Choose where you want to have the On-In. If it is not at a private residence,
you need to check out and reserve a suitable pub, bar or restaurant.
Let the pub/bar know approximately how many people will show up so they can decide if they need to bring in extra staff.
If it's the first time we've been to a place, make sure they know that we will be a little noisy and politically incorrect.
If you speak to a manager, ask him to tell the staff who will be working that Monday about us.
It's easier if the pub serves pitchers but if they don't, we can buy pints or bottles.
1. Plan your run to be
50-60 minutes long. A suggested guideline for a street run is to keep
the real trail inside a box, 2.0 km by 2.0 km. Checkbacks can wander
outside if need be. A great hour long run can be set in an area
considerably smaller, if you are careful.
2. A good run requires some planning and help to organize.
If you're a new hare, there are usually one or two experienced hares who are happy to help out.
The trail should be set over terrain that is accessible to the public. Trespassing on private property without
permission usually pisses off the owner.
3. Choose your location carefully. Give the hashers something special.
Look for an interesting neighbourhood, hills, a view, shiggy, etc.
4. In the winter, we run in the dark. Make sure your marks can be seen - put them under street lights,
keep them on the same side of the street and use light-coloured chalk. Note any missing or burnt out lights and mark
accordingly. It is best to lay in the dark if it is to be run in the dark, although this is often difficult.
5. Try to avoid starting your run with a check. This causes confusion
as the pack scatters in all directions and can get lost right at the beginning. Give the pack a clear direction in which
to start and get safely out of any parking lot or traffic situation.
6. Make your marks frequent and obvious.
And plan on sweeping; that means staying behind the pack and making sure they follow the trail. You've already set trail,
you don't need to be an FRB. Unless it's a live trail of course.
7. Try not to set a trail that crosses itself. This can mean that some hashers really shortcut.
8. Set checks and use hash holds to keep the pack together. The goal at any check is to have at least 2 good options and
sometimes 3 or more. Choose the non-obvious direction once in a while. Don't have too many checks. Setting checkbacks can
take a lot of time. And in winter, consider the temperature. Holding at -25C and below is not fun.
9. A good way to keep the pack together is to set a Turkey/Eagle split. The turkey trail is shorter and allows slower runners
or fast walkers to catch up to the faster ones. Another method is to use various "hooks" on the trail which lets the faster
runners run.
10. Be aware that trail markings will last differently depending on location, weather conditions and marking surface.
Marks on open sidewalks and the exposed sides of poles will disappear during a rainstorm. Flour becomes brown, weathered
and almost invisible after a small amount of rain. Be particularly careful when setting marks around schools. You may have
to remark those sections. Some non-hashers have been known to erase or remove trail marks. If possible, check your markings
just before the run.
11. When setting a run in flour/toilet paper/tape in the bush, if possible have a co-hare come behind you afterwards to
ensure that the trail is as well marked as you think. In winter, check for snow removal signs. It's no fun to have your
marks cleared away.
12. Be aware and sensitive to the running conditions. Don't attempt overly steep terrain in wet or icy conditions.
13. In non-freezing weather, water crossings are always kind of special. Make sure they are safe and that there's an
alternative way to get across. Not everyone can swim.
14. The beer stop should be relatively close to the On-In. Most of us don't like to run too far after drinking a beer.
The beer doesn't have to be premium grade. The hash is a drinking club, not a connoisseur of fine beer club.
15. If the beer stop is at a pub, let hash cash know in advance so they can have money on hand to pay.