Chattanooga Hash House Harries - A Drinking Club With A Running Problem

Chattanooga Hash House Harriers

Hash runs trace their origins to an old English school-boy game of Hare and Hounds, where one "hare" would leave a trail of paper for the "hounds" to follow. Clubs known as Hash House Harriers sprang up in the 1930's and have evolved to include running and drinking beer.

The hash began spreading like wildfire and the number of hashes soon climbed into the hundreds by the early 1980s. Today there are some 1,700 active hashes in over 180 countries, including approximately 350 in the United States (visit The World Hash House Harriers official site for complete details).

Each run begins with a blessing ("Copus no catchus, dogus no biteus...."), a beer, a song and then the hare (or harriet) is off, usually with a 6 to 12 minute head start. The hare lays a trail by dropping handfuls of flour (called "chad," "flour" or Choo Choo H3's favorite, "shiggy") as well symbols, maps & occasional taunts written in chalk on the ground to guide the hashers in their quest to catch the hare. During the run the hare will lay several, if not many, misleading & false trails, but will eventually lead the group to a halfway point that usually involves the consumption of a beverage. Hashers on trail call out "on on!" to fellow hashers when a true trail, or the correct path, has been found.

After the refreshment break the pack will take off again for more of the same - find the true trail and hope for the coveted "hare snare," where the hare is caught on trail. Speaking of trail, the trail type is completely up to the hare in charge: up hills, through drainage ditches, cow-filled pastures - you name it. The end of the hash will include more beverages, songs and reporting of violations of the many obscure "rules" that hashers must follow (punishment for these violations result in a "down-down," or the chugging of some beverage of choice, which really isn't too bad).

Now if you've never been to a hash before, you may be asking, "What should I bring?" That's a great question:

- a cup, from which to drink golden nectar (otherwise known as beer).

- $5, which is called hashcash. The hashcash pays for our golden nectar as well as orange food, such as chips and other snacks.

- a whistle, which is used to let other hashers know you've found the right way to go once everyone splits up on trail.

- a dry bag, containing a complete change of clothes. This is a rain-or-shine-or-snow-or-cold-or-heat club, and we often remain outside after the trail, so be prepared.

- a sense of humor and adventure.

So if you enjoy the outdoors, running and a frosty brew, come join the Chattanooga Hash House Harriers. We hope to see you at our next hash. On on!