A hash run is not your typical weekend jog. It’s a unique blend of exercise, puzzle-solving, camaraderie, and beers!
The original men’s-only hash chapter, known as Mother Hash or the Hash House Harriers, was established in KL in 1938.
Today, Malaysia, the birthplace of this global phenomenon, boasts over 200 hash chapters with runs taking place daily across the country, exploring various hidden trails.
FMT Lifestyle saw it all in action at a recent memorial run, organised by four chapters at ‘The Hash House’ in TTDI, to honour a passed hasher.
One of the first striking observations is that many hash chapter members are long-time runners, often seniors. A key goal of hashing is to remind them that age is just a number.
Margie Gurusamy, 59, a member of the KL Full Moon Hash House Harriers chapter, talked about the memorial run, dedicated to Patsy Yap.
“Patsy, I believe, was 82 or 81 years old and she was a part of four hash chapters in KL. She was an iron lady, meaning she cycled, she swam and ran for the longest time.”
Meanwhile, Hasher Kanagaratnam Karthigesu, 80, has been a hasher for over 50 years. “I think this is one of the best sports. I used to play all games and once I found the hash, I said ‘that’s it.’ This is the best club.
“What makes it unique is that there are no prizes, it’s non-competitive. You come up first or last, it’s the same. You still get the same drink,” he said, laughing
Hashing began when British colonial officials and expatriates were looking for a fun way to exercise. They met after work on Fridays for runs based on the English “hare and hound” tradition.
Their meeting place, the Selangor Club Chambers, was nicknamed the Hash House, which inspired Alberto Stephano Ignatius Gispert to coin the term “Hash House Harriers.”
Apart from keeping fit and making friends, what truly drew people in was the reward at the end of the run—a tub of iced beer, a key part of the hashing culture that has been retained.
Another member at the memorial run, Erik Blokhuis, who moved from Holland to Malaysia in 2016, started hashing in Singapore with Father Hash, the second hash chapter in the world.
“This is not just a running club. In fact, globally, we call ourselves hashers – drinkers with a running problem. It’s not just about being super fit and sporty, it’s about balance in life.”
Aside from the social aspect, the run itself is unique! Typically, one or more hashers, known as hares, lay out a running trail for the rest of the group, the hounds, to follow. In this run, flower petals and wood shavings were used to signify different paths.
The trail, on average from 5km to 10km, may include false trails, shortcuts, and checks—markings that require the pack to search the area and find the correct route. While those in the front of the pack figure it out, it gives the others time to catch up.
Someone will typically call out either “Checking!” to indicate that they are looking for the trail or “On-On”, to signify that they are on the true trail and that the pack should follow them.
Once the run is completed, hashers are treated to delicious local food, including hearty “sup kambing” and other light bites.
When night falls, the infamous circle begins. Hashers are rewarded with a drink, while those who have misbehaved are duly “punished” with a drink—all in good fun.
One memorable scene the night FMT Lifestyle was there involved a hasher with her arms encased in a PVC pipe, trying to drink beer without bending her elbows!
As the night came to an end, Margie expressed that it was this spirit which made hashing truly special: “We all come together regardless of age, race, and religion. We don’t care if you have five million bucks in your bank or five sen in your bank. Everybody’s equal.”
Learn more about Mother Hash on their website.