i like my chances

crab hash

Hey HashersThe New Dates for the TCH October 5-8 are rapidly approaching! This year it will be camping on a privet lake so pack your tents and lets Get Crabby! You can get the early rego price of $75 if you sign up by 15 sept or this weekend! All the info is at www.TexasCrabHash.com. On-on Danny "Dick the Boy Wonder" Taylor281-851-9617 "Keep on Smiling"Yes we will prelube and post lube at Chad's Sports BarYes there will be non stop frozen Drinks and BeerYes there will be a hot & shiggy trail on Saturday with the Crab feast to follow!Please pass this info to any other groups or list that you might think would like to join us!

attn brownie--hashers backing, thought i would share

Years ago, many of us in the Hash used to organize and go on backpacking trips. I would like to revive interest in this. Would anyone be interested in a 4 day, 3 night trip in the Pecos Wilderness of New Mexico? The Pecos is within a days drive of Houston and is in the closest mountains suitable for backpacking. Turtle Brains suggested the time around Labor Day weekend. If we go much later, we could run into snow. I was thinking we could rent a van or vans to transport the group.If you are interested, e-mail me directly. Please keep in mind that this is not a Hash camp out where you drive to the spot and drink beer. Backpacking is strenuous work. You carry everything on your back. We will be walking 8 to 10 miles each day with 25 to 40 pounds on your back. Also keep in mind, at a minumum, you will need:hiking boots (running shoes will not support your body weight with a pack) - this is the most important piece of equipment. Get fitted with good ones. back packing tent sleeping bag backpack rain pancho other equipment and food that can be shared (we can discuss once we know who is going)Backpacking requires an initial outlay of funds but once we are there, no money will be spent because there is no place to spend it.This will be no walk in the park. Backpacking is all about "getting it all over you". There will be no showers or toilets. If you need a daily bath, stay in Houston. We will be getting up in the morning and exploring all day with packs on our backs. You will have no problem sleeping at night.Most of the Pecos is between 8,000 and 12,000 feet. We will see lots of wildlife including big horn sheep, mountain goats, marmots, and mule deer. If we are lucky, we may see cougar and black bear. Several of the lakes have trout which can be fished. Truchas Peek is the second highest peek in New Mexico and can be climbed with minimal effort. The closest city is Santa Fe. We could schedule a side trip on our way out. As I said, e-mail me if you are interested.On On ,PowertoolJohn Holmes 12500 Barker Cypress #6101 Cypress, Texas 77429 832 868-9935

B*G*O

Craig Biggio career hits count up at Minute Maid Park. It will be interesting to see what the 'stros do when he gets there. Do you think they will call Burke back up to take over at 2nd base?

nurse's run last sunday

some of the nurses got together and laid a trail to celebrate nurse's week; see pictures HERE

right off the bat, a visitor from san antonio, FRUIT LOOP, went sliding down the first slope and blew out his knee, we had to make a human chain and drag him on his back out of there. I guess if you are going to blow out your knee at a hash, do it at the very beginning and while the nurses are around

go to WWW.H4.ORG to read Running the Boy Wankers most excellent write up

poop

this post is for the kimchi hashers that might happen upon this blog

beer pong

for those of you who cannot get enough of beer pong
when you defeat you opponent (they pass out), you get to sharpie them

http://www.addictinggames.com/fratboybeerpong.html

i went to the zoo with my 4 yr old daughter yesterday
it was not to hot but kinda of crowded. not like "spring break crowded" though

that same night, i did the full moon hash--i realized that i am pretty damn out of shape

today, i thought about running, then i changed my mind and ate a bunch of pizza

this post is for those who think it is difficult to make a great blog posting. i want to show them how easy and fun blogging can be.

you may remember brownie bragging about how he whipped a houston hasher named johnboy at a recent hash and the incline---here is johnboy's ironman experience from last month

ps. johnboy agrees, brownie is a wanker

Ironman Arizona 2007

The 2300 people were all dressed in their black wetsuits. They all waded or jumped into the water like a troop of penguins leaving an iceberg. They swim to the start line 150 meters away. Prior to starting they had to tread water for 15 minutes waiting to begin the 2007 Arizona Ironman.
The Ironman is an endurance event consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, followed by a 26.2 mile run. The Ironman grew out of a bar room argument in Hawaii about which was the tougher event, the long swim across the bay, the bike ride around the island of Oahu, or the Honolulu marathon. To settle the disagreement a few guys decided to try all three. Fifteen men showed up for the 1st race, 9 finished. Today, 30 years later, thousands show up for the races worldwide.
I was in the water waiting with the others. The starting canon goes off and I am immediately kicked in the face. I hope this is not a sign of things to come. I shake it off and start swimming. It is 7am and the sun is rising. The first leg of the swim is directly east, straight into the sun. I can’t really see where I am going but I am surrounded by swimmers and everyone is headed the same direction. I am constantly being bumped, scraped, and slapped by the herd. This is more like a rugby match then a swim. We eventually reach the turn buoy and the swarm becomes tighter. It’s shoulder to shoulder. We make the last turn and head west. The sun is now behind us and I can see a dotted line of orange buoys stretched far off towards the bridge near the starting line. The pack never thins out. It’s full contact the whole way.
I reach the exit point and climb up the stairway out of the water. There are a group of “strippers” to help everyone get out of their wetsuit. I unzip the back and pull it down. I sit on the ground and someone pulls the rubber suit off my legs. I hop up and head to the transition area. I am handed my numbered gear bag and enter the tent I dump my cycle gear on the ground and shove my swim stuff into the bag. I don my jersey and shoes and run out the other end of the tent. Girls are there to slather me with sunscreen as I put on my bike helmet.
I run out the gate into a sea of racked bikes. I locate my yellow bike and start running to the mounting line. I jump on and click my shoes into the pedals. The first section is thru the downtown area but soon heads out into the desert. The route is three 36 mile loops. The wind is hateful that day. The day before had been calm, but this morning a front had come in and the wind was 25mph with gusts of 45 miles. Going out of town was fast with the wind at my back, but once I turned around it was full speed in my face. In most bike races the riders group together and draft, but in triathlons drafting is illegal. Everyone is leaning down on their aerobars to minimize the effect.
I have a lot on time to think on the bike. I choose this race in particular because it was staged in Phoenix, Arizona. A little more then a year my wife, Cheryl, and I and had a baby. We named him Phoenix Malcolm and had great hopes for him. But due to a cruel fate he was born way too early and therefore had many complications. He died after 41/2 months. Cheryl and I were heartbroken. We are better now but will never be completely over it. As I ride I look at the photo of little Phoenix I have taped on my bike. Then I think a happy thought. The new baby girl, Kayla Zane, is on the way and will be here in a month. Cheryl is 8 months pregnant, that is why she is not at the race to cheer my on. This thought gives me a mental boost and I power into the wind.
After the third lap I’m more then ready to get off the bike. I cruise in to the transition area and hand my bike to one of the many volunteers. I’m handed my T2 run bag. I change in to my run shoes and trot out of the tent. Before I leave I’m recovered with sunscreen to protect me against the relentless sun.
My legs don’t want to go. I feel worn down from the windy ride. But I am able to jog down the trail on the first of three loops I make it to the first water station and I’m handed a wet sponge. This is very refreshing in the hot desert sun. I drank some water followed by a shot on cola. I trot off wondering if I can make it to the next station. I manage to keep moving my feet. After a few miles I get into a better rhythm and maintain a decent speed. Each loop passes near the finish line and I wish I could stop, but I keep trudging forward. On the 3rd loop I start getting some painful cramps. I’m forced in to short sections of walking. I count 40 steps of walking then run until the next series of cramps. The pain is bad but not getting worse. I keep moving. I can see the end and manage to run a little faster I cross the finish line and the announcer says over the mike “Kyle Hensley you are an Ironman”. This makes my happy. But I’m even happier that I can stop running. Everything hurts and I’m a little delirious.
After going thru the finishers shoot, I get a quick massage the sit down in the grass and think about the day. I am grateful I’m given the opportunity to do this insane thing. My wife Cheryl is great for allowing me the time to go out and train for countless hours. I think about little Phoenix but this time it is a happy thought. I feel I’ve honored him well by giving everything I had today.
My cousin Charla finds me. She has brought me a beer. Normally this would be a great thing, but I’m too tried to drink it right now. Charla watches over me as I gather by bike and other gear. I had a good day. My total time was 12 hr and 11 minutes and 44 seconds. This is 19 minutes better then my previous time. I’m proud of this. But I’m already thinking about what I can do better for next time. Later, I do manage to drink that beer.


Kyle Hensley
Swim: 1:15, Bike: 6:12, Run: 4:30,
Total: 12:11:44