Hash Run

So this weekend we went on our second Hash Run.  When we were first invited we had no idea what it was and you too may be wondering.  Here is how one website describes it..."Hashing is a mixture of athleticism and sociability, hedonism and hard work, a refreshing escape from the nine-to-five dweebs you're stuck with five days a week. Hashing is an exhilaratingly fun combination of running, orienteering, and partying, where bands of harriers and harriettes chase hares on eight-to-ten kilometer-long trails through town, country, and desert, all in search of exercise, camaraderie, and good times. 

Owen and Xochi on the Hash Run

Hashing began in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1938, when a group of British colonial officials and expatriates founded a running club called the Hash House Harriers. They named the group after their meeting place, the Selangor Club, nicknamed the "Hash House." Hash House Harrier runs were patterned after the traditional British paper chase. A "hare" was given a head start to blaze a trail, marking his devious way with shreds of paper, all the while pursued by a shouting pack of "harriers." Only the hare knew where he was going . . . the harriers followed his clues to stay on trail. Apart from the excitement of chasing the hare and solving the clues, reaching the end was its own reward . . . for there, thirsty harriers would find a tub of iced-down beer" (or sprite, coke or fanta for the under 21 crowd)  

Xochi and Kayla, Notice the paper shreds

For us it is a fun way to get the kids hiking and to see parts of Bali we might not otherwise. Last weekend we hashed through the rice paddies in an area where the rice was almost ready to be harvested.  The rice stalks were golden brown against the bright green shoots and Mt Agung was in the background.  The farmers were all out in their fields with long bamboo poles with a flag on them shouting and shooing away the birds so they wouldn't steal their harvest.  We learned that some rice farmers sleep in their fields during this time so that they can wake up with the birds and chase them away.  It was gorgeous, fun and MUDDY!

This weekend, we hashed through the jungle, the rice paddies and through a small village where it seemed they rarely see non natives.  We saw coffee, cacao and mangosteens growing and beautiful terraced rice paddies.  The hash run was probably about 3 miles and towards the end, the promise of a fanta kept the kids moving and the search for the next pile of paper shreds kept it fun along the way.  When you see the paper piles, you yell "on, on" to let your group know you are on track.  You never know what you will see or where you will go.  It is a fun combination of a treasure hunt and a hike.