Jun 26, 10:47 AM
Hash House Harriers
In 1938, the story goes (more or less) that a group of British colonial officials stationed in Malaysia started a running club. They called themselves Hash House Harriers because the place where they lived was derisively known as the Hash House, and the weekly run was set up as a mock hare chase (hence, “harriers”).
The rest is history, and now all over the word, but particularly in far flung outposts of the Empire/Commonwealth, people who, apparently, have nothing better to do meet each week to run around, try to find the trail that another of them has set up a few hours before, shout “On, on!” when they find it, and then drink beer. It’s sometimes called the international drinking club with a running problem.
Arusha’s chapter of HHH is based out of a restaurant called Stiggy’s (owned, appropriately, by a guy named Stiggy). The chapter completed its 700th run earlier this year.
I attended the run last Friday and had a blast. The group was a bunch of aging British and Australian expats (the organizers), a few local students, four or five American college kids who are here for the summer to do some type of world saving, one of the defense lawyers from the case I’m working on, and a bunch of little ones – local kids about ten years old.
The run went along the dirt roads and narrow paths of a village, through wooded areas and fields of corn, banana, coffee, cassava, etc. We were the entertainment for the evening, with people poking out of their windows to laugh at us and toddlers delightedly pointing and screaming “Mzungu!” (“White person!”).
The run was only about 3 km, so, even with false trails to sniff out and some of the participants walking some of the way while the rest of us waited at the checkpoints, there wasn’t much separating us from our quarry: beer. (Coke, Sprite, or Fanta, called “softies,” for the little ones.)
I had so much fun that I conned a bunch of my fellow interns into doing it this Friday. Everyone had a good time, and the run was actually a bit longer, so we got some more exercise. I think I’m going to become a regular, which means I’ll even get a Hash nickname after my third run. That would be this week, but there’s talk among my roommates of going camping (on a volcano, of all places) so it might have to wait.
Picture me, reading this sentence at our dining room table and laughing right out loud: “It’s sometimes called the international drinking club with a running problem.” Camping on a volcano, eh? Is this the place on the way to Nairobi? Fill me in! Wish I were with you. Love, Jerri
— Jerri Jun 26, 03:39 PM #
So, you found a silly running club. Sounds like some fun to be had. I checked out the local clubs around me and found quite a few. One takes off this afternoon in Philly at 6:30. I’ll just make it.
Love ya,
DAD
— Dad Jun 26, 10:13 PM #
Shoot! I typed out a message then managed to erase it! Poo. Anyway, the gist was that it is great to hear how you’re doing. Sounds like you’re having a great time. Would love to be in Arusha again sometime. Keep us updated! And hey, maybe that rat just wants to share the secret of Nimh. Or were they mice?...
— Amalie Jun 27, 10:02 PM #
Just wanted you to know that we are thinking of you on the 4th! Gramma and all are coming over to do legal fireworks and grill. We took G fireworks shopping today and then she disappeared I found her with a astonished looking young kid asking to see the “biggest ones you have”—she was very disappointed when I told her that wouldnt work in my backyard. She pretty much glared at me and walked away. !!!! How proud we are of her! You are missed! Take Care! We love you!
AA &A, Beau and Ben
— Abby Jul 5, 02:10 AM #
Nice Job, Wags. Sounds like you’re becoming quite the regular. I wish I could come with you. The terrain sounds fabulous.
— Murf Jul 24, 12:56 AM #