What the hell is this?

Fair Warning: Most to all of the information on this page has been blatantly stolen, copied, or edited directly from other hash pages around the world. Let the reader beware!

What is hashing?

What should a first-timer expect?

Why would anyone want to run with a hash?

What is a down-down ceremony?

When does the hash meet?

A little hashing history...

What is hashing?

At it's core, hashing involves a combination of running and drinking. During a hash, the bulk of the group, (normally referred to as the "Pack" or "Hash") follow a pre-prepared (usually) trail which may may go on roads, through alleys, over walls, into sewers, past dogs, (ad nauseum, you get the picture...) until it eventually reaches its finish. The distance typically varies from 3-7 miles and the finish point may be fairly close or not so close to the start.

The people who lay the trail are known as the "hares." The hares jog out in advance of the pack and set a course marked by hash marks: splashes of white flour, paper strips (normally pink or red), toilet paper, and chalk marks. The hares get a 5 minute head start and the pack will follow their trail and try to catch the hares. If one or more of the hares are caught, they are penalized by having to perform a "down-down."

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What should a first-timer expect?

First-time hashers are known as virgins, much in the manner of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Virgins can initially expect to locate the hash by looking for a group of disheveled looking people standing around in a parking lot. After about an hour-long run, the group of hashers will reconvene at the finish and socialize for a while. During this time, the leader, or "hash-master" will conduct "down-downs." As a virgin, the only things immediately expected of you are a sense of humor, and a token drink of beer to celebrate your first hash.

Note: When you come out to the hash the second time, bring a whistle or other noise-maker.

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Why would anyone want to run with a hash?

If you answer yes to any combination of these questions, you would probably enjoy hashing:

• Do you like drinking beer?
• Do you like running?
• Do you enjoy the "thrill of the chase?"
• Have you been accused of being a half-wit or a half-mind?
• Would you enjoy the opportunity to "invite" some of your friends to stand up and drink a beer on a whim?

In addition, most hashers tend to be friendly, laid-back folks that enjoy the chance to relax and let it all hang out...(sometimes quite literally).

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Down-Down Ceremony

After the last runner has come in, not to include those who are Dead on Trail (D.O.T.), one of the hares (or in the case of shyness, a Hash Master) will signal the beginning of the Down-Down Ceremony. A down-down is the chug-a-lugging of beer, soda, or water from the Hash Mug. Once the signal is given to begin, the Hasher may drink until the mug leaves the lips or the beer, soda or water is depleted. Either way, the mug immediately is turned upside-down over the head to demonstrate to the Pack which is the case. Down-Downs are normally given in the following order for the following reasons:

• Any assorted hash violations at the whim of the pack (aka guerillas).

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When does the Tucson hash meet?

The original hash house in Tucson was the Jhavelina H3. It meets every Saturday, every full-moon, and several other "special" occasions throughout the year. In 1996, a pick-up hash began in Tucson and was dubbed the Arizona Larrikins present the Mr. Happy's Pick-Up Hash. At present, this group meets every Wednesday evening of the month.

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...A little hash history!

The origins of the Hash House Harriers can be traced back to those far more relaxed days of 1938 in Kuala Lampur.

Mr. Gispert, either Australian or British, (who knows which) has been described as a splendid fellow who was certainly not an athlete, but rather a sportsman who placed as much emphasis on the subsequent refreshments and entertainment as on the running itself. He belonged to Kuala Lampur's famous Selangor Sports Club.

One Monday, following a particularly social weekend, Gispert decided to sweat out some of his excesses by jogging around the fortress. Soon after, this became a regular Monday evening activity and others joined him. Running within the confines of the fortress became boring. The fellowship, using flour and paper, began laying trails through the countryside, adding false leads and loopbacks just for the hell of it.

As so of ten happens, good intention can lead to an evil end. Close by the fortress was a Chinese eating establishment known as "The Hash House." It soon became a custom for the Chinese manager to greet Gispert and his friends with quantities if ice cold beer at the end of each run. What began as a run, developed into a regular Monday evening social event.

The Chinese manager, realizing the group had strayed from the fortress and rather than lose this lucrative business, adapted to their running habits by following the trail and pack of runners outside the fortress. He would load his truck with cold beer and was waiting for the Harriers as they completed their running exercise.

From such simple beginnings has mushroomed a form of Monday evening physical and social activity that is followed in many parts of the free world with almost identical "tradition."

The "Hash" does have variations, from the "male only" Harriers, which are copies of the original (generally dominated by British and Australians) in places like Kuala Lampur, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Seoul to mixed or family hashes in Okinawa and Honolulu (where women may sometimes be in the majority.)

For more versions of this history, see Flying Booger's Half-Mind Catalog.

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