' The Hash House Harriers '

The drinking club with a running problem !

WHAT IS HASHING ?

Today's hashing is a fun mixture of running and partying.  Where men and women ( harriers and harriettes ) gather every week or so to follow a trail ( previously laid by other hashers called 'hares' ) for typically seven to ten kilometers through town, country, jungle, desert and forest.  It's generally looked upon as being noncompetitive with the emphasis being on the 'pack' working together to solve the hares trail and finish the run more or less at the same time. At the end of the run, plenty of cold beer and soft drinks are available for all of those thirsty hashers.

One of the first items to be dealt with before a run is the 'New Shoes' ritual. Beer is normally poured directly into an offending new shoe and drunk down in one go.  For non drinkers, water or soft drinks are substituted for the beer.

Now days there are Mixed, Men only and Lady's only hashing groups all over the world with numbers generally varying between 20 and 50 runners per week.  Shredded paper, flour or chalk is used to mark a trail through the local country side as most hashers prefer to run through fields, streams and swamps etc rather than be confined to the streets and alleys of towns and villages.

Hashing is loosely based on the English public school boy's 'paper chase' or 'Hare and Hounds' runs dating back to the 18th century. A hare would be given a few minutes head start to lay a trail using bit's of paper with the rest of the pack soon following and chasing down the hare.

When the run is over, the socializing and camaraderie begins. Fruit, snacks and food is available on many hashes alongside the ice cold beer.

Almost always after Hash runs, there is a circle (Religion). During this time, Hashers gather to observe various ceremony's and rituals that take place and hashers are invited to take a 'down down'.  Circles are directed by the 'Grandmaster' and/or Religious Advisor. It varies from Hash to Hash but traditionally, 'hashers' are asked to sit on an ice block as the rest hear an account of their 'sins'.

Usually, to mark the end of the circle, the Hash Hymn is sung by everyone. Afterwards hashers either make their way home or go to a restaurant, bar or pub to carry on the socializing.

 

So . . . if you are fed up or bored running on your own, or maybe are visiting a far away city, why not try hashing.  Just remember one thing . . . never wear new shoes to the hash!