Get Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Here
- What is the Hash House Harriers?
It’s an international group of non-competitive running and social clubs. Think of it as part scavenger hunt, part trail run, part pub crawl – but mostly lots of fun. - What is the point of a hash?
It’s an excuse to get exercise, laughs, and camaraderie. The trails deliberately include dead-ends and puzzles to force the group to stay together, with a strong focus on socializing afterward. - Is the Hash suitable for all fitness levels?
Absolutely! The focus is on fun, not competition. Trails accommodate varying speeds, and shortcuts are allowed (and even encouraged for those wanting less run and more social). - What are “hares” and “hounds”?
“Hares” lay the trail, and “hounds” are the pack of runners following. - What does “On-On” mean?
The signature hash call letting the pack know they’re on the right trail. - What are “checks,” “FRBs,” and other weird terms?
Check out hash glossaries online – there’s a whole unique language surrounding hashing! - What’s a “down-down”?
A playful penalty of chugging a drink – awarded for various hash “misdeeds.”
HASH TERMINOLOGY
Hash – both a verb and noun. To hash is to participate in a hash trail. A hash is an event where hashers hash.
Hasher – A person who hashes.
Wanker – A person who hashes
Half-mind – A person who hashes
Fuckin Fuck – A person who hashes
Hare – the hasher that sets the trail
Muggle – A person who doesn’t hash
Racist – a hasher that runs in races like 5ks and stuff
Virgin – someone that is experiencing a hash for the first time
Road Whore – a hasher that travels to other kennels to hash
Kennel – a chapter of Hash House Harriers in a place. A city can have more than one kennel.
Anal – annual
Destructions – instructions
Shiggy – rough trail
Pre-lube – event prior to a hash
Circle – trail ending ceremony
On After – event after the hash
“Are You?”: question shouted by the pack to FRBs, meaning “Are you on the trail?”
Beer Check: beverage stop or trail mark indicating a beverage stop
Chalk Talk: an explanation by the Hare on the marks and marking techniques that will be used on the trail, and any other info needed to get the pack to the On In.
Check Back – same as false trail
Check: Trail mark indicating the true trail must be sought out from the false trails
Circle: assembly of hashers at trail’s end, normally for the purpose of conducting down-downs
“Checking”: answer shouted by FRB to pack when asked “Are You?”, indicating that FRB has not determined whether the trail he’s following is true or false
Down-Down: the ceremony of chugging a beverage (an honor)
False trail: a short trail terminating in the Tee sign
FRB: Front Running Bastard: faster member of the pack.
Hare: hasher who lays the trail
Kennel: local hash club
On On: shouted by FRBs or hounds to indicate they’re on trail, sometimes used only to indicate true trail; trail mark indicating true trail
On In: end of the trail
Shiggy: thick vegetation, streams, etc; especially mud
Wanker: someone who whines, breaks with tradition, or in some other way has pissed you off.