Making A Hash Of It

My Virgin Lay

What would you say if the message below arrived on your Facebook page? 

My running pal, Becci, is always full of surprises

The words 'instead of our normal run' ought to have given me an inkling but, no, I thought - great an off road run, I'll do that.

What followed was definitely what makes people think Great Britain is a country made up of eccentrics.

• What are Hash House Harriers
• A brief history of H3
• What are they saying?
• What happened
• Would I do it again?

What are Hash House Harriers

Steal what you want from our site just say where you stole it from 
done

I had to look this one up and the first thing I read was that they were "drinkers with a running problem". Secondly, they like to give each other nicknames and run wild through the countryside ending up in a pub to quench their thirsts.

Hashing is a good way to turn your ankle or fall over but also to keep fit and have fun. It is non-competitive for runners of all levels. You keep together because the trail has been laid so that anyone fast in the front may be on a false trail, a dead-end or have gone three sides round a square and you can run across to catch them up.

The sawdust trail is set by the Hare and runs through all sorts of terrain including over fallen trees and ditches and across streams. You do not want to be wearing posh running gear with bare lower legs (as I was!) - think nettles, briars and nasty bits of wood to snag you. You run through mud, leaves and grass as well as tracks and no tracks (hence the expression "Wheredafugarwee?" - I'll leave you to work that one out).

The sort of symbols that might be left in sawdust on the trail

A brief history of H3

Apparently it started in Kuala Lumpur in Malaya in 1938 when some ex-pats decided to get fit for fun and have a sociable drink in the Sengalor Club afterwards. They also had nicknames for each other and that tradition is still followed. It was, unfortunately, interrupted by the war but soon re-established once hostilities had ceased.

A Hash House was slang for a cheap eating place and a Harrier was the British word for a cross country runner. That takes me on to:

What are they saying?

The first thing you are surprised by is the shouting and speaking in gibberish. For a more complete list have a look here where Drake Hash House Harriers have an excellent 'Hashipedia'. Thanks to their dictionary I was able to work out the meaning of the words I heard on Monday evening:

Are You? – Called out to ask if someone has found the trail. The normal response is “On one, On two” etc depending on the number of piles of sawdust the hound has found. However, if you ask a front runner the silence is often deafening because they are unable to count.

Check – A point at which the trail stops and has to be searched for. Circles of sawdust are the symbol used.

False Trail – Laid in the area around a check point with the aim of slowing down the run to keep the hash together.

Hare – A hasher  responsible for laying the trail and taking the blame for it.

Hash – Used to refer to a hash club, or the hash run. Many people think hashers have something to do with drug running, but less excitingly, the term comes from the slang expression for a cheap meal.

Hound – The name for a runner who sets out to follow a hash trail.

On Back – Called out when a false trail has been found or if the hounds are heading off in the wrong direction. Frequently heard. if you have just ploughed off downhill for a quarter mile.

On Home – Indicated by the letters ‘OH’ laid in sawdust accompanied by an arrow. It means the finish of the run is relatively near or the hare has run out of sawdust.

On On – Shouted by hounds when they have found the correct trail or whilst they are following it. Hounds should keep shouting “On On”as it helps to keep the pack together and assists hashers who may have missed the trail to find it again.  Often mistaken for a series of strange croaking noises. However, inevitably, it doesn’t always work (which is probably why “On On” is also used as a farewell greeting amongst hashers).

“On-One” (”On-Two,” etc) shouted by FRBs to indicate the number of marks they’ve seen on an unexplored trail, usually after a check.

Virgin Lay - a virgin hare’s first trail.

What happened

It looks like a trail in the middle of nowhere!

The Mersea Hash House Harriers met on Monday evening at 7pm at Friday Woods Car Park. It was quite cold and windy and I was glad I had my jacket on. A rather, sorry to say this, scruffy lot of runners started to arrive which I now know is the most sensible way to dress. We were greeted and it was quickly explained that we would start by trying to find a dot of sawdust anywhere about 100 yards in front of us. Once they were found we split up and just followed whichever one we thought might be the actual trail. Then people started shouting things like "On one" then "On two" until someone bellowed "False Trail" and those on that turned back and someone yelled "On, on" and we all trekked off in that direction.

Down into the woods, over fallen trees, through the nettles and brambles until we caught up with the front runners who were waiting for us and then sweets were handed out and then we were off again trying to find the right way. 

We ran for about three miles and at times it was quite fast whilst at others you had to walk because there was thick mud or you were going through undergrowth. There were hills and sometimes you seemed to be repeating some parts of the trail but couldn't be quite sure.

Then someone shouted that we were heading for home and we all congregated in the carpark again and everyone was invited to go the the Layer Fox pub for refreshments.  Becci and I joined them and got to know a bit more about them and we left about nine in the evening.

The Layer Fox Pub

Would I do it again?

Becci and I both loved it and I have no doubt we will do it again. It was a completely different running experience and everyone was so friendly. 

One of the nicest aspects was the way everyone, no matter their age, gender, running ability etc, were socially adept enough to approach us and say 'hello' and make us feel welcome. That is so refreshing as groups sometimes, I hope without realising it, have an 'inner life' which they are not willing to share. That can make you feel frozen out especially when you have to always say hello or speak to them first. Not so here which is a credit to them.

If you are thinking about going along to a Hash House meeting I would definitely recommend it.