Run 196 May 1, 2000

Hares: Basil Ashmore/Aleks Tkocz

Start: Grand Army Plaza

On-In: Smith's

Scribe: Christine Hinz

Fluffy and I have an ongoing debate. It has something to do with my poor attendance at the Brooklyn Hashes. My argument is that Monday night is generally considered a health night for most fitness fanatics in the city. This means that the idea of drinking on a Monday night makes me feel, well, overwhelmed with guilt. Jerry's argument is that if I'm a regular Sunday hasher, then I'm ruined already. Furthermore, he argues, Monday night runs are all about easing into the week and recovering from Sunday's NYC3 decadence.

That said, on this particular Monday night I scurried home in hopes of going for a healthy, non-alcoholic bike ride in Prospect Park. When I came out of the Grand Army Plaza station and spotted the great Keith Kanaga waiting patiently with his cow bell all ready to go, however, I realized that it was the night of the Brooklyn run and decided to give Fluffy's theory a try.

After a quick change into my running gear, I returned to the start and was happy to learn that I would get a good workout since Mike Bahamonde was scheduled to be the hare. Then J. O'Connor arrived to inform us that, alas, Mike had suffered a mountain biking accident (but was thought to be okay since he finally remembered his own name). Instead, Basil would be setting the trail, which would also be fine, since where Mike leaves off in long trails, Basil makes up for in circuitousness.

The run took off on Flatbush and went immediately into Prospect Heights, where we looped around and went along Eastern Parkway, past the Brooklyn Museum and around the backend of the park. Somehow, we all got strung

out quite a bit, probably because of the latest trend in running without chalk that seems to be all the rage among Metropolitan New York hashers. I sent Stacie and Pierre down one street heading into the heart of Brownsville to check on an unmarked false trail (you wouldn't catch me hanging around on that street), then spotted another hasher who appeared to be on trail about a quarter mile away in another direction and thought it best to keep moving.

Once we looped back into Prospect Park, we meandered by the famous Harry's Wall and the Circus to the back of the reservoir. Then, we came back to Harry's again and almost jumped back to a mark earlier in the trail, but realized that if we climbed through the shrubbery, we'd find ourselves on the road heading toward the big, green field near Grand Army Plaza. We ran across the field, which I highly recommend for anyone looking to brighten their mood. There's something about running with no real direction, in a vast space of green with only the thought of cold beer on the mind that is quite exhilarating.

We exited the park at Garfield, and then ran headlong down the "slope" to 7th avenue. Would it be the Carriage House? The Gate? Boland's? Smith's? I played it safe - sticking to the trail, but it turned out Ewa took a

gamble on the Gate - and lost. Smith's was the On-In, and a preferred regular hasher hangout. What with

the chicken, fish and chips joint across the street offering such a unique dining experience (the fish tastes like chicken, the chicken tastes like cardboard), we were all pretty happy. To be fair, though, I love the adventurous dining we do in Brooklyn and that place does great stuff with fries. (Come to think of it, that was probably one of the more nutritious meals I've had this week, what with fries technically being a vegetable and all.)

David Byron-Brown arrived to join us for dinner and a couple of pints - as well as to inform us that a bus would be arriving at 9:53 p.m. to carry us all home to various points along Fifth Avenue. As we finished our pints and gathered at the bus stop I realized that Fluffy was right, Monday night Brooklyn runs are a great way to recuperate from the weekend. And hell, who am I kidding about being ruined? As Fluffy notes, I've been ruined ever since I showed up at my first hash.