It’s pretty difficult to explain to a non-Hasher what Hashing is all about, and Hashes themselves vary widely - I recently ran with a Hash that had no Circle, no Grand Master and very little in common with any other Hash with which I have run.

The majority of Hashes have two things: a paper-chase type of run and a few drinks in a humorous setting after the run, generally referred to as the Circle.

Typically two or more Hares lay a trail in advance marked by flour, paper, chalk or blue washing powder (what else could you use on snow?) with multiple checks and false trails. Checks are where the trail stops or divides and Hashers have to run and investigate which are false trails and which is the genuine route. False Trails are usually used to keep the more serious runners occupied whilst those less fit/willing to run catch up with them. Serious runners are known as FRB’s or Front Running Bastards, and are often rewarded by extra down-downs in the Circle, which brings us neatly to...

...the Circle, which is normally run by the Grand Master or Grand Mistress, assisted in some Hashes by the Religious Adviser. It is their role to perform various rituals depending on the Hash, such as greeting newcomers and penalising offenders. Most rituals culminate in a down-down, which involves the receiving Hasher downing a beer in one, or emptying it over their head, whilst the circled Hash sings along. Hashers can be penalised for infringing a variety of rules, although as any experienced Hasher will tell you there are no rules on the Hash, except those the GM decides have been broken. These can include sitting on the Hash, talking during the Circle (known as a private party), short-cutting, racing (taking the running part too seriously), lack of dress sense, and basically anything the GM or RA decides is a good excuse to give someone a beer!

Hashes are a great way of arriving in a new country and immediately finding the lay of the land and making new friends. There are Hashes all over the world - some are family Hashes, some are all-male or all-female, some take running more seriously than others, but all are about not taking life too seriously - most Hashes are run by a Mis-management committee. Check out a Hash near you on the link opposite.