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FAQ
Q: Who are Hash House Harriers and what do they do?
A: The idea is to spend around an hour jogging, following a trail that has been laid in advance by the "hare". The trail is not always easy to find, and the hare will lay some false trails to add to the confusion. The Cantab trails are usually laid in flour, and the trail always starts and ends at the St Radegund pub. Once back at the St Radegund (around 8.00 to 8.30 ) the socialising continues with the aid of suitable liquid refreshments.
"Hashing" was started in Kuala Lumpur in 1938 by a group of British expats, who used to eat at a place they called the "Hash House", hence the name. Hashing has grown enormously in popularity, and most countries have Hash clubs which welcome visitors from other clubs. To find out more just search the web, or pay a visit to the world Hash House Harriers site
Q: So it's nothing to do with drugs then?
A: No. The Hash House Harriers organisation actively promotes bodily abuse and alcohol abuse, but recreational drug abuse is outside our remit. We apologise if your search engine brought you on a wasted journey to our site. On the other hand, should you find any reliable suppliers in the Cambridge area please do the decent thing and pass the information along.
Q: How fit do I need to be?
A: The trail is designed to keep the faster front runners occupied with false trails, whilst the slower runners follow on behind. So you might expect to run between 4 and 6 miles depending on how many false turnings you take. However, it isn’t obligatory to finish the trail – it is common practice to take a short cut back to the pub!
Q: Is it obligatory to drink beer or alcohol?
A: Not absolutely, but if you don't like pubbing you're not going to like Hashing. You will be offered half a pint of beer to welcome you on your first visit!
Q: Don’t Cambridge residents object to all the flour on the pavements?
A: Strangely not, though the wife of the master of Emmanuel college did write to a newspaper to complain about the white earwig poison that had been put down at the bottom of lamp-posts.
Q: Surely they object to all the shouting on the trail?
A: No, the British have always tended to politely ignore the mentally ill.
Q: How do I win?
A: You don’t. It's not a competition.
Q: How do I join?
A: You don’t have to, there is no membership as such. Just turn up at the St Radegund pub on any Monday a few minutes before 7pm. There are no changing or shower facilities (other than the loo!), but it is safe to leave coats in the pub while you’re out running.
Q: I've heard stories of silly songs, disgusting things happening with new running shoes, etc?
A: They are true.The tune goes like this, the lyrics are even worse.
Q: Surely this is all just a bunch of grown-ups, who ought to know better, behaving like children?
A: No further questions necessary.