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Hashing Running Club ashing... it’s a mixture of athleticism and sociability, hedonism and hard work; a refreshing break from the nine-to-five routine. Hashing is an exhilarating combination of running, orienteering and partying, where bands of “harriers” and “harriettes” chase “hares” on four-to-seven kilometer-long trails through town, country, jungle and desert, all in search of exercise, camaraderie, and good times.
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Hashing as we know it today began in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1938, when a group of restive British company men started a Hare & Hounds running group. They named the group after their meeting place, the Selangor Club, aka the “Hash House.” Hash House Harrier runs were patterned after the traditional British public school paper chase. A “hare” would be given a short lead to blaze a trail, marking his devious way with shreds of paper, soon 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. 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. A typical hash “kennel” is a loosely-organized group of 20 to 40 men and women who meet weekly or biweekly to chase a hare. We follow chalk, flour, or paper, and the
trails are never boring. When forced to, we’ll run the occasional street or alley, but in general we prefer “shiggy”...fields, forests, jungles, swamps, streams, fences, storm drains, and cliffs. And although some of today’s health-conscious hashers may shun the icy beer in favor of water or a diet soda, trail’s end is still a party. Perhaps that’s why they call us the “drinking club with a running problem!” If you’d like to spice up your running program with fun, good company, new surroundings, and physical challenge, try hashing. Just remember one thing... never wear new shoes to the hash! The Gwangju Hash House Harriers was started in September 2010 by Brian Wholehan. The club is 23+ members strong and growing. The Gwangju Hash House Harriers will be hosting an International Red Dress Run on June 11. The cost is 20,000 won. This includes beer, food, and beer! Contact Brian Wholehan for more details: bwholehan@gmail.com/ 010-9453-8675 Or join the Facebook Gwangju Hash House Harriers group at GwangjuH3@gmail.com We hope to see you on June 11 or at any of our future runs! ON ON!!! Story and photos by Brian Wholehan
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Gwangju News June 2011