![\"Lima_Hash_444_Lunahuana_01\"](\"https:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8736\/16710584798_99e1cb875c_z.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHashing . . . it\u2019s a mixture of athleticism and sociability, hedonism and hard work; a refreshing break from the nine-to-five routine. Hashing is an exhilaratingly fun combination of running, orienteering, and partying, where bands of harriers and harriettes chase hares on eight-to-ten kilometer-long trails through town, country, jungle, and desert, all in search of exercise, camaraderie, and good times.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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,\u00a0aka<\/em>\u00a0the \u201cHash House.\u201d Hash House Harrier runs were patterned after the traditional British public school paper chase. A \u201chare\u201d would be given a short head start to blaze a trail, marking his devious way with shreds of paper, soon to be pursued by a shouting pack of \u201charriers.\u201d 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\u2019s marks and reaching the end was its own reward, for there, thirsty harriers would find a tub of iced-down beer.<\/p>\n Hashing died during World War II (Japanese occupying forces being notoriously opposed to civilian fun) but came back to life in the post-war years.\u00a0 In time, hashing spread outward from Kuala Lumpur. 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.<\/p>\n Despite its growth, hashing hasn\u2019t strayed far from its British and Malaysian roots. A typical hash \u201ckennel\u201d is a loosely-organized group of 20-40 men and women who meet weekly or biweekly to chase the hare. We follow chalk, flour, or paper, and the trails are never boring. When forced to, we\u2019ll 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\u2019s health-conscious hashers may shun a cold beer in favor of water or a diet soda, trail\u2019s end is still a party. Perhaps that\u2019s why they call us the \u201cdrinking club with a running problem!\u201d<\/p>\n So . . . if you\u2019d like to spice up your running program with fun, good company, new surroundings, and physical challenge, try hashing. Just remember one thing . . .\u00a0never<\/em>\u00a0wear new shoes to the hash!<\/p>\n![\"gypsies_8\"](\"https:\/\/farm9.staticflickr.com\/8026\/7169435147_c396f4d20d_z.jpg\")
<\/p>\n