Your esteemed Trailmaster, has decreed that Hares should aim to set runs that last for about 45 minutes. Most Hash runners can cover between 6 & 8 kilometres over a period of 45 minutes. Chardonnay Hash runs mostly around the streets so it is easy to drive over your proposed trail in a car to ascertain the approximate length of the run.
The running capabilities of the membership of Chardonnay varies from good to plodders to walkers. Setting a run for such a diverse group requires the Hares to give consideration to all Hounds. If you are intending to set a hard run, the use of a get out point or perhaps a separate inward trail for the walkers, should be considered.
Here are some suggestions for Hares when setting runs.
1/ Know where you are going before you set out
Reconnoiter the run before the run day to make the run as interesting and trouble free as possible. Try to avoid taking the trail up a hill just for the sake of it.
2/ Clearly mark the trail
Use the Chardonnay arrow to avoid confusion with other clubs.
Don't hide the trail as it is important to give the Hounds a clear trail, properly marked especially when changing directions.
3/ Use Checks & False Trails properly
Hash runs have Checks and False Trails to help keep the pack together. Most Checks should be set in such a way to disadvantage the faster runners and assist the plodders and walkers to keep up. False Trails are the best method of slowing down the fast runners as it brings those fast runners back to the pack.
Checks; the run should restart within 100 metres of the Check sign.
False Trails; go back to the last deviation in the trail and the run should restart within 100 metres of the deviation.
4/ Don't be afraid to ask for assistance
If you are a novice Hare, don't be afraid to ask an experienced Hare to assist in the planning and setting of the run. If you are an experienced Hare ask a new hasher to help you set the run. It can also be beneficial to get back to the On-On site before the run starts. This allows time for you to advise the Hounds of any problems i.e. crossing other trails, and also allow the novice Hare to participate in the run to see what worked and what didn't.
5/ Don't be a smart-arse Hare
If you are going to the trouble of setting a run you want people to follow the run. If you become a smart-arse and make the run too difficult, you not only stuff up your own run but the other members of the club know to avoid your runs in the future.
Surely it is better to strive to be the best Hare, not the biggest idiot.
The attitude of that old saying "stuff-em they are only Hashers" should be avoided.
5 comments:
Well done, 'Trailmaster'
On the whole I agree with your guide, but wish to contend a just a few points:
"Don't hide the trail as it is important to give the Hounds a clear trail, properly marked especially when changing directions."
When using flour (not arrows) I will sometimes turn without notice. Having said that, the next flour marking is visible from the last, just not in the direction the hound may be looking. This is another method for slowing the bolters (a real hare will zig and zag to throw the hounds off the scent - it works just as well in hash).
"Checks; the run should restart within 100 metres of the Check sign."
I believe that 100 metres is too generous - a previously released guide to setting a run (circa 1980s) states 50 yards for a break in trail after a check, and I think that's about right (particularly in winter). Same goes for FTs.
I believe also that the hares should be determined well in advance and their proposed running territory advertised in the trash/blog so that we avoid having three runs in four weeks over the same territory.
This section is probably a 'work in progress' so two thumbs up for getting something like this out into the wider forum.
Well it is geting quite complex here with rules for hash trails. I want to see the part where losing Herr Flick and Crusha early in the run and making sure they don't get to the piss stop first published. Examples of these fine trails are Scrotum's Bike track and the bus run from the Riverview. Ah those were the days. Also some big words used there by the trail master as well like Hare and Trail. All a bit confusing for a simple hasher like me.
Keep it simple for us simpletons.
Notwithstanding the above excellent “RULES” - I think it is important that everyone be encouraged to set a trail and everyone be reminded that this is Hash, it’s about Hashing - i.e. running or walking a marked trail.
Hashing (shortcutting) a trail like some unmentionable Hashers do, is OK as long as the trail is not spoilt by leading others the wrong way, as the Hares good work will then all go to waste.
If the writer of this article is the "Esteemed Trail Master" what does that make Just Once & Short Circuit? Unesteemed perhaps?
Let people set a trail without extra pressure...virgin trail setters need to learn over time...dont bag them out..they wont do it again or maybe not come back over time
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