Spotted Dick's Birthday Run 2006 - 12 November 2006

Yes that is me in the silly hat. It is a BMPH3 tradition that you wear a hat on your birthday! A little late I know, but back last month I set a trail to celebrate my birthday.

I had been recce-ing the run for quite some time aided by a bit of direction from Mick Mac a veteran Hasher with the BMPH3 and my trusty GPS. I went out a total of 4 times before the run to walk in the Foret de Soignes to the south east of Brussels to find the trail.

I should have had a co-hare but I rather liked the idea of setting the trail by myself. Walking alone in the woods guided only by the GPS was a delight. The weather was wonderful - nice bright afternoons with a bit of a nip in the air and bright sunshine. The woods were incredibly beautiful.
Tall beech trees with silver green trunks seemingly propping up a canopy of green and gold. And apart from the occasional mountain biker no one around. I saw a little wildlife while was out - a deer and to my amazement 2 chipmunks - well they were small brown squirrels with pale stripes down their backs. Actually a few weeks after my run I actually saw a red squirrel in the forest.

The Google Earth/GPS map is a little complex to understand, but basically there were 3 trails. A Bulls' trail (a long one for good runners) that was about 12kms in length that went out deep into the forest using tunnels under the motorway that quarters the forest, a Chickens' trail that turns north and then loops down around the lakes to the south, and a Walker's trail that starts off following the Bulls trail, then short cuts across at the lakes to join the Chickens' trail. All the trails came together at a parking area under the motorway for a beer stop and then there was a 1km loop back through Rouge Cloitre to rejoin the out trail and then back to the start.

I started laying the trail at 11:30 and finally finished the last bit of the Bulls' trail at 3:00pm and then had to leg it (run) back along the main road to meet everyone at the start.

I was totally exhausted by the time I got to the start having been walking/running for three and a half hours and covering nearly 20km (12.5 miles), but I was really heartened to see such a large turn out - there were over 25 hashers keen to start running. I changed my tee-shirt, ate a banana, had a drink of water, put on the birthday hat and then was ready for the introduction. I explained there were 3 trails and asked for a show of hands as to who would be doing which trail - I was surprised to find there were at least 12 people who wanted to do the Bulls' trail - despite (or perhaps because of) my description of it as being "Long, smooth and hard".

I elected to re-run the Bulls' trail and had a great time watching the pack trying to solve the checks. I was very happy but totally exhausted by the time we got to the beer stop - and everyone was there - no one got lost and everyone said what a great trail it was.

Finally back at the start I estimated I had covered in excess of 32kms (20 miles) on foot that day! I was treated with the usual disrespect in the circle afterwards being given lots to drink - despite me saying I was trying to cut down and I was duct-taped to another birthday boy - Spare Rib.

We had an 'On After' in a local excellent restaurant, the Deauville, and again I was delighted by the turn out - 2 full tables. The food was wonderful - game - Yum Yum.

Everyone agreed that the trail was a really good one - I've now got a reputation to live up to!