetuity at the Gotta Run store in downtown Annapolis . The winners will be treated to a high-priced lunch paid in full by all those who are less fortunate. Teams will be set up, according to the release the ladies sent me, based on their most recent ten mile finish time, hopefully teams of three, competing in a mixed masters arrangement. I know for a fact that these three organizers Bell, Marcum and Shields, are not running push- overs. They are still on a high after doin good time at Big Sur last spring in California and are poised to run the Boston in April. I wouldn’t say they have the advantage, just be aware. Be in touch with Shields, whose number is 410.956.0336 ...
Hint of the week
Lately, these Ninos or Ninas , El or La, the systems that are affecting our weather lately are bringing us windy days that do present the hazard of falling tree limbs if not in fact falling trees I suggest that runners , out on a windy day , glance up every so often to the trees that may overhang the route... Also keep your eyes on the road ahead for trip hazards where a branch may have already landed .In fact, if you can postpone a few hours or the next day until the winds die down, you would be doing yourself a favor.
Running Calendar
Sun. Feb. 11, 10:A.M. Valetine’s Day 5k. Kinder farm Park... Call Ellen McGee.. 410.987.8809. Try to beat the 2006 winning time which was about 19 minutes.
Sun. Mar. 4, 7:30 A.M. Severna Park... B&A Marathon and Half Marathon. Visit the Striders web site for detailed information.
Sat.March 24, 9 A.M. Joe Cannon Stadium, Hanover... The Canon 5K Run and Fun Walk. Call Wendy Scarborough 410.222.7313, ext.3554.
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If you have a suggestion for the runner of the week,
please e-mail me with a contact number.
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