Welcome New Hashers!

If you’re new to Phnom Penh or Phnom Penh Hash this page is for you. We’d love to meet you, and you WILL have fun!

Who are the Phnom Penh Hash House Harriers?

We’re a group of people who enjoy letting our hair down, running walking and drinking beer (or soft drinks or water too).

Hashing appeals to people in several ways: the social activity, the exercise, the chance to get out of the city and see the countryside, the irreverence to all and sundry and, of course, the beer. Because it is an international sport, once you become a Hasher, you can make yourself at home anywhere in the world where there is a local Hash. And if there isn’t one, you can start your own.

We have a wide range of abilities, from runners to walkers and everything in between. It’s a family Hash and everyone is welcome! The Hash House Harriers is an international organisation. You can find hashes in most cities around the world. It’s a great place to practice your English or Khmer.

What if I don’t drink?

Non-drinkers are more than welcome, soft drinks and cold water are always available. We have a number of regular hashers who don’t drink but love seeing the countryside and enjoy the comradery of the group.

What is the cost?

The cost is USD10 for expats and USD7 if you are Khmer. The fee includes transportation and all beverages. We sometimes have snacks at the end of the trail. It’s a good idea to bring some extra money in case you want to buy T-shirts or other hash gear or join the On On (dinner) after the hash.

What is Hashing?

An experienced hasher sets both a running trail and a walking trail in the Phnom Penh countryside prior to you arriving. The trails are designed to keep everyone together and allow the runners and walkers to finish more or less at the same time. More details will be explained to you by the hares (the people setting the trail) when you arrive at the start point.

How long is it?

The trails vary in distance, with runs usually between 6-10km and walks around 4-6km. The trail usually takes 1-2 hours to complete with extra time at the end to relax and socialise.

Are food/drinks provided?

During the trail there may be a refreshment stop with water, soft drinks or beer. At the end of the trail the group socialises with soft drinks, water and beer. Sometimes we have light snacks. Once we arrive in Phnom Penh, all Hashers are invited to continue on to the On-on, the post-Hash meal which is usually held at Villa Grange or one of Phnom Penh’s pubs or restaurants.

When do we leave/get back?

The bus leaves promptly at 1:30 pm from Villa Grange. It’s best to arrive at around 1:15pm to get a seat on the bus. The bus will return to get us back to Villa Grange at approximately 7pm (varies due to traffic and the run location) For more details, see this weeks’ run on the home page.

What do I need to bring?

All you need are running/walking shoes, money, and a sense of humor. You may want to take some extra clothes if you wish to change afterwards (especially if it rains or if you feel the cold as the bus has good air con), but this is optional. No matter how dirty, sweaty and smelly you are you’ll have plenty of company. If you bring a bag you can leave it safely on the bus whilst you walk/run.

More details on hashing can be seen below:

It is not easy to describe what the Hash really is. Some say it is for cross-country running. That is true, we run every Sunday through the countryside surrounding Phnom Penh. We also have a trail for walkers. Others say that the Hash is a social club, also true. Some say that we are a drinking club, true also as we drink beer (and soft drinks) after each run/walk. If this sounds good to you and you want to try it at least once, you are very welcome to join us on the bus out to running and walking trails in the countryside. It is great fun and you do not need to be an experienced runner to participate. Trails are 6-10km (strictly non-competitive) for runners and the walks are usually around 4-6km.

Some background

The Hash House Harriers is an informal gathering of once-a-week runners. It started off in Kuala Lumpur in the late 1930’s as a way for the local expats to get some exercise. The name comes from the original meeting place, The Selangor Club (aka The Hash House). The Hash is based on the old paper chase game or hounds-and-hares, a favorite with the British gentry since the late 1800’s. Since the 1960’s, Hashing has been spreading around the world. Originally an expat activity, many of the hashes now cater to local residents. Since Hashing is by definition a disorganised activity, nobody really knows the true figures, but by the best estimates there are several hundred thousand Hashers running in around 2,000 Hashes in 150 countries around the world.

The object of a Hash run is to follow a trail, marked in shredded paper or flour (or in Phnom Penh - spray paint), set by the Hares prior to the start of the run. Unlike a normal cross-country run, the hares build in checks to slow down the FRB’s (front running bastards) so that the rest of the pack can catch up. These take the form of checks, backchecks, false trails and so on, where the trail stops and the pack has to fan out to pick up the trail again. Most Hashes are mixed (male and female) and some are male or female only. Most mixed Hashes are family Hashes where kids are welcome. The Hash is NOT a race (or it’s not supposed to be!), but some Hashes have regressed in this regard. The typical run goes for an hour to an hour and a half.

After the run is completed and all the runners have returned, the ritual known as the Hash Circle starts. This involves the Hash Grand Master or the Religious Advisor selecting groups of people for numerous Hash Sins, both real and imagined. The sinners are invited into the circle to explain their sins and have a drink, sometimes they need to sit on the ice to absolve their sins. Hash sins include but are not limited to, being a Virgin (first-time Hasher), returning or visiting Hasher, Hash Slashing (stopping for a pee while the Hash is in progress), Hash Trashing (littering), competitive running, not wearing a Hash t-shirt, getting a Hash Name, and anything else that the GM or RA can think up. Most Hashes give members a Hash Name. This is usually something cheeky and is based on something that the Hasher has said or done on the trail recently. Hashes also keep track of each member’s attendance, in order to reward them when they reach certain milestones, e.g. fiftieth or one hundredth run, tenth trail setting and so on.

On on!