Not for Flatlanders....

After last Sundays rather flat HH3 run, this run returned to our much preferred normal format of nice hilly runs. Apart from the first hill, which was also completed by our short runners, and by all accounts was enjoyed by all, the rest of the long run was over relatively low rolling hills. This still resulted in an overall ascent of 345m over the 7.3km covered by the run and including the 7 checks, 7 false trails & 2 check-backs which just happened to go downhill, as testified by Stick Insect. The short run had a total ascent of 150m, which took it to a highest point on the run of approximately 100m, offering panoramic views back over the runsite and the coastline. The first beerstop was reached after a rather rapid descent of over 120m in just under 360m (yes SI that’s a grade of approx. -33%). The second beerstop was reached by the very small pack of seven runners, in a bit more of an orderly fashion, apart from our “super” runner who was appropriately punished at the circle by being forced to drink more beer, ....on the ice. Great to see the return of the soft family, even if only for temporary relief from the confines of our southern neighbours.

Scary concrete

With leg injuries to hashers an ever present risk, judging from the last couple of weeks, a timely reminder from this week's hare that concrete is a potentially life threatening substance, particularly if you happen to find your legs encased in it when you go for a swim. So do take care while you are on your way to the runsite this week particularly if your first name happens to begin with the letter 'J'.

Details are:

Songkhla Hash House Harriers' run #1831, Saturday July 16, 2016, 4:30 p.m.

Hare: Yardstick

Misdirections: From the Khao Seng intersection take the Old Yala Road for 16km (5.3km from the NYR / OYR intersection at Ang Thong) and turn right just before Wat Kuhn Thong. Proceed along the concrete & bitumen road for 2.0km, then turn left and go 1.2km along the new concrete & dirt road to the runsite. The new concrete is a bit daunting with high drop-offs and is rather narrow – take care; but the dirt road does get better as you drive along it.  Runsite co-ordinates are:  7° 01.922' N  100° 38.514' E

Sunday is business as usual at HH3 after last weeks brief interlope, and the hare is Robocop, the runsite being the football field beyond Nern Pijit: from the OHR 4.7k junction turn left for about 12k - past Wat Nern Pijit - then turn right and follow the road for about 1k to the run site on the right at 6 59 16.88 N 100 34 17.84 E. Map below for the directionally imaginative.

...a brilliant run and a boozy circle

Short Screw says it all - well other than that it was 8.4k or 5.1k for the short(!) run. The total ascent was 45k and the high point 43m, proving once again that you don't always have to have hill for it to be fun. The front end of the pack reached the beer stop (6.3k) in about 40 minutes so were motoring. The beer slowed them down a bit but everybody was home well within an hour and a half.

#HH3 run? On After

After a brilliant run and boozy circle, was last to leave the run site (as usual) and, to one's ecstatic pleasure, discovered one had a flat tyre. After failing to find a mechanic in the nearby village (at whatsaname crossroads), headed back towards Songkhka and stopped at a roadside shop with many locals in evidence. They proceeded to wine me, dine me and repair my machine over the course of a couple of hours or so, with all attempts at payment respectfully refused. Wonderful people and a truly humbling experience that I will never forget.

The only slight downer to the day was an obligatory anti-British diatribe in the Office later on courtesy of the Dane and le Frenchy (putting our supposed 'advanced' social tendency well into perspective), but which made France's loss of the euro's, Hamilton's Grand Prix win, the recent Tour de France successes and Murray's Wimbledon all the more sweet!

... and woke up in the bath this morning wearing one sock, so all is well.

On on!
SS

Just in time

Saturday's SH3 run details are:
Songkhla Hash House Harriers run #1830. Saturday July 9th 2016, 4:30 p.m.
Hare: Sex Sprinter
Misdirections: From the Ko Yo intersection take the old Hatyai road for 4.7k and turn left for 6k to the Tha Kham crossroads then turn left for about 3 to 4k (not exact!) and turn right at the hash sign somewhere before the Sai Kao Resort. Follow the track until you hit the run site.

Meanwhile, Sunday's HH3 run will be set by Kai Jeow probably with a gaggle of dogs and kids in tow. Directions are: From the Ko Yo intersection take the old Hatyai road for 4.7k and turn left for 4k then left for 1.6k then right for about 300m. to the run site by the lake at 7 03 19.48 N, 100 35 02.60E. If you're coming from the Keow Kloy end of Poonakan, go north through Tha Kham for about 3.8k and turn right for 1.6k etc.

Yesterday's B-to-A

Yesterday's run according to my watch. It ascended 190m in the first 18 minutes, though several of us agreed that it was the best way anyone has found to get up this notorious hill (the east side of the hills between the Old and New Hatyai roads). I measured total ascent at 282m and distance at about 5km. As always, click to see it big.

The Pink Ready Mystery

For the benefit of our readers who want to follow the map linked the post below, note that it's not the "Pink Ready Resort" but in fact "Pink Lady Resort". (Though "Pink Ready" isn't a bad name for it either.) The only question is why the hares would have started their route from this famous old landmark. Is City Tits back in town?

[Map detached from the post below in order not to offend the sensibilities of the poster.]

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Change of runsite

Due to circumstances beyond the control of the hares, today's SH3 run will now be an A to B run so the run site has changed and will now be at 7.1298338,100.578656, or for normal mortals:

From the Ko Yo intersection take New Hat Yai Rd for 8.5 km. Turn left and drive 1.65 km. Turn left onto the paved road and drive 100 m to the runsite. (For anyone wanting to approach the runsite from the old Hatyai road, at the Nam Noi traffic lights turn right (from Songkhla or left from Hat Yai and follow the road for about 4k then turn right at the hash sign for 100m to the runsite)

As this is an A-B there will be transport from the B site (as above) to the A site (the previously advised run site) which will leave SHARP at 4:30 p.m. so please don't be late if you want to do the long run. 

Mecca!

Only one run this weekend as HH3 are not running on Sunday due to participation in some sort of religious parade in Songkhla. So Saturday's hares are putting on their own pilgrimage of sorts, ascending the road towards heaven where we will be rewarded with a transcendental experience. (Is there a beer stop? ed)

Details are:

Songkhla Hash House Harriers run #1829, Saturday July 2nd, 2016, 4:30 p.m.

Hares; Throbbin' Hood, Pee Wee and Olive Oyle

Misdirections: From the Ko Yo intersection take the old Hatyai road for about 10k (near Wat Nam Noi) and make a u-turn. Drive 1.2k and turn left. Drive 1.6k to the runsite in the rubber on the left.

Who's up for a curry

Directions shortly, but all this talk of marathons is making me feel hungry! As there's no HH3 run this weekend, anyone fancy a curry on Sunday evening at the Namaste Ganesha in Hatyai? We'd have to book and order in advance and details can be found here. I'm not sure if this is the full menu but I'm making enquiries. Again, if you are interested either comment below or send me an e mail.