What is the hash?
Hashing is a social activity where people meet on a regular basis, in a
relaxed atmosphere outside of the normal course of life. The original
goals and philosophy of the founders of the hash continue to hold true
today.
The philosophy of the original Hash House Harriers from the 1938 charter include:
- To promote physical fitness among our members
- To get rid of weekend hangovers
- To acquire a good thirst and to satisfy it in beer
- To persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel
The hash saying is that we're "A drinking club with a running problem". We run trails made by hares and hariettes who create them by throwing flour and bits of toilet paper (or whatever else they decide to use) through the woods, up hills, through parks, wherever. You never know what is in store for you on trail.
Of course, all along trail there are little gifts of beer and shots left for the people running the trail (the hounds). Our goal is to catch the hares and try to pants them. Why? Cause we think it's funny.
In the end, we're a big group of light hearted people who like to drink, tell stories, sing dirty songs, and just have a good time.
How do I know if I'd make a good hasher?
If you aren't afraid to let down your guard a little bit, shed the worries of everyday life, and have some ridiculous lighthearted fun, then you'd likely be a good hasher.
However, hashing is not for the weak willed or faint of heart or anyone who is overly sensitive about life.
Who should NOT consider hashing?
Not all kennels are alike, some are more rowdy then others. GCH3 tends to be rowdy, but that's because we have a fuck-ton of fun and aren't afraid to go the extra beer to make sure a fun time has been had.
That said, the Hash is generally an extremely open-minded club. So any person who is intolerant, bigoted, racist, sexist, or prejudiced in any way should not consider hashing. While GCH3 cannot speak for other kennels, we not only advise that you wouldn't make a good hasher if you are any of the previously stated things, but you're straight up not welcome.
Also, if you are a recovering alcoholic, it is not advised to become a hasher. Just saying, "A drinking club with a running problem"...Yeah.
What if I'm not very athletic?
We have many different types of hashers. There are those "Type A"
hashers who delight in running 5-mile trails on Sunday afternoon after
having run their half marathon training earlier in the morning (Crazies). Then
there are Car-Hounds, those hashers who are into scamming the hare into revealing the site of the
beerchecks, and then jumping in the car and "auto-hashing" to the beer.
How do I join the hash?
Well, you don't really "join " the hash. You basically just show up. In GCH3, we've had a fair share of now veteran hashers who just showed up alone on rumors of a running club. We've also had those who were invited by other hashers. Any and all are welcome though. If you don't know anyone when you show up, it is our goal that you know us by the end of trail.
How much does it cost?
That varies between locals. GCH3's typical cost is $7. There is no desire to make profit, the cost is purely to pay for beer and food for the trail and the on-after. Any surplus of beer or money from one hash goes directly into the next hash. The Hash House Harriers are very much non-profit. Even the Haberdashery product costs are purely to cover the cost of ordering the product bought. The Hash House Harriers are a non-profit organization, and will always stay as such.
How do I get a
Now that is a good question. New hashers (virgins) usually show up and are immediately riddled with strange names of veteran hashers. These names run the gambit of strange, weird, bizarre, and downright confusing. Every kennel does namings differently. GCH3 has no clean and clear-cut definition on how a hasher obtains a name. Names are based on the shenanigans that may happen on trial, or maybe from a ridiculous event in their past. In any case, the hash name is based off of something about you. It is sort of like a hasher equivalent of a badge of honor...sort of. Despite whatever you get named though? Own it.
