Welcome to the drinking club with a running problem

Words: Lydia Willgress

Track clubs, trail clubs, run/walk clubs… it’s time to discover a new run club with a difference

I,m at the back of a small pub in Paddington, surrounded by people, with a cold beer clutched in my hand. “Drink chug-a-lug, drink chug-a-lug, drink chug-a-lug,” the group sings, expecting me to down it. I’m lucky; the next person thrust into the circle gets a tongue-in-cheek rendition of “Why are we waiting?” (“We could be masturbating”) in scenes worthy of any stag or hen do. The other customers look perplexed, not least because we’re all in running gear. Could this be a university sports team social? No.

This is hashing.

Dating back to the 1930s, hashing is based on a traditional paper chase. A ‘hare’ sets a trail that the ‘hounds’ (in this case, runners and walkers) can follow using chalk or flour. It sounds simple, but there are shortcuts, false trails, regroups and checks to navigate along the way – and, as I find out, a culture of taking the mick.

Fancy dress is a big part of hashing – and we’re here for it!

Follow the hare When I join the hash, it’s a cold Tuesday night in November. I’ve tagged along to one run by the City Hash House Harriers, which describes itself as the “central London chapter of the world’s largest running club”. While other commuters rush home, my friend Sophie and I find ourselves at this week’s start point, The Bear pub in Paddington, with around 40 people dressed in colourful tops that have dodgy nicknames on the back. (I later find out these are their ‘hash names’; witty monikers chosen by the group and often based on something embarrassing or memorable.)