The Hash Run

They say that "hash runs" are for drinkers with a running problem. I'd never heard of these runs until we got around international teachers. Apparently, there's a long history associated with runners enjoying chasing a few "hares" in order to finish a run for a beer (or two). This past Saturday, I was a "virgin" hash runner and hare.

Mavis and I joined up with a group of Embassy people (mostly American) to run in a nearby town, Yuscaran. Problem was that no one wanted to be the hare. "What's a hare?" we asked. "You guys like to run?" "Yep." "Then, you'll be our hares." "OK...what do we do?" "Oh, you just mark the trail with some dots; make some false trails, and then don't get caught by the other runner/walkers." "Hmm...Ok...but we don't know the area." "No problem. The route's just a loop." "OK."

So, off we went to mark the course. We found the waterfall, we found ALL the hills, and then....umm....we never found the loop. Yep. These two hares got lost. SO....after about 2 hours of wondering through the woods, marking our trail, gabbing with the walkers (whom we ran back into after we decided to go back the way we came), and finally walking back into the quaint little town, we had had our hash run/walk/hike. Of course, celebration of the finish was limited on my end (as there's no gluten-free beer down here in these parts), and the serious runners of course were a bit perturbed at the new hares for taking them in confusing circles. But hey! We made it, right? And I just got a little poisonous Honduran rash on me...

FYI: Wikipedia has a whole page devoted to hash running...with all the terminology and even some crazy pictures of this sport if this little story interested you: Hash Running