Rocket Shitty Hash House Harriers
Attendees for the "Annual" 12 Pubs of Christmas Run.
C. U. After School, Bama Slammer, Spooge Bob (hidden), SheSwallows, Mister Blister,
HeBlows, Whining Bitch, Diddle Stick, DogMan (kneeling), Just Ed, Smoking Wiener,
Street Walker, Oedipussy, and Just Christine.
Title: Next Run - May 10 2008, Run 207
Time: 2:00PM
Location: Bandito Burrito, 208 Main St. Downtown Madison AL.
Phone: 256-503-5473
Theme: Drinko De Mayo
Hare: Lost Cause
Route: A to ?
Hash Cash: $5
On After: Whim of Pack
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By Oedipussy (formerly Just Neutered)
A seemingly innocent question asked by many an inquisitive and potential hashing halfwit... and the most common halfbaked response?
"We're a drinking club with a running problem."
So true, yet still lacking in so many ways. As with other things, the answer really depends on your point of view. So here are several ways to look at this crazy little thing we call hashing.
Hashing is based on an old-english schoolboys paper-chase game, but with an added twist... BEER! (More on that later.) Primarily, it is a game with two different styles: live hare or dead hare. In live hare hashing (most RSH3 hashes are live hare), the hash plays out like this: One or more people volunteers to be a hare (i.e. the person who will be chased), hash announcements are posted (like on this site), and all interested parties gather at the time and place the hare chooses. On the day of the hash, the pack of hounds (i.e. the people who will do the chasing) give the hare a chance to get away (usually 10 minutes), before setting out in pursuit and hopefully eventual capture. Instead of following their noses, the pack will follow a trail of hash, which usually consists of flour, chalk, and toilet paper, left by the hare... the hash will be used to create various marks (which are gone over before the hare leaves) which tell the pack different things about where the hare has gone. These marks have names which include:
The trail will consist of the traditional things you might encounter on a trail like hills, woods, and streams, but it might also consist of less traditional things like the local country club golf course, mall promenade, or airport tarmac. And of course all of the trail may contain an abundance of shiggy [read: stuff which will slow you down.]
In dead hare hashing, also known as a dead lay (for you necrophiliacs out there), the big difference is the trail is pre-laid at an earlier time. The object is not to catch the hare but to solve the trail and reach the end. Because the hare has the luxury of time, dead-lay trails can be more complex, and should have more marks designed to keep the pack together. This is part of the point since the person who laid the trail should be tagging along to enjoy watching everyone trying to solve it. Though purists argue a dead lay is for wimps [read: someone afraid of getting caught], both types have their advantages & disadvantages.
In either style of hashing, whenever a hasher spots what they believe is true trail they shout, "On-on!" to tell the pack, "Follow me, I�m on trail!" However follow at your own risk. Many a hasher has been laid astray by false cries of "On-on!" Eventually, the pack will complete the trail and arrive at the On-In. At the On-In, the pack circles up to discuss the day's trail and award down-downs [read: chug-a-lug of your choice of beverage, traditionally beer] to pack members for various honors or infractions the pack thinks they've earned... think of a down-down as kind of a hasher rite-of-passage. After circle is over, the pack often plans to reconvene at a local pub, restaurant, or party, called the On-After for a little more refreshment, fun, and socializing.
Hashing is not a race. Being competitive with others (or being 'race-ist' as it is known in hashing circles) is generally frowned upon, and will get you rewarded with down-downs. See
By Oedipussy (formerly Just Neutered)
. If 'race-ism' is your desire, please check the Huntsville Track Club schedule for upcomming 'race-ist' events, and get it out of your system before attending our hash.
Hash clubs are all over the world all over the world. Most major cities are home to one or more hashes, and each hash differs in its traditions, style of trails (live or dead), trail marks, etc. However they all have the common goal of having fun and hopefully getting a little exercise at the same time. Traveling to other hashes is encouraged, and there will always be something new because of the inherent craziness of hashing.
The concept of hashing is generally credited to a guy affectionately known as 'G' (for Gispert) who along with some of his ex-pat buddies in Kuala Lumpur came up with the idea and started the world's first hash, KLH3, aka the Mother Hash, in 1938. "To work up a thirst and statisfy it in beer" is part of the original hash charter, which nearly all hashes follow to this day.
There are basically no limits to where the trail may take you, and that's part of the thrill and appeal of hashing, and is part of what keep hashers coming back. The number one rule of hashing is "there are no rules!" Hashers are quasi-rebels... the hash is open to everybody regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or planet of origin. All that's required is a good attitude, sense of humor, and the desire to have fun.
By Smoking Wiener
Here is what you can expect during an RSH3 hash:
Hash cash will be collected from each participant.
Refreshments will be available before the run.
Refreshments will be available during the run.
Refreshments will be available after the run.
When you come to a body of water, you will cross it.
When you find yourself at the foot of a hill, you will go up it.
If you come to a briar patch, you will go through it.
If you are at the edge of a field, you will run across it.
You will step over barbed wire.
You will crawl under barbed wire.
If it's raining, you will get wet.
If it's sunny, you will get tanned.
If it's windy, you will get blown. (Hmmmn?)
Shortcutting is allowed and encouraged.
If a theme has been announced; wear, carry, or do something theme related while on trail.
Non-compliance with announced themes will be rewarded with beer.
Puppy trails (shortcuts for the lame and lazy) are sometimes provided. Email the hare if you must know.
There will be a beginning and an end.
A meal (or snacks) will be provided at the end (On In).
Refreshments will be available at the On In.
You will aurally witness songs with altered lyrics.
If you whine, you will be rewarded with beer.
False accusations, or those not accepted at the whim of the pack, will be rewarded with beer.
Finger pointing and (street) name calling is not tolerated.
Infractions of the previous, rewarded with beer.
Stretching is considered racist.
Racism is not tolerated and will be rewarded with beer.
Racist atire (race shirts, hats, water bottles, etc..) will be rewarded with beer.
Racist discussion will be rewarded with beer.
New shoes will be rewarded with beer.
Tights are recommended.
Too many rewards of beer, and you'll plea for mercy.
There are no rules.
There are many traditions.
Breaking with tradition may be rewarded with beer (hope you're thirsty!).
Non-alcoholic beverages may be substituted for beer, but why bother?
You will NOT be forced to consume beverages containing alcohol.
Most of our directions, sent out on email announcements, use Memorial Parkway at I-565 as a starting reference. These directions will take you to Memorial Parkway and I-565. After entering Memorial Parkway refer to the email announcement for further misdirection.
From points north. Travel time from Nashville is approximately 2 1/2 hours. Take I-65 south. Exit I-65 at Athens, Alabama, exit #351. Turn left (east) onto US-72. US-72 becomes University Drive. This will intersect with Memorial Parkway just North of I-565.
From points south. Travel Time from Birmingham is approximately 1 1/2 hours. Depending on trail location, you have two options.
If the trail is west of downtown or in Madison, Alabama. Take I-65 north. Exit I-65 at I-565. Take I-565 east to Memorial Parkway.
Many of our trails take place downtown or in the south end of Huntsville. Take I-65 north. Exit I-65 at Hartselle, Alabama, exit #328. Turn right (east) onto Alabama state highway 36. Follow it until it ends at US-231. Turn left (north) onto US-231. This becomes Memorial Parkway.
Also you can get maps and misdirections online from MSN Maps.
Interested in haring? Here are some tips & links which you may find useful.
No, not that lay... a hash lay I mean. Since how to hare a hash has been described more throughly elsewhere, here is a list of sites which discuss this topic. Please check them out, and come back here for additions to that material, and info specific to RSH3. Disclaimer: RSH3 may not abide by all of the traditions at these sites.
A good starting point for haring would be to decide where you want to have your trail and when. The trail could be close to where you live, go to work or workout; it could tie in with some event happening in Hsv. or time of year; or it could just tie in with some theme you'd like to have.
After you've decided on time and place, a next logical step might be to start scouting the trail. Try to avoid wide-open spaces (like farmer's fields) because you will be more easily spotted by the pack (or an irrate farmer!). Look for trees, bushes, buildings, etc. which you could use for cover; this kind of terrain will generally be more interesting anyway. In addition to physically going to the area you want to scout, via car/bike/foot, the following websites may also be useful in helping to get a general lay of the land before and after you go.
And there's plenty more sites out there besides these... the USGS is a wealth of information even though it may be rather daunting to search through... heck, even the phone book is useful when you need to call a pub about drink specials, or find an address to use for hash run information. Be creative. The best trails have variety... too much shiggy or not enough is a bad thing... mix it up... and make it interesting... those are the most fun.
Of course you can always contact the grizzled RSH3 haring veterans for advice... they would be happy to share with you some of their hash haring wisdom (if want to call it that). Happy Haring!
Talk to DogMan concerning any special financial matters related to a particular venue or style of run (Pub Crawl, RSH3 sponsored on-after, special beer, etc.) Arrange to pick up the the bin and beer or to have them delivered. Mismanagement really appreciates handing the bin over at the hash prior to yours. It unclutters his [Smoking Wiener's] foyer quite a bit and saves him a weekday trip to meet the next hare. Contact HeBlows or Street Walker to see if you'll have an RA available and provide them with any special down-downs that you may have planned. Other seasoned hashers can RA in their absence. Unless you really want to get wasted or enjoy being bloated with beer/soda/water be careful not to choose an RA with whom you don't relate well (Past Boyfriends/Girlfriends should be avoided.)
Trails should be 4-6 miles for a regular hash. Anything longer should be noted. Full Moon runs are requested to be 3-4 miles. Exceptions allowed, but let the web bastard know. Also provide the web bastard with the following info at least one week before your hash... sooner if possible.
When:
Hare(s) Harriette(s) name(s):
Route: A to A, A to A', A to B (ensure that you have adequate transportation available)
Theme:
Starting Place:
Start Time:
On After: Your house, pay your own way, whim of the pack, etc.
Hash Cash: $5.00 (pre-approve higher/lower amounts with Hash Cash)
Directions:
Poison Ivy - the scourge of all hashers. Go to this site to learn more about how to treat poison ivy, how to identify it, and how to prevent it.
Rocket Shitty H3, USA was born 15 November 1997 to Fondling Father Randy 'Dog Man' McFarland out of St. Louis H3... making RSH3 a great great great great grand-daughter of the Kuala Lumpur H3 [1938] through Singapore H3 [1962], Hong Kong H3 [1970], Seoul H3 [1972], Little Rock H3 [1974], and St. Louis H3 [1982].