Another option for finding new places to run is to join a hash run. Hashing is hardly serious running, it’s more of a social event for runners. A hash run can take place nearly anywhere; the trail is determined by the lead runner, called the “hare”. The hare gets a head start from the rest of the runners, or “hounds”, and uses flour to mark the trail that the hounds have to follow.
The hare can leaves various marks showing the path of the hare, a trail split, dead ends, and short cuts. The front runners usually yell out “On-On” for the rest of the hounds when they see a hash mark indicating they’re on the right trail. A trail split, or “check”, really makes the run interesting, as there may be two or three different directions the trail may go and part of the fun is finding the hare’s correct path. The mischievous hare can make an adventurous run by leading you through urban or wooded areas, muddy trails, stream and log crossings, endless parking lots, and hydration stations serving water or more importantly, beer.
Beer is an integral part of the hash run. After three to five miles of hashing, the run usually ends at a bar or restaurant to eat, drink more beer, sing drinking songs, and tell tales of the run. After a couple of hash runs, you may even find yourself with a new hash name, perhaps forever identifying you with some embarrassing moment you had on the run. During my first hash run with the Atlanta Hash House Harriers, I complained of my wet, squishy socks resulting from the multiple stream crossings and my hash name “Squishy” was born.