On-On! To Exercise, Camaraderie, and Good Times
Hashing . . . it's a non-competitive mixture of athleticism and sociability, hedonism, exercise and fun; a refreshing break from the nine-to-five routine. Hashing is an exhilaratingly fun combination of running, orienteering and partying where a pack of harriers and harriettes follow a trail set by a hare through town, country, jungle and desert all in search of exercise, camaraderie and good times.
The 1938 Origins of a Global Phenomenon
Hashing is an exhilarating mix of running, orienteering, and partying where a pack follows a trail for exercise, camaraderie, and a break from routine. It began in 1938 Kuala Lumpur when restive British company men started a running group. They named the group after their meeting place, the Selangor Club, aka the "Hash House" .
The Classic Chase: Hare, Harriers, and Beer
Hash House Harrier (H3) runs were patterned after the traditional British public school paper chase.
A "hare" would be given a short head start to blaze a trail, marking his devious way with shreds of paper, soon to be pursued by a shouting pack of "harriers." Only the hare knew where he was going . . . the harriers followed his marks to stay on trail. Apart from the excitement of chasing down the wily hare, solving the hare's marks and reaching the end was its own reward, for there, thirsty harriers would find a tub of iced-down beer.
The Global Resurgence of Hashing
Hashing died during World War II (Japanese occupying forces being notoriously opposed to civilian fun), but came back to life in the post-war years, spreading slowly through Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand, then exploding in popularity in the late 70s and early 80s. Today there are thousands of Hash House Harrier clubs in all parts of the world, complete with newsletters, directories, and regional and world hashing conventions.
The Unchanging Spirit of the Hash
Despite its growth, hashing remains true to its roots. A typical hash is a loosely-organized group that meets to follow a trail of chalk or flour, preferring natural "shiggy" like woods and streams over city streets. The trail is punctuated by "checks," where the faster runners must search for the new direction and yell "On On!" to guide the pack. This system allows runners of all speeds to finish together, maintaining the social core of the event.
A Drinking Club with a Running Problem
At the end of the run refreshments are available, usually beer, although some of today's health-conscious hashers may shun a cold beer in favour of water or a diet soda. Regardless, trail's end is always a party where the hares are thanked (or castigated if the run was a bad one) and any misdemeanours perpetrated by any of the pack are celebrated with a down-down!
Perhaps that's why they call us the "drinking club with a running problem!"
