Never heard of hash running? Well it’s sort of like Fight Club but with running instead of fighting and with some downing of pints thrown into the mix. Last night Mr Niceguy (more Ed Norton than Brad Pitt for purposes of this metaphor) dragged me along to my first ever hash run.

We ran around the streets of North London following chalk markings that had been put there earlier in the day by the ‘hare’. Sometimes these were easy to spot and at others a bit of searching (running round in circles) was needed. The run started and ended at a local pub where, as a hash virgin, my trainers were blessed with beer before we set off and I was challenged to down a beer in one on my return (see pic).

It was a fun way to run 4 hilly miles and, while both are very friendly bunches of people, it was very different to how it feels to run with the running club. And not just because there was almost mandatory beer at the end. To harp on about ‘Born to Run’ again – I’d say has running is pretty similar to what the Tarahumara tribe do: drink beer, make running a game, have fun.

Hashing is a global thing, so wherever you are in the world there’s potentially one on your doorstep. Check it out. I’ll definitely be going hashing again. Hopefully next time, Brad Pitt will be there too!

Juneathon Day – oh what’s the point any more…
Sorry Juneathoners. You all rock.