What was I thinking?

I could have run one of south Florida’s sunny Thanksgiving Day 5Ks. Instead, I found myself teetering in the dark in the middle of a railroad trestle above a canal that surely sheltered the largest alligators in West Palm Beach.

I don’t like to get up early, especially on vacation, so instead of running one of the more traditional suburban Turkey Trots, my friend Dave and I opted for an evening adventure into the unknown — the 16th Annual Gobble and Swallow, hosted by West Palm Beach/Hurricane Hash House Harriers.

As I’ve explained previously, Hash House Harriers, the “drinking club with a running problem,” is a worldwide running and social club with chapters called kennels in most major cities. Hashers welcome runners and walkers of all abilities to their wacky world.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., a pick-up truck pulled into the far side of the Winn-Dixie parking lot and opened its tailgate, exposing a few coolers of beer and water and bags of hashers’ trail favorites — cheese curls and chocolate chip cookies. Runners and walkers, some dressed for racing, others equipped for hiking, appeared from the darkness.

We introduced ourselves, paid $10 to cover refreshments, and added food items to an overflowing box destined for the local food bank.

After an appropriate time of socializing, our hare for the evening, a trim 50-ish runner named A. Inspector, gathered us together, explained the trail markings, then disappeared into the darkness armed with a sack of flour and roll of toilet paper. Ten minutes, then the pack spread out to locate his trail.

“On-On”s echoed down back streets and vacant lots as the front runners found marks on the ground, on trees, on railroad tracks. The pack of 40 or so split up in search of the true trail, and I stuck close to one local hasher, a woman half my age.

We sprinted through knee high brush to catch up with another small group shining their flashlights on flour dots that led across that trestle. Flashlights bobbed through the brush on the other side.

I took a deep breath and gingerly stepped onto the wobbly railroad ties, assessing the relative dangers of falling into an alligator infested canal compared with getting lost at night in an unfamiliar neighborhood. I was relieved when Dave and another handful of hashers caught up with us, doubling our numbers.

Dots of flour on the ground and toilet paper blowing in the breeze on low-hanging tree branches led us through an industrial park, along a grassy levee and to a paved nature trail. A mile of wandering found us back at the railroad tracks out of sight of the trestle. This time we stomped in the chilling air, waiting for what seemed like ten minutes for a train to clear the crossing.

The group split again, scurrying like rats in all directions down various trail possibilities. I decided to follow a tall runner by the name of One Chump Chuck who wrongly guessed our destination.

The detour took us several blocks out of the way. I struggled, mostly out of fear of getting lost, to keep up with his long stride and we circled back to find the true trail.

Finally, our little group realized that we had made a great looping circle and that our hare intended for us to cross back over the same railroad trestle. This time we balked. Once was enough.

One of the locals phoned for directions and we humbly straggled in to meet the rest of the hashers in a backyard already eating, drinking and playing a team game involving toilet plungers.

We’d run, walked, crawled and climbed for more than four miles, and that was just the first of four stops on our Thanksgiving Eve hash.

Upcoming events

Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.: Mojo Sports Group Run, Cranberry Township. 724-772-2808 or www.mojorunningpittsburgh.com

Saturdays, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Snowflake 5k, Erie. Starts at Presque Isle State Park Rotary Pavilion. 814-774-3209 or dana@erie-runnersclub.org

Saturday, 11 a.m.: Old Fashioned Christmas in Volant 5K and Kids Fun Run, Volant. bonnherb@yahoo.com

Sunday, 6 p.m.: Mojo Running 2014 Marathon Training meeting, Cranberry Township. 724-772-2808 or mojorunning@gmail.com

Dec. 22, 7 p.m.: Mistletoe Mile, North East. Family fun run through Heard and Gibson Parks with post run hot chocolate and cookies. 814-725-1017

Dec. 31, 3 p.m.: Harmony Silvester 5K, Harmony. Also 1 mile fun run at 3:45 p.m. Part of New Year’s Eve Celebration. 724-452-3149 or saltemus@zoominternet.net

Dec. 31, 6:30 p.m.: Resolution Run 5K, State College. 814-355-1589 or dhe1@psu.edu

Jan. 1, 10 a.m.: ERC New Year’s Day 5 Mile Race, Erie. Starts at Presque Isle State Park Rotary Pavilion. 814-774-3209 or dana@erie-runnersclub.org

Jan. 1, noon: Mojo’s Hair of the Dog Run, Mars. No prizes, choice of distance. 724-772-2808 or mojorunning@gmail.com

Jan. 4, 8:45 a.m.: Steel City Road Runners Pittsburgh Marathon Kick-Off Training Run, Pittsburgh. Free event with choice of distances. Pittsburghmarathon.com/kickoff

Jan. 5, 2 p.m.: Run to Read Half Marathon, Fairmont, WV. Out and back course on two rail trails. 304-366-6055 or run2read@yahoo.com. Online registration at runsignup.com.

Jan. 12, 9 a.m.: Frigid 5 Miler, North Park. Starts at North Park Lodge, commemorative neck gaiters. 412-490-0881 or www.eliterunners.com

Race results

Riverside Gobbler’s Gallop 5K, Nov. 28: Doug Petrik, 1st Overall M, 17:11; Benjamin English, 3rd Overall M, 17:29; Leslie Kramer, 1st Overall W, 21:38; Billy Lott, 1st 14-19 M, 17:48; James Wrubel, 1st 40-44 M, 19:29; Zachary Stiefel, 3rd 20-24 M, 22:52; Russ Oschenhirt, 3rd 35-39 M, 22:52; Holly Bauer, 1st 35-39 W, 23:06; Richard Williams, 2nd 50-54 M, 23:33; Diane Hart, 2nd 40-44 W, 24:29; Kristen Oschenhirt, 2nd 35-39 W, 24:47; Philip Mathew, 1st 45-49 M, 24:58; Anna Maharg, 1st 20-24 W, 24:59; Wes Hunkler, 2nd 45-49 M, 25:05; Michael Covert, 3rd 45-49 M, 25:08; Kayla Gould, 2nd 20-24 W, 25:50; Natalie Pilarski, 3rd 40-44 W, 25:54; Jennifer Banyay, 1st 30-34 W, 26:45; Joshua Koach, 3rd 30-34 M, 28:17; Jessie White, 2nd 25-29 W, 29:18; Erica Duffy, 3rd 25-29 W, 29:26; Tori Eyerman, 1st 13 & Under W, 29:31; Mary Mazzant, 1st 70+ W, 46:33; Christian Covert, 20:49; Connor Fanks, 21:18; Clint Hartle, 22:57; Zach Gould, 23:22; Paul Boehm, 23:34; Brett Hart, 23:37; Andrew Zilavy, 23:55; Joey Eyerman, 23:58; Thomas Antal, 24:03; Tristan Fanks, 24:23; David Lachendvo, 24:56; Gunnar Boehm, 25:00; Doug Hogue, 25:02; Carrie Smith, 25:59; Darrell Smith, 25:59; Patty Schmidt, 26:04; Megan Burr, 26:07; Chris Williams, 27:13; Lisa Antuono, 27:16; Doug Pilarski, 27:19; Autumn Heinz, 27:37; Tanner Gilchrist, 27:44; Frankie Creese, 27:54; Micaela Stover, 28:06; Logan Slade, 28:06; Sydney Rikk, 28:12; Ben Davis, 28:35; Callie Campese, 28:56; Bill Melfi, 28:56; Colby Beighey, 29:12; Dennis Arndy, 29:15; Katie Roitz, 29:29; Beth Roitz, 29:29; Sinead McAnallen, 29:30; Scott Brown, 29:34; Alex Brown, 29:34; Sara Sutter, 30:10; Tammy Sutter, 30:31; Bob Dawson, 30:36; Ashleigh Mann, 30:41; Jenna Hart, 30:42; Andy Nye, 31:06; Sam Ewing, 31:07; Maddy Campese, 31:16; Marketa Schublova, 31:23; Carlie Nye, 31:23; Renee Melfi, 31:24; Donnie Benson, 31:28; John Sepe, 31:41; Edward McFarland, 31:59; Jordan Hunkler, 31:59; Tony Cortez, 32:12; Josh Friday, 32:41; Stacy Eyerman, 32:43; Amy Friday, 32:52; Wmily Griffen, 33:00; Dave Steffler, 33:44; Bethany Laslavic, 33:48; Rose Nye, 33:52; Jamie Richards, 33:52; Julie Williams, 33:53; Caryn Morrow, 34:00; Alyssa Sutter, 34:21; Jordan Gilchrist, 35:08; Terri Hunkler, 36:17; Jessica Davis, 40:23; Hayley Davis, 40:24; Griffen Ewing, 40:35; Steve Roitz, 40:55; Kelly Roitz, 40:55; Brittany Hart, 42:40; Logan Ewing, 43:44; Maggie Ewing, 43:51; Mark Zilavy, 49:51

Gobbler’s Gallop 10K, November 28: Doug Petrik, 1st Overall M, 35:32; Leslie Kramer, 1st Overall W, 43:46; Karen Lyle, 3rd Overall W, 46:29; Gregory Banyay, 1st 30-34 M, 39:51; James Wrubel, 1st 40-44 M, 41:34; Rick Colonello, 2nd 35-39 M, 41:39; Mike Yankel, 2nd 40-44 M, 41:53; Dan Spiker, 1st 14-19 M, 42:31; Sam Zilavy, 2nd 14-19 M, 42:42; Jeff Lynn, 1st 45-49 M, 43:47; Bonnie Smerk, 1st 25-29 W, 47:13; William Marsh, 2nd 45-49 M, 47:31; Ron Ferrie, 3rd 50-54 M, 47:38; Avery Lawson, 1st 35-39 W, 47:43; Jonah Kingston, 3rd 14-19 M, 48:02; Anna Maharg, 2nd 20-24 W, 48:37; Katie Roitz, 3rd 20-24 W, 48:37; Colby Beighey, 1st 20-24 M, 49:01; Sarah Antal, 1st 45-49 W, 49:04; Kristen Oschenhirt, 2nd 35-39 W, 50:28; David Cappello, 3rd 45-49 M, 50:38; Patty Schmidt, 2nd 45-49 W, 51:08; Bruce Hazen, 1st 60-64 M, 51:35; Nanette Paracca, 2nd 40-44 W, 54:45; Benjamin Sepe, 2nd 20-24 M, 54:55; Lisa Antuono, 3rd 40-44 W, 55:31; Jamie Baird, 3rd 25-29 W, 58:36; Durke Martin, 2nd 13 & Under M, 1:00:44; Patti Godsen, 1st 55-59 W, 1:01:59; Sherree May, 2nd 55-59 W, 1:02:01; Margaret Kimpel, 1st 70+ W, 1:32:56Clint Hartle, 46:43; Russ Oschenhirt, 47:30; Logan Slade, 48:36; Tomas Maielli, 49:10; Cody Stang, 49:28; Jeff Syphrit, 50:15; Holly Bauer, 51:04; Megan Gahring, 51:16; Brittany Sismour, 53:18; Steve Roitz, 53:53; Ben Davis, 54:40; Bob Markovich, 54:46; Philip Mathew, 54:47; Jim Carr, 54:48; Carrie Smith, 55:27; Darrell Smith, 55:27; Tim Weil, 56:06; Jennifer Hardin, 57:46; Steven Day, 58:10; Sarah Cerilli, 59:43; Jamie Richards, 1:00:43; Tara Kennedy, 1:01:05; Gary Williams, 1:01:18; Lenny Yensull, 1:02:01; Katie Bender, 1:09:26; Sandy Radmanich, 1:12:27

Gobble Wobble 5k, November 28: Jed Christiansen, 1st Overall M, 15:40; Cindy Lou Who, 1st Overall W, 20:03; Jake Winter, 19:58; John John Somora, 20:53; Thomas Somora, 21:36; Joe Joe Somora, 24:53; Rachel Powell, 25:40; Matt Rose, 25:48; Patrick Shaw, 26:19; Cody Campbell, 27:37; William Woods. 27:50; Kevin Roos, 28:05; Tedd Nesbitt, 29:27; Kelly Somora, 29:43; Jessica Boca, 29:47; Evan Gruver, 30:26; Wendy Shaw, 30:36; Kristi Sestak, 30:38; Josh Shaffer, 31:13; Tony Sunseri, 31:18; Brady Boca, 31:56; Stephanie McCreary, 32:19; Charlie Nesbit, 33:06; Michele Brochetti, 33:25; Alfred Schnabel, 33:31; Christina Bochy, 37:48; Margy Somora, 39:37; Kayce Jackal, 39:51; Anthony Berger, 39:51; Bridget Casteel, 40:01; John Sestak, 40:19; Sue Edwards, 40:27; Laurie Degraaf, 41:52; Stefanie Gilliland, 42:32; Julia Roos, 45:34;

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone or fax 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle