KnowledgeBase

• Leave gates and property as you find them
• Please respect the working life of the countryside, as our actions can affect people’s livelihoods, our heritage, and the safety and welfare of animals and ourselves.
  • A farmer will normally leave a gate closed to keep livestock in, but may sometimes leave it open so they can reach food and water. Leave gates as you find them or follow instructions on signs. If walking in a group, make sure the last person knows how to leave the gates.
  • If you think a sign is illegal or misleading such as a ‘Private – No Entry’ sign on a public footpath, contact the local authority.
  • In fields where crops are growing, follow the paths wherever possible.
• Use gates, stiles or gaps in field boundaries when provided – climbing over walls, hedges and fences can damage them and increase the risk of farm animals escaping.
• Our heritage belongs to all of us – be careful not to disturb ruins and historic sites.
• Leave machinery and livestock alone – don’t interfere with animals even if you think they’re in distress. Try to alert the farmer instead.
• Keep dogs under close control
• The countryside is a great place to exercise dogs, but it’s every owner’s duty to make sure their dog is not a danger or nuisance to farm animals, wildlife or other people.
• By law, you must control your dog so that it does not disturb or scare farm animals or wildlife. On most areas of open country and common land, known as ‘access land’ you must keep your dog on a short lead on most areas of open country and common land between 1 March and 31 July, and all year round near farm animals.
• You do not have to put your dog on a lead on public paths, as long as it is under close control. But as a general rule, keep your dog on a lead if you cannot rely on its obedience. By law, farmers are entitled to destroy a dog that injures or worries their animals.
• If a farm animal chases you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead – don’t risk getting hurt by trying to protect it.
• Take particular care that your dog doesn’t scare sheep and lambs or wander where it might disturb birds that nest on the ground and other wildlife – eggs and young will soon die without protection from their parents.
• Everyone knows how unpleasant dog mess is and it can cause infections – so always clean up after your dog and get rid of the mess responsibly. Also make sure your dog is wormed regularly to protect it, other animals and people.
• At certain times, dogs may not be allowed on some areas of access land or may need to be kept on a lead. Please follow any signs. You can also find out more by phoning the Open Access Contact Centre on 0845 100 3298.
• Protect plants and animals and take your litter home
• We have a responsibility to protect our countryside now and for future generations, so make sure you don’t harm animals, birds, plants or trees.
• Litter and leftover food doesn’t just spoil the beauty of the countryside, it can be dangerous to wildlife and farm animals and can spread disease – so take your litter home with you. Dropping litter and dumping rubbish are criminal offences.
• Discover the beauty of the natural environment and take special care not to damage, destroy or remove features such as rocks, plants and trees. They provide homes and food for wildlife, and add to everybody’s enjoyment of the countryside.
• Wild animals and farm animals can behave unpredictably if you get too close, especially if they’re with their young – so give them plenty of space.
• Fires can be as devastating to wildlife and habitats as they are to people and property – so be careful not to drop a match or smouldering cigarette at any time of the year. Sometimes, controlled fires are used to manage vegetation, particularly on heaths and moors between October and early April, so please check that a fire is not supervised before calling 999.

LAYING A GOOD HASH

Preparation! Preparation! Preparation! You don’t set many hashes a year, so be prepared to put some effort in. Do your best and everybody will appreciate it! The success of the Hash depends on the quality of the trails. Too short is better than too long. The following information is intended to assist potential hares in planning and laying a good trail. There are no hard and fast rules, and everything depends on the terrain. If you’re nervous, speak to other hashers. You’ll most likely find someone who will help you put your first trail together!

1. The pub
   • Chose a friendly pub, with good real ale, no loud music, adequate parking and no Monday night event eg. quiz night or disco
   • Several days in advance, talk to the pub. Monday tends to be a quiet night for them, so prior warning that 20+ hashers are about to descend on them is both polite and helpful.
   • If there is not sufficient space for parking, find out where overflow can park
   • Notify the hash if they have to pay for parking
   • Determine when the kitchen closes; some hashers will want to order food and this information is useful!

2. Aims of the run
   • Challenge the FRBs and make them run hard
   • Set checks and false trails to keep the pack together and allow walkers to keep up
   • Reverse the pack at a strategic point
   • Regroup the pack and set a long and short trail, ideally all hashers should finish at the same time

3. Planning the run
   • Aim for a 4 miles, 5 miles absolute maximum run and less on cold and wet nights – more runs end up too long than too short. It should take a maximum of 2.0/2.5 hours to walk. Your average Hasher takes 12/15 minutes to run a mile on the straight – make allowances through woods, up hills, over styles etc. Do not over estimate the speed of the pack, especially if it’s going to be a small one. If you’re planning on having a drink stop, then you will need to take this time into account and shorten your run accordingly.
   • To help set the correct distance, photocopy a map of the area and with a piece of string measure the distance or go to mapmyrun.com to measure the length. (See below for full instructions on using the web site)
     1. You can also use maverick (free for androids) or http://nmc-ramblers.org.uk/
   • Introduce effective checks to allow natural regroups. Use loops to keep the pack together for the whole of the run. Direct the short cutters away from the loops
   • Do a full recce before the day. You owe it to the pack to lay a good run.
   • If there are hills, go upwards if possible in the first half, or use hills to slow down the FRBs, by putting in short cuts for the knitting circle.
   • If there is a beer stop, this should be about 70% the way round. Hashers are less keen to run with too much drink in their stomachs and after having had a rest.
   • Select a good location in pleasant rural surroundings. Use public rights of way, footpaths, bridleways, tracks and minor roads etc. Avoid military and private land

4. Laying the run
   • Start laying flour no later than two hours before the run.
   • 3 or 4 bags (6kgs) of flour will be needed for a 4/5 mile run. A backpack is useful as a store. For distribution, transfer the flour into a double lined supermarket bag two bags, one inside the other.
   • Don’t be stingy with the markings – aim to use all the flour. Use dark background of tree trunks where possible. This also offers protection if it rains and stops people erasing the trail. Use children’s pavement chalk, or a piece of plasterboard where flour is difficult.
   • Use the recognised HHH symbols
   • Checkin’ Chicken is responsible for ensuring the checks are marked through, with directional arrows for the slower hashers. Checkin Chicken is not expected to be at the front of the pack.
   • Remember if going over a style, it always slows the run down, as only one hasher can progress at a time, you might want to put a loop in shortly afterwards.

REMEMBER –

Hashing is for the benefit & enjoyment of THE PACK, not the self-gratification of the hare. It is easy to lay a bad run and anyone can do it. Laying a good run needs planning and it can only be done by a good hare.

USING MAPMYRUN.COM INSTRUCTIONS

1. Go to www.mapmyrun.com
2. In the top lefthand corner in the orange box, click on the arrow by ‘United States’.
3. Click on United Kingdom, then above it, type the town nearest to your run.
4. Click ‘Find On Map’
5. Click on the little circle to the left of the larger green circle in the ‘Icon Types’ box on the right hand side of the page
6. Then click on where you’re starting the run from.
7. Now simply click round the circuit you plan to go, being as accurate as you can. The distance will add up as you go in the blue box in the middle on the left.
8. After your last click when you get to the finish, click on the little circle to the left of the red stop circle in the Icon Types box.

Standard Marks

–> or . . .	On on
O	Check
FT or X	False Trail
RG	Regroup
On In	On In
—>	Trail start

WHAT IS HASHING?

• Hashing is a version of running similar to the hare and hounds with some drinking (optional) involved. Typically referred to a drinking club with a running problem, we are a team running experience. There is no racing, timing, or winning involved. Hashing originated in 1937/8 by a group of British expats at the Selangor Club in Kuala Lumpur. The aims of hashing back them were simple, and are still used today
  • To promte physical fitness among our members
  • To get rid of weekend hangovers
  • To acquire a good thirst and to satisfy it in beer
  • To persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel

How does it work?

A pre-arranged runner (hare) will lay a trail of flour/sawdust/chalk before the run starts. The rest of the group (hounds/pack) will follow the trail back to the starting place. The trail is usually clearly marked with various symbols, including a circle which is a checkpoint. These are strategically placed to encourage the faster runners to find the next portion of the trail and mark it, while the slower runners/walkers get a chance to catch up. This ensure that we all finish the trail at a similar time.

We typically run between 4 and 5 miles, with runs lasting just over an hour. We start and finish in the same location, and then have some drinks at a pub afterwards.

Vocabulary

Hashers have their own jargon which may sound confusing at first. Don’t worry though, you’ll have picked it up by the end of your first run!

Are you?	Question shouted by the pack to the front runners – normally at a check Meaning: Are you on the trial?
Back Check	Trail mark indicating that back tracking is necessary in order to find the true trail. Often seen after a false trail
Check	Circular trail mark indicating the true trail must be sought from here
Checking	Answer shouted by front runners to pack when asked “Are you” indicating front runner has not located the trail
Checking Chicken	Person who sticks in the middle of the pack to ensure the trail is marked correctly
FRB	Front Running Bastard – nickname for front runners
Hare	Person leading the trail
On Call	Shouted in response to “are you” by hashers to indicate that while they do not see any trail markings, they are following someone else’s “on-on” calls
On Inn/On In	Trails end; indicates proximity to the end – and a drink!
On On	Shouted by hashers to indicate they are on true trail. Only shouted when someone has spotted the markings!
Virgin	Someone who has never hashed before

Hash FAQ

1. How do I join?
   1. Membership is £10/quarter and can be set up via standing order via instructions on our webpage. If you don’t think you’ll be hashing often, feel free to join us for £2/run. All runs include a drink during circle time at the end before heading to the pub
2. Can anyone came to a hash?
   1. Yes! If you’re up for doing something outside, and exploring some of the Surrey trails, you’ll enjoy our runs. We do have people who walk the whole route, so don’t feel like you have to be a runner to join in.
3. How fit do I need to be?
   1. The trails are designed to keep the faster runners occupied while the slower runners/walkers follow on behind. It is not obligatory to finish the trail – it is common practice to take shortcuts. Just make sure you stay with someone if you’re unfamiliar with the area!
4. Is there somewhere to get changed?
   1. Sometimes we’re parked at a pub instead of a trail entrance, but most hashers do come ready to run. There are opportunities to change in cars if necessary
5. How do I get there if I don’t have a car?
   1. Contact us! We’ll help coordinate lift shares. Some hashers get picked up from the nearest train or bus station, or others coordinate lift shares from main town centers.
6. What do I need to bring with me?
   1. Obviously bring your running kit. Be prepared to get wet and muddy (especially in the spring). It’s suggested to bring a change of shoes and clothes/extra layers for after the run.
7. What do I do when I arrive?
   1. Look for a group of people dressed in various types of running kit (or sometimes in fancy dress). Introduce yourselves as a newbie (you’ll be called a visitor or virgin), and we’ll warmly welcome you!
8. Will I have to do down downs or drinking games?
   1. Not if you don’t want to. We do have juice/water available for those who don’t want to drink. No one will ever be forced to do something they are uncomfortable with!
9. What happens if I get lost on the trail? That’s a great question! While we do our best to start and end the run together, there are times where we can get spread out. It is always advised to try and keep at least one other hasher in sight. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to hold up or to shout “are you” to ask where other runners are (there’s no limitation as to how many times you can shout this in a row). We’re keen listeners, trying to find the trail after a check, so someone will most likely respond “on-on” to help you out. It’s strongly advised that you also use a tracker on your phone. Some suggested apps are: Strava, Map My Run, Run Keeper, Maverick or Google Maps. Additionally, you can sign up for the Emergency Contact registration on a voluntary basis. This information will be used to try and reach you if you have not shown up to the circle at the end of the run without telling any of Mismanagement.