Friday, January 7, 2011

Hash House Harriers


This "drinking club with a running problem" takes over neighborhoods worldwide on a weekly basis. I was about to write, "I honestly don't know how they stay out of jail"; turns out they don't.

Most of the arrests have to do with the flour they use to mark trails. Apparently, a few officers in New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Beijing thought these oddball cohorts of buzzed runners were throwing around giant piles of anthrax.

Where: With 1,938 groups in 186 countries, you can basically find a Hash run anywhere. Type in "Hash House Harriers" followed by a US city, and something will come up (I tried out "Amarillo").

When: Usually starts within happy hours of the workweek, but differs by chapter.

What: The hare gets a head start and marks a ~4-6 mile trail with flour and chalk. A reckless, urban scavenger hunt follows, complete with checkpoints and false trails. Groups have beer checks along the way, at the end, or none at all. Things get complicated when you factor in the hasher vocabulary, their bizunches of songs, their history, and, hell, even a conspiracy theory or two. But that's for other people to worry about.

Notable Quote: "15 enthused hashers storm NAU campus, ride bikes and shopping carts through the union, break dormitory elevator"



1 comment:

  1. there was a big scare back then. now hashers use chalk to avoid similar instances. it is fun, run or walk, no trouble, and stop and have a beer. i have been to many events and never seen anyone be arrested. the friendliest group. i think marathon runners love having beer stops- this is more casual.

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