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The run
It was mentioned earlier that the rules of a Hash
run are based on the old games "Paper Chase" and "Hare and Hounds". One
of the participants, called the Hare, marks a trail by using chalk or flour.
It’s the object of the game for the other participants, the Hounds, to
try to find that trail by following the chalk arrows of blobs of flour
put down by the hare at intervals of approximately 10-50 metres. Along
the trail the Hounds will find a number of circles called "checks". They
mean that the trail goes on from that point in any direction. In other
words, the runners who first reach the check, have to start looking for
the continuation (more arrows or blobs) and by the time they have found
it, the slow runners will have caught up, hopefully..... This is repeated
until you reach the finishing line. These rules are about the same all
over the world but there are small regional deviations.
This system means that the fast runners are
being held back at the checks to keep the group together. In other words,
runners of all categories can run together, marathon runners as well as
flabby couch potatoes fighting the battle of the bulge. A hash is no race!
The runners are required to help each other with directions. The
front-runners must inform the others that they are on the right track by
yelling: "On On!" If they fail to do so, the slower runners must ask by
yelling: "Are you?" The response should then either be "On On" if the front
runner on the right trail, "Checking" if the runner is at a check trying
to find the continuation or "Looking" if he or she simply has lost the
trail.
False Trails
There might also be False Trails. At a check, a runner
starts checking and finds a blob of flour. That triggers a shout of "On
One!" but it doesn’t necessarily mean he/she is "On On". He/she
has to keep looking for more blobs. At the second blob he/she is "On Two!"
and if the third blob is "normal" then indeed the runner has found the
trail again and must inform the others by shouting "On On!" but if the
third mark after the check is a "T"
with the vertical line ending in an arrow pointing back to the check, he
or she has found a False Trail and must tell the others by shouting, appropriately:
"False Trail!" and return to the check. By the time he/she gets there someone
else may have found the right trail and all of a sudden the previous front
runner is lagging behind.
Take a shortcut!
This means that some participants actually run a
lot further than others. If you get to a check you can choose if you want
to do the checking yourself or if you just want to wait at the check, catching
your breath while the others do the checking for you. If you’re lagging
behind and find the front-runners running back again on the opposite side
of a meadow shouting "On On" you’re free to take a shortcut
straight across that meadow. You decide when, if and how fast to run and
you can still show up at the finishing line almost at the same time as
the front-runners. That’s one of the good things about Hashing.
Meeting people
But the most important thing is that Hashing gives
you a wonderful opportunity to meet people when you are out travelling.
Regardless of whether you’re in Madrid, Manila, Melbourne or Montreal you’re
sure to find a Hash so get out there, meet new people and have fun. On
On!
anders
How it's done
(The "sort of" rules)
(Uncut version)
anders
The same as the above with the addition that after
the run some, nay, most Hashers tend to consume in some cases large,
in some cases small quantities of beer.This intake of amber liquid is,
of course, optional but after a hard run few things can be more welcome
than a pint or two.... if you're the right age..
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