Today was a big day for us, as we participated in the 700th Hash House Harrier Event in Grenada. It was suppose to be a very special event with over hundreds of participants. We bought Julia and Carlos some new shoes yesterday as the walk is suppose to go cross country. A hash is an organized r+nning event and is performed in many other countries as well. Hashing originated in 1938 in Kuala Lumpur. A group of officers and expatriates began meeting on Mondays evening to run after the traditional British Paper Chase or “Hare and Hounds” event or in German it is called “Schnitzeljagd”. The original event is known as Mother Hash and is still performed today. The club still carries on with the tradition since the day it was formed meeting on Mondays evening and limited to men only. The Hash trails may pass through any sort of terrain and hashers may run through back alleyways, residential areas, city streets, forest, swamps or shopping malls and may climb fences, ford streams, explore storm drains or scale cliffs in their pursuit of the hare.
Usually one or more members (Hares) mark their trail with paper, chalk, sawdust or colored flour, depending on the environment and weather. They lay a trail, which is then followed by the remainder of the group (the pack or Hounds). The trail often includes false trails, short cuts, dead ends and splits. These features are designed to keep the pack together regardless of fitness level or running speed, as front-runners are forced to slow down to find the “true” trail, allowing “strugglers” to catch up
The constitution of the Hash House Harrier is to promote physical fitness among the members; to get rid of weekend hangovers; to acquire a good thirst and to satisfy it in beer and to persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel. Generally the Hash events are open to the public and at the end of the trail is an opportunity to socialize and to have a drink. Members often describe their groups as “a drinking club with a running problem”, I was hoping that this would not be the case as I was bringing my children. However there were so many other children and families there, that it did not seem the case in this event.
One of the traditions states that when a Hasher wears new shoes they are required to have a drink from their shoes. When we arrived I was hoping that we did not have to participate in this tradition and luckily our new shoes escaped their attention and therefore were left alone. We had a choice of three trails, one was for runners, one for the walkers and the other one was an introduction trail. To be on the safe side, we took the beginner version of the Hash, which unfortunately was a bit short and disappointing so we will have to come again and do the “real” thing. However the socializing afterwards was still a very pleasant and entertaining event. It was great to see the locals and expatriates mix together. The socializing was based close to the ocean and a lot of runners and walkers jumped straight into the waves to cool down. Not that the water is much to cool down, but hey we take what we get. In the end we all got our certificate that we are now officially a “Hasher”. They also offered yummy food, handmade ice-cream, a band was playing and of course a cold beer to celebrate. When it was getting dark we returned back to our JUCA who was patiently waiting for us in Prickley Bay.
Usually one or more members (Hares) mark their trail with paper, chalk, sawdust or colored flour, depending on the environment and weather. They lay a trail, which is then followed by the remainder of the group (the pack or Hounds). The trail often includes false trails, short cuts, dead ends and splits. These features are designed to keep the pack together regardless of fitness level or running speed, as front-runners are forced to slow down to find the “true” trail, allowing “strugglers” to catch up
The constitution of the Hash House Harrier is to promote physical fitness among the members; to get rid of weekend hangovers; to acquire a good thirst and to satisfy it in beer and to persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel. Generally the Hash events are open to the public and at the end of the trail is an opportunity to socialize and to have a drink. Members often describe their groups as “a drinking club with a running problem”, I was hoping that this would not be the case as I was bringing my children. However there were so many other children and families there, that it did not seem the case in this event.
One of the traditions states that when a Hasher wears new shoes they are required to have a drink from their shoes. When we arrived I was hoping that we did not have to participate in this tradition and luckily our new shoes escaped their attention and therefore were left alone. We had a choice of three trails, one was for runners, one for the walkers and the other one was an introduction trail. To be on the safe side, we took the beginner version of the Hash, which unfortunately was a bit short and disappointing so we will have to come again and do the “real” thing. However the socializing afterwards was still a very pleasant and entertaining event. It was great to see the locals and expatriates mix together. The socializing was based close to the ocean and a lot of runners and walkers jumped straight into the waves to cool down. Not that the water is much to cool down, but hey we take what we get. In the end we all got our certificate that we are now officially a “Hasher”. They also offered yummy food, handmade ice-cream, a band was playing and of course a cold beer to celebrate. When it was getting dark we returned back to our JUCA who was patiently waiting for us in Prickley Bay.
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