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15-17 Nov 2024 All China Nash Hash, Hong Kong

05-10 Feb 2025 NZ Nash Hash, Auckland, NZ

28 Feb - 02 Mar 2025 Philippne Nash Hash,  Paringo, La Union, Philippines

28-30 Mar 2025 Freo Nash Hash, Freemantle, WA, Australia

06-08 Jun-2025 Pan Africa Hash, Accra, Ghana

Harrier [har-ee-er] noun a cross-country runner.

Hiker [hahyk-er] noun a cross-country walker.

If you choose to cater for Hikers then a useful tool is Google Maps.  Set suitable way-points ("destinations") allowing hikers to walk and have an opportunity to interact with Harriers during their run - guide.  A link to the Google Maps route can then be sent to each Hiker - guide.

Alternately, set Harrier/Hiker (aka Eagle/Turkey) split(s) allowing Hikers short cut along separate trail(s).

Alternately, don't bother.

Please do though keep in mind that #CityHash is a fundamentally Hash House Harriers.

Hash House Harriers is based on the old paper chase, hare & hound pursuits.

FIND A SPOT - We will gather & start from within a 10km radius of the city centre - see the map.  After a run we like to socialise and have a beer or ten or other preferred refreshment, we may eat after some post run celebrations (CIRCLE) - or we may not.

ACCESSIBILITY - We should be able to get to the start via public transport.  This ensures inclusiveness, visitor friendliness, and reduces risk of DUI for any who participates in post-run socialising. 

DISTANCE - We generally have runs to a max' distance of 10km.  NOTE: short cutting bastards (SCBs) might do about 20% less as SCB opportunities arise, while front running bastards (FRBs) might do 20% more than this as they run around looking for trail at checks and run back from false trails.  Thus on any 10km trail some harriers might run 8km or even less, others 12km.  It is all good.

Some features of a trail:

MARK.  A mark signifying this is trail.  Paper, chalk, flour, or plaster board as chalk work well depending on the surface and weather conditions.   Marks allow harriers to find trail and get on with the pursuit of running.  Excessively difficult to find trail and markings can turn a hash run into an Easter Egg hunt where everybody is walking around wondering where the trail is...  this is not the point of being a "harrier".

CHECK.  A check is a mark that signals the trail is "lost" at this point and may be in any of the 360 degrees of the check.  The distance to the next mark will vary but generally within 50m or 75m for Hashes our size.  The further the distance the greater the likelihood of losing runners on trail.   A check is a place where several FRBs will need to search for the trail, thus allowing slower runners to catch up and perhaps have a little breather.  Too many checks become very disruptive.  People come to Hash to have a run, if excessive stop start then this can detract from the running experience.

FALSE TRAIL.  A false trail is an indication that the trail that a runner has been following is the wrong way and the runner must go back to the most recent check and look again.  A false trail might be up to about 100m to 150m from the check (but in cities 75m would be a reasonable max').  There can be any number of false trails associated with a check.  This has the effect of having the FRBs kept closer to slower runners.  The FRBs find the trail and FT to find themselves a few hundred metres behind slower runners.

CHECK BACK.  A check back is a mark that indicates this is a false trail, go back to the most recent branch possibility (corner, split in trail, lane way, etc) and look again as though this is a check.  Thus FRBs, being at the front, will find the check back and have to go back to the recently passed turning point and look.  This tends to keep FRBs together, and minimise the differences in their athletic capabilities.

CHECK BACK n (where n is a number).  A check back n marks, then treat that as a check and look for the trail.  Usually, this will be associated with clear options for alternate trails.  Thus FRBs, being at the front, will find the check back n and have to run back along the trail previously followed, picking up slower runners of varying ability and all start looking for the trail.  This tends to keep moderate and slower runners in the same place as their more athletic fellow harriers.   Distance run down a checkback n is inversely proportional to a persons athletic pursuits.

LOOP.  A loop is a strategy whereby the trail comes back close to where it has previously been.  Thus FRBs may be 500m in front of others, but just 50m away by dead reckoning.  This allows the SCB to run 50m and be running with or near an athlete they might otherwise be 500m behind.  This tends to keep moderate and slower runners in the same place as their more athletic fellow harriers.    

Hash House Harriers is based on the old paper chase, hare & hound pursuits.

PLANNING THE TRAIL

If you are familiar with the area then a reconnaissance might not be necessary.  If not then it's suggested that you might like to look on Google Maps, or another tool to ascertain distance of core route and where one might use checks, false trails, check backs, check back n, loops, etc...  The free version of MapMyRun and perhaps Strava allow you to plan a trail and advise the distance.
Always good to do a recce though.  Regardless of your familiarity with the course and the desktop planning, when you get out to consider the trail, invariably there will be a feature that you would like to incorporate into the trail - so a final recce is always valuable.

As a rule of thumb the run will be 20% longer than the core trail.  Once false trails and check backs, etc start to be incorporated run distance will easily go out by at least 20%.  We try to keep runs to a max' of 10km.

Marking trail.  Try to mark the trail less than 24 hours before the run (note flour withstands rain better than most options, and paper is frowned upon by society) - for off paved areas.  On pavements, flour remains okay and plaster board works better than chalk.

The purpose of a trail if for it to be found and guide the pursuing harriers as you have planned - not to have them meandering around looking for markings like it's a treasure hunt.  Clear frequent marks in consistent locations (i.e. always just to the left of the trail) assist.  Remember, you might know where the trail is going and where the marks are.  But harriers will be running, perhaps in the dark, in an area they may have never been in before.  This will require more (and more clear) markings than you might think at first.

As the trail goes, think about the total distance and the total distance since the last check or other disruption.  Try to think about how far apart the athletes might be from the plodders and devise a strategy to close that gap...

And away you go.

Anybody who wants assistance, tips, or other in setting a trail then let the trail master know and assistance will be provided with pleasure.

Hash House Harriers is based on the old paper chase, hare & hound pursuits.

Marking trail.  Try to mark the trail less than 24 hours before the run (note flour withstands rain better than most options, and paper is frowned upon by society) - for off paved areas.  On pavements, flour remains okay and plaster board works better than chalk.

The purpose of a trail if for it to be found and guide the pursuing harriers as you have planned - not to have them meandering around looking for markings like it's a treasure hunt.  Clear frequent marks in consistent locations (i.e. always just to the left of the trail) assist.  Remember, you might know where the trail is going and where the marks are.  But harriers will be running, perhaps in the dark, in an area they may have never been in before.  This will require more (and more clear) markings than you might think at first.

As the trail goes, think about the total distance and the total distance since the last check or other disruption.  Try to think about how far apart the athletes might be from the plodders and devise a strategy to close that gap...

And away you go.

Anybody who wants assistance, tips, or other in setting a trail then let the trail master know and assistance will be provided with pleasure.

Festivities

As every hash house harrier knows - after a run, there will be a celebratory beer or other drink of choice and chat about the trail, past trails, upcoming trails, and general nonsense.

So the hare, in choosing a suitable base should be mindful of the hashers' pursuit of post-run celebrations.  As we will be in sweaty running kit, this should be a less than salubrious location - front bars, beer gardens, parks, BBQ areas, etc work.  Outdoor locations should be mindful of access to a BWS, Dan Murphy's, or other take-away alcohol location(s). 

The circle.

There will be a "circle" where we get to discuss the run with it's trials & tribulations and any memorable events.  Those guilty (or not) of misdemeanors (setting trail, short cutting, running too well, saying somthing silly, pretty much anything) may be subject to a down-down where on hearing the chant "down-down, down-down" will skull their drink of choice (a very small portion just to partake in the frivolity and silliness).

There will be stories of upcoming hash runs....

General socialising

Then following the circle the socialising will continue (or not) as you choose.  Occasionally after some socialising we might grab food at the pub, or have a BBQ in the summer... but the eating (if any) comes after the hash & circle.  The food is not why we are at #CityHash if you want to put food and dining as a priority then most other Melbourne hashes might suit you.

Don't be a dick

Hares spend a considerable amount of effort setting trails for the enjoyment of all.

If you choose to come to a hash with the sole intention of fucking up a trail, by singularly wanting to short cut - that's your right, but don't then call On On, thus meaning that more than half the harriers miss a large section of a hash then you are a dick.

Of course, there will be surreptitious on-the-run shortcuts - go for it.  But deliberate, singular purpose to avoid large segments of a run, and calling others is being a dick.

Don't be a dick.

Don't be a dick

Even though the Hash is over, others (hashers, peeps at the location, and staff it's a pub) may not understand that somebody on the Hash is not acting like a dick as a private citizen - it's just who they are.  So we ask people, if you want to come along and enjoy the Hash then please don't be a dick.  It's really quite simple.

General socialising

Following the circle the socialising will continue (or not) as you choose.  Occasionally after some socialising we might grab food at the pub, or have a BBQ in the summer... but the eating (if any) comes after the hash & circle.

We are not a culinary society

Hash may, or may not have food after.  If there is food then it will, at best, be cheap food from a fixed menu.  Do not come to Hash if you prioritise food, or special dietary wants, or anticipate a 5 star Michelin restaurant - at best it's a pub.

Don't be a dick Pt1

If any food you order (read above) is not to your culinary cravings.  Then remember we are not a culinary society.  Do not complain to the hare, hashers, or staff that the food does not meet your standard.  Don't be a dick, grow up.

If you are complaining to the hare, hashers, or staff you are a dick - refer to flowchart!

Don't be a dick Pt2

If the order is not as  you wished, or delivery not as perceived, or there was confusion.  TAKE A BIG CHILL PILL.  Don't be a dick.

If you feel like abusing somebody - refer to flowchart!

Don't be a dick Pt3

If for some reason you insist on being a dick ( see pt1 & pt 2 above), under no circumstance abuse staff.  Australia is experiencing hospitality staff shortages expedited by the once in a hundred year virus pandemic.  Under zero circumstances is being a dick Pt1 or Pt2 acceptably deflected by abusing staff, their intellectual, social, place of origin, or capacity to speak English.  It is absolutely unacceptable to abuse staff in any way shape or form EVER.

We don't want dicks at City Hash.

Google calendar with our runs and events - and other like-minded runs & events 

Simple to always sync to find the next #CityHash (or other Hash) run.  Always on your phone, always on your desktop... take the memory out of reminders.