Hashing in December 2011!

It was a busy time, real work finally started after taking over the site. It was and is going to be a busy year ahead. What's more timely? Whichever comes first on my free time will become the priority then. So, it would be a mixed, jumbled-up and should be made an enjoyable or as pleasant as possible!

December 2011 was a busy month but I managed these:

26/12/11: HHH, Tiara Melawati

A 12km run that was filled with scenic views, fantastic climbs, good running trails and an appropriate length but the checks were a bit too easy. The pack seemed to like it as the run length was enough to satisfy the ‘running itch’! The weather was fantastically windy but at some point a bit warm.

At the beginning of the run, it was all climbs – one after the other till the top most offtracks. It was then a downhill hill run and a check or two was thrown in to confuse the runners. A right fork path had most of the guys running downhill to the river that was so ever familiar. A foreign worker’s hut by the creek with the owner pointing to the direction where we should run rather than stomping his front yard! It was another winding uphill with lots of good size rattans crawling all over the paths. The jungle was not pillaged for fortune and nicely intact.

I was steady with my new pair of ‘drinking vessel’ and doing good time, slightly behind the runners. Another loop round the hill got us crossing another path of a water body, yet many did not realize it was part of the Klang Gates Dam! Hills upon hills, we were cooled by the cool strong breeze; the climbs were so refreshing instead of tiring! We had another view of the dam before a right turn down another familiar trail with lots of bamboo trees. Stooping and bending down to avoid the pointy bamboo while running was no fun for the not vertically challenged body but us Asians were just fine! A good laugh while running did some good to take some tiredness away!

It seemed that the hare was about to make the run longer by running round the dam but another right turn proved he still had his head just below the airy line. Though that was the case, the home direction was still quite thrown off. We ran on the jungle paths that took us out into the open area that looked like a ranch, downhill run ended when we reached the picnic area that was filled with children’s joyous noises. Some already had the idea of where we were and was expecting a last stretch torture trail.  A hair pin turn uphill on the tarmac got us running past a few local guys burning loads of coconut husks and shells while some of a large conglomerate’s cows were grazing without a care. We came to the end of the tarmac and into a small rubber holding, climbing it was not what it seems – a hidden steep slope had a few of us drooling! The climb took some time and we got to the offtracks where we started the run at the top of the first climb after the first check. It was then a speedy downhill run for less than 2km to reach the parking - that was ‘clouded’ by the dust from the crusher run road.

25/12/11: SH4, Villaraya Industrial Park

It was a short, less than 4km run but with a few climbs.  Some considered, even me, did not have the chance to leg stretch to the fullest! Some considered it to be a good one as they have had a chance to finish a run without suffering too much! Overall, there was a good cheery crowd ready to be merry on this Christmas day. The night was spent drinking and horsing around. I got a new pair of shoes and was my drinking vessel later in the circle!

16/12/2011: DTH3, Sungai Jelok

12/12/11: HHH, Ulu Yam Bundoora Estate

Late again! Me car was not at home when I was early and luckily I could hitch a ride with Peter Giant. We left around 4:10 and arrived at the run site at 6:30! I was not very comfortable to have a beer without a sweat at the run site, so I opted to go chase the pack. The trail paper was thought to be at the OP but not! I was running around to spot one but failed. With the never giving up spirit, I got back to the parking and the hare and co-hare were laying the last bit of the run and they pointed to the InTrail that was on the right. I was alone and was crazy enough to get in deeper into the trail, it was then 6:45. The connected checks were confusing as papers leading to checks, falsies, back check and a circular check was not picked up! The figuring out where the trail was going was not easy if you are alone! I soon met Plasticman and MMoi turning back on paper. It was a hilly climbing trail and towards the usual running site by the river picnic area. After reaching the OP hill top and it was about 7, I heard the honker in the opposite far side of the valley. Realising it was not wise to pursue the trail further, I decided to get on the down hill offtracks to run with all my might. I then met DKhoo, San and Fong Wan deciphering the paper trail! They hit paper on both sides and was asking which was was the home trail. DKhoo was quick to conclude that the right way was right while I went left to try meet the front pack. I got to the bottom by the river that I met Super Oldman and Ah Meng. It was there that I turned back and headed on back up the hill and home trailed on the last bit to conclude my 5km run! It was 2km shorter than the whole run but I was back safely!

11/12/11: SH4, Broga

We arrived late; YM was still having trouble with her knee joints and backaches. I was a few kilograms heavier than the previous month! I wasn’t the last to chase the pack as Big Mouth Monkey was late too. Definitely he was much faster and soon he disappeared from sight. The run started with on tarmac heading towards the back of the temple. A kilometer or two we were led towards the rubber estate towards the back after the famous fish BBQ restaturant on the left. We went past some foreign workers’ settlement that was very well kept and nicely ‘decorated’ with some stupa like structures. Yes, there were friendly greets and the facial expressions to state our craziness!

The hill climb started after that and, boy, that was steep! The last sweeper’s honking was nearer and nearer, soon enough there was the last pack struggling on the steep climb. I was huffing and puffing too, the extra weight provedto be something not to mess with! Got to shave some off!

The climb was long and continued after one another stacked on hills! We soon saw what was like the top and the noises made by the dirt bikes, had us thinking the climb was soon to be conquered. It was the otherwise, a right turn and cutting cross the steep slopes had the pack on the climb again. It was on the back hills of the ‘highway’. We soon had the task of the long steep climb that generated a lot of sweat. Soon enough, the ‘highway’ was in sight and the home trail was through the usual areas past the dirt bike course and some rubber estate. It wasn’t a long run but it sure beat the hell out of the fat me!

5/12/11: HHH, Bukit Lagong

We were in time with ample parking as many guys were yet to be there. The weather was kind and it didn’t rain till that time compared to the previous day’s heavy down pour.

The run started with a warm up walk trailing the JM on the tarmac heading to the village. The first check was on the right, by the fence after a ‘short wall’ climb. Easily enough the check was broken with a back check and going up the offtrack steep. The climb was quite taxing in the late afternoon heat and many were panting like mad, tongues were wagging. The keep right trail after reaching the high tension pylon continued on but the runners were turning back in confidence of a back check. True enough, it was and it was on the left going down hill on an old forgotten path. It was towards the orchards and another check was there. It took quite some time to break and finally the SCBs got it right! We were heading deeper inside and the packs were lining up after reaching a clearcut area that was recently carried out. The tree trunks and branches were everywhere and it was a like an obstacle course. Up and down, we were trudging on the fringes of the jungle and finally into the jungle following the flowing creeks. There was Arthur Hoi slowly scooting from one high point to another, avoiding wetting his shoes! Barry wasn’t patient and so was the line that he held up! It was an uphill and rock to rock, we reached the hill top with a slippery and taxing climb. The front pack was heard checking and just before we reached them, it was broken. The runners were quick to disappear on a long down hill path till a pump house. The run was that short as exclaimed by many and a less than 2km tarmac run got us back. The FROP was in at 7:07 while the last came back almost 9pm! Who else? Anddrew!