The Emerald Coast Hash House Harriers or ECH3 for short is a member of the worldwide disorganization of Hash House Harriers. The "Hash" is known around the world as:
What is Hashing? Most events, called a Hash, are centered on the old running game of Hare and Hounds. Hare and Hounds is an ancient, British, cross-country running game. In this game, one or more runners are designated Hares, while the other runners are Hounds. The Hare is typically a volunteer that has selected the start and finish locations for that hash. Most hashes start at a different location each time. The hare is given a suitable head start (usually 15 minutes) to start laying a trail of flour, chalk, shredded paper, uranium mine tailings, or whatever else is handy for the pack to follow. Once the head start has expired, the Hounds take off after the Hare. The clever Hare will try to avoid being caught by the Hounds by setting a trail that incorporates loops, false trails, checks backs and other marks that puzzle the faster runners while allowing the slower Hounds (ie walkers) to keep up and finish around the same time. This part of the hash usually takes around one hour to complete. Once all the hounds arrive at the end or "ON Home" the group gathers together to talk about things that happened along the trail or other matter of the utmost unimportance. Accusations about the trail are usably made against the Hairs by the Hounds and then more accusation are made by Hounds about other Hounds etc.. Note accusations are usably settled by downing the beverage or your choice (usually Beer) while the group sing them a short song. When everyone has voice their opinion (meaning they have drank enough) The group closes with announcements about futures events and break up to eat snacks broth by the hare. All in all the hash will run two to three hours with many people staying around to socialize the rest of the day.
While the stated object of
Hare and Hounds is to catch the Hare, for the Hash House Harriers, its means
little if the Hare is snared or not. This is because Hashing is as much as a
state of mind, as it an athletic event. It is a friendship of people joined
together for the sole purpose of reliving their childhoods, or fraternity days,
releasing the tensions of everyday life, and generally, acting the fool amongst
others who will not judge you or measure you by anything more than your sense of
humor. You will mingle with people from 20 to 60, with running capabilities
range from 3-hour marathoners to walkers with artificial knees. They may be
College professors or students, colonels or privates, managers or assembly line
workers, doctors or plumbers... all are gathered together without concern for
social status or education. They are gathered for the sport and the camaraderie
and take on a new personality, for at our events we are all just Hashers ... For
a Hash is NOT a competition (except to catch the Hares), but a friendly get
together for people to have fun