Frequently Asked Questions

Question:      "A friend of mine has asked me to try hashing but I am not much of a runner. I am afraid that your group of athletic people will run away and leave me alone and scared in the woods"   ---Jill, West Reading

Answer:      Wow! You obviously have yet to meet your first group of hashers! While some hashers are into serious running (we identify them as 'Type A') - they are generally mocked and scorned by the rest of the hash who tend to walk, limp and jog as they follow the trail. We even have a fairly large faction of hashers who subscribe to the policy of "never run up a hill".  The pack tends to stay together on trail, there will usually be someone else near your pace for you to stay with and we actually do make sure that nobody is left behind on the trail.

Question:    "I have heard that the hash is full of 'lithe, toned, tanned women'. I don't look like that. Will my self-esteem suffer?"   ---Nancy, Shillington

Answer:     Where does this misinformation start? Half the time a hash looks like a sausage festival - far too many men than women. Once in a great while a harriet might look like what you describe but generally hashers tend to look like they just escaped from a mental hospital or chain gang. Don't worry about this aspect at all. Its what your mind is like that we will get to know and love!!  P.S. If you do find out which kennel has all those hotties please let me know so I can start hashing there.

Question:  " I often have thoughts about beer. I honor it's important role in American history as I think about how delicious it tastes, about how beautiful a mug of beer can look with sunlight streaming through it, about someday owning my own brewery, etc.    Is this ok?"                                     ----Jim, Lancaster

Answer:     You are a kindred spirit. You will fit right in.

Question:    "I get severe poison ivy. If I even see it I tend to get it so badly I need to visit my doctor. Will I be ok at a hash?"  ----Fred, Reading

Answer:    Ummm, unless you want to DIE - hashing is probably not the hobby for you.   While a hash trail may take us on a run solely on macadam and away from all plants and animals, its highly unlikely. Most of us love 'shiggy' (hashing terminology for fields, woods and briars) and we  often encounter hostile plants and critters. May I suggest you look into indoor tiddlywinks or maybe poker. People who have an average allergy to poison ivy will be fine by wearing long pants and applying oil-blocking creams before a hash.    Check out the Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Information Center

Question:    "The smell of beer makes me nauseous, I think I prefer men to women, I hate any exercise and I get anxiety attacks when I am around large groups of people, fresh air or see people doing dangerous things....will I be accepted at the hash?"                            Mark F.,  West Lawn

Answer:        Stay home you fruitcake.  Look for a knitting bee in your area instead of entertaining the notion of hashing.

Send your questions to OVEREXPOSED