My first Hash Run
It's not what it sounds like.
Hash Runs are an organized social event, which happens on every weekend in pretty much every major international city in the world. I went on my first one yesterday, here in Cairo.
For 27 years straight, hashers have been meeting up in the middle of the desert to get their hash on. Called 'the drinking club with a running problem', hash runs are a unique and interesting socializing event which encourages expatriates to get out and to say hello to each other.
There was about 50 of us yesterday, meeting in the middle of an ancient gorge out in the desert, on the outskirts of Cairo. The opening ceremony started by introducing the course/scavenger hunt. They then initiated the new bees (myself and Ellen) by throwing us in the middle of the circle and singing weird songs to us. As soon as it started, it was finished. The 'race', was now on. Most of us did the walking route, which lasted 1.5 hours or so, following the dropped lentils (hash markers) which led us up and down the gorge, getting some great views over the entire city, with the Pyramids still showing themselves across the city through the thick smog.
10 of the 'hashers' took the running route, which was an 8 km run through the center of the gorge and back again.
Once finished, we all convened around back in a circle and began to drink heavily. There were drinking games, songs, and funny jokes (think of O-week at Western with booze). The sun was on us hard, and after 2 beers I was feeling quite woozy. An hour or so later, most got back into their 4x4's and drove out back into the city; another hash run completed, they'll impatiently wait for next week’s.
Most of the people were Diplomats, NGO workers, UN school teachers, etc... and were all living in Cairo. Other were vacationers who go to every hash around the world they can get their hands on. They all have nicknames too. One guy was named 'Delhi Belly', and explained that he likes to leave his trail wherever he goes. Ellen, a girl I work with was named 'hot Dutch pornstar chick'. I wasn't bestowed with any nickname, but I will work on that.
In the end, it was a weird yet cool experience. It gets you out of the city, let's you meet other people, and allows you to let loose for a few hours.
It was a good time, and I would recommend other to try it out if they can. If overseas, contact the American / Canadian Embassies and they will point you in the right direction. Check them out online too.
Hash Runs are an organized social event, which happens on every weekend in pretty much every major international city in the world. I went on my first one yesterday, here in Cairo.
For 27 years straight, hashers have been meeting up in the middle of the desert to get their hash on. Called 'the drinking club with a running problem', hash runs are a unique and interesting socializing event which encourages expatriates to get out and to say hello to each other.
There was about 50 of us yesterday, meeting in the middle of an ancient gorge out in the desert, on the outskirts of Cairo. The opening ceremony started by introducing the course/scavenger hunt. They then initiated the new bees (myself and Ellen) by throwing us in the middle of the circle and singing weird songs to us. As soon as it started, it was finished. The 'race', was now on. Most of us did the walking route, which lasted 1.5 hours or so, following the dropped lentils (hash markers) which led us up and down the gorge, getting some great views over the entire city, with the Pyramids still showing themselves across the city through the thick smog.
10 of the 'hashers' took the running route, which was an 8 km run through the center of the gorge and back again.
Once finished, we all convened around back in a circle and began to drink heavily. There were drinking games, songs, and funny jokes (think of O-week at Western with booze). The sun was on us hard, and after 2 beers I was feeling quite woozy. An hour or so later, most got back into their 4x4's and drove out back into the city; another hash run completed, they'll impatiently wait for next week’s.
Most of the people were Diplomats, NGO workers, UN school teachers, etc... and were all living in Cairo. Other were vacationers who go to every hash around the world they can get their hands on. They all have nicknames too. One guy was named 'Delhi Belly', and explained that he likes to leave his trail wherever he goes. Ellen, a girl I work with was named 'hot Dutch pornstar chick'. I wasn't bestowed with any nickname, but I will work on that.
In the end, it was a weird yet cool experience. It gets you out of the city, let's you meet other people, and allows you to let loose for a few hours.
It was a good time, and I would recommend other to try it out if they can. If overseas, contact the American / Canadian Embassies and they will point you in the right direction. Check them out online too.
posted by Matt Switzer at 4:12 AM
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