Madison Hash House Harriers

July 12, 2008

HASH HISTORY - HASH RUN #1613 - The 15th Annual Red Dress-O-Rama

Reported by SHOW ME. This fine reporter estimates that around 50 finely-dressed, red clad Hashers turned out for the 2008 Red Dress Run. The venue was changed this year from Rhythm and Booms to the Fete de Marquette on the east side. The hare, EGGBEATER took great care to scrupulously record the presence of each attendee. Each person was carefully marked and noted and each was thoroughly lambasted if their e-mail RSVP had been late or unknown, or their initials were curious. The hare must have taken to early imbibing though, for despite his careful recording, he claimed not to know the actual number of attendees. This same hare then gave very explicit pre-run instructions regarding our potential arrival back at the cars at the finish. We were to WAIT for everyone, then walk en-masse to the grand Fete. Knowing the ability of hashers to follow even the simplest of instructions, you will no doubt predict that the first half of the arrivals walked on, and the second half fended for them selves. And that's what happened. The trail headed northwest on bike trails, then eventually through Maple Bluff where we encountered possibly one of our greatest fears, a fake beer check. We were sweaty and thirsty and this reporter heard many cursings-at-the-hare. But we were saved... or rewarded for whining, as it were. A civilian driver of a pick-up truck over-heard the griping and stopped to let a group partake of his hard liquor that he had in his truck... open... and ready to drink... The real beer check was at a strip-mall bar only a half mile further. We barely got to running again when we found the second beer check, again in a bar and only another half mile away. This beer stop had a large outdoor patio that we took over to the great amusement of the civilian drunkards. From there the trail continued southeast on railroad tracks back to the start for the disorganized relocation to the relocated Fete de Marquette. The On-On was located in a grassy, breezy, tented enclave on Baldwin, just south of East Washington Ave. Good food was catered by Jamerica, and that was graced by a full keg of Beer de Fete. Ceremonies were conducted by DRIBS and BEER NUTS. Both had to work hard to keep things moving with the raucous and inattentive crowd. The highlight was a fashion show, first by all male runners, then by all female runners. An official vote was not taken, but this reporter was impressed by CO CO's dress, which fit him very, very well with a long full skirt, ruffled sleeves and all. And I must point out that the men who wore plain red sheath dresses like ULTRA SMUT and DIEGO, still looked like men... men who enjoy wearing dresses and who look way too comfortable in them. BABY BALLS topped his outfit with a bright red, fluff-trimmed pimp hat that was worn throughout the event by various hashers wanting to emulate his sense of style. 3-HOLER was superbly feminine in his bright hot-pink outfit. The women were all out-classed by RACK 'EM UP whose wonderful hour glass figure out-shone everyone. HALF-CRACKED wore a hot vinyl dress and SHOW ME was festooned with her usual fluff of red petticoats. The party tent remained a convivial setting, attracting gawkers until the keg ran out and the crowd dissolved, many to listen to various bands at the festival.