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Travel Features > Leisure > Hash Run
Hash House Harriers
A Cross Country Run with a Difference
Hash House Harriers - A Cross Country Run with a Difference
By Wayne Tarman
The Hash House Harriers (HHH) was established in Malaysia in 1938
by a group of British colonial officials. Whilst pondering life
over a few beers at the "Hash House" - the dining room at the
Selangor Club - they realised that the combination of too much
beer and zero exercise was leading them up the rocky road to overweight
ruin. As there was zero chance of them giving up the beer they
decided to form a club to organise cross country runs on a regular
basis.
From the start the hash was designed so that people of all levels
of fitness could enjoy the run. A typical run lasts for one and
an half hours and is usually held in secondary jungles, rubber
or oil-palm estates or across farmland. A track design formula
generally ensures that the fastest runner only finishes half an
hour or so before the slowest runner. The end of the run is not
the end of the hash meet. After every run the harriers head to
a local restaurant for a meal and more often than not a heavy
beer drinking session.
A couple of hours before the hash run, the appointed `hare' goes
to the run site and marks out a trail with scraps of paper. The
trail is highly irregular and includes false trails, loop sections
and other confusing design measures. The reason for these design
features is to allow the faster runners to `recce' the next section
of the trail while the slower runners catch up. This hash formula
helps to ensure that the whole group of runners stays together.
The run starts with the rallying cry of the HHH - "on, on". Once
the run is under way and runners are looking for the paper they
often shout "are you" to the front-runners. The front-runners
reply with "checking" if they are probing, or "on, on" if they
have found the trail.
The idea of runners chasing a paper trail was quite common in
colonial Malaya during the 1930's. However, the group of drinking
buddies that formed the HHH in 1938 institutionalised the idea
of a fun filled cross country run followed by a social gathering.
The Hash House Harriers remained a solely KL-based institution
for over twenty years. It was not until the early 1960's when
the Hash started to expand its geographical reach. At first the
hash expanded in Peninsula Malaysia and Northern Borneo with chapters
opening in Singapore, Ipoh, Penang, Brunei, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
In 1967 a chapter was established in Perth, the first Hash to
form outside its traditional base of Malaysia/Singapore.
Today the HHH is a truly international organisation. There are
over 500 chapters in some 70 odd countries. Annual Inter-Hash
meetings are held every year and attract thousands of runners
from all over the globe. Although the hash is still something
of an expat tradition in some cities in Southeast Asia, membership
of the Hash has changed over the years. Today, the Hash is no
longer a solely expat thing. On most runs you'll find that the
majority of runners are from the local town where the chapter
is based. There will certainly be a few expats plus some guests
and visitors from other hash chapters around the world. Everyone
will be there for the fun and the run.
The hash warmly welcomes guests. Larger hash chapters in Malaysia
organise a number of runs every week, including Men Only runs
(the original colonial days tradition), Women Only runs (the Harriettes),
Mixed runs and Children's runs. Guests pay a nominal fee to join
the run and an additional fee if they opt for the meal after the
run. The Hash is more than a cross country run. Its a kind of
social club where old friends meet and new friendships are made.
For any visitor to Malaysia the hash is a great way of meeting
Malaysians and catching a glimpse of rural Malaysia. Virgin runners
are made most welcome. They also have to participate in a few
rituals after the run. After the initiation rites (alcohol and
songs) you'll feel part of the hash clan and no doubt sign up
for membership.
Kuching Hash Details
| Harriers (Men only) |
Tuesday at 5.30 pm |
| Harriettes (Ladies Only) |
Wednesday at 5.30 pm |
| City Hash (Mixed) |
Saturday 4.30 pm |
If you fancy joining in contact Tom Leng (082-416778) or Jennifer
Yap (082-411694) for further details. |