投稿日: Feb 12, 2018 9:19:17 AM
Gispert Memorial Run
Scribe: Don't come late (Jeff)
On this day in 1942, the founder of the Hash House Harriers, A. S. Gispert was killed in combat with Japanese soldiers in the Bukit Timah neighborhood of Singapore. Seventy-six years later to the day, we honor our fallen Hasher by trampling the sacred Japanese asphalt and trails through the towns of Zushi and Hayama.
Hare: Crusader
Run: A to A
On-On: The Terrace (Asian Cafe)
Neighborhoods: Zushi, Sakurayama, Nagae
Turkey-Eagle Splits: 3 (minus one)
Distance: 7-9 KM
For our memorial run we met up at the Kameoka Hachimangu Shrine outside of Shin-Zushi station. There were the usual collection of misfits and troublemakers as well as some new victims. I say victims, because anyone who has run a Crusader trail will tell you, that you finish it feeling like a victim. To say that Crusader likes hills would be an understatement. His hounds on this day were reminded of how much he loves his hills.
Starting off the run we chased the trail south toward that dreaded Sakurayama looming like a…well…like a “yama” ahead of us. Before we were blessed by our first steep hill we were given our first T-E split, and being the best Eagles ever, we found the Beer Near mark too early. After doubling back we got back on trail and headed toward the Tagoe Bridge. Crossing the river we began our dreaded climb up into Sakurayama. The mountain gladly embraced our group as Crusader envisioned. After climbing what seemed to be innumerable stairs into the forested peak, it struck me that we’re not only going to be taken back down the far side of the mountain, but this being an A-A run we would then have to climb back over the mountain to get to the finish.
Stumbling back down the mountain we were able to let gravity do most of the work, again knowing that we would be forced to climb up it soon. As we hopped and waddled down all the stairs there were quite a few hounds that slipped and skidded in the freshly muddied trails. I think I heard one or two cursing the name of Crusader. Strangely I swear I heard him laughing at us somewhere unseen.
A couple of hounds attempted to fly the route thinking they knew where it was headed only to learn they were wrong and having to double back to find the trail. Lesson learned: don’t try to show off.
Running back north through the neighborhood of Nagae and toward the dreaded Sakurayama hounds were treated to a nice leisurely path along the canals. There was even a brief passing of a National Foundation Day celebratory van broadcasting Kimigayo for anyone nearby to hear.
As we climbed back up the mountain we were treated to more sweeping views of the valley below. We ran through the neighborhood at the top of the mountain and found the third Turkey-Eagle split. Crusader, being either a bastard or just realizing he had messed up his course, threw a Check-Back on this Eagle and we resumed our run being back on the true scent.
For our final trial in catching our hare, Crusader had led us back down the north side of the mountain by dragging us back through the forest and over a staircase of the smallest and most unevenly positioned pavers. Yet again we had to hop and bounce along a lengthy staircase in order to keep from falling. Knees everywhere were cursing Crusaders name as we bounced downward. Exiting back into the Zushi neighborhood just south of the train station we were met with our previously discovered Beer Near mark before finally plodding into the On-In. Crusader did a great job making the hounds work to follow his trail. Maybe next time we shouldn’t choose such a proficient runner to lay the trail. Perhaps we find the most out of shape hashers to be our hares. It would probably solve this “love of hills” problem that the 4H is infected with. We held a brief circle wherein we observed a brief moment of silence for our fallen comrade, then introduced some new hashers and covered a few hash administrative details to include mocking our Crusading Crusader.
For our On-On we enjoyed three hours of nomihodai and assorted dishes from different Asian cuisines at The Terrace Asian Cafe. We enjoyed good wine, beer, and cocktails. For dishes we were served a delicious spring roll, fried calamari, edamame, sashimi in Italian dressing, pizza and assorted fried meats, shrimp chips, garlic seasoned potato wedges, tofu with a sesame sauce, and a fresh pasta to finish it off.
We did our best to honor our founder, and the countryside did its best to punish us for honoring an enemy of the emperor. In the end, both hashers and land yielded in their struggle, only to resume their perpetual war of attrition next month.
On-On