Monday, November 06, 2006

hashing in Runner's World

This was in the latest issue of Runner's World.

Dear Miles,
Why are runners often called "harriers"?

-Matt D., College Point, New York

In the 1830s, English schoolboys developed a game called Hares and Hounds: "Hounds" would chase "hares," who would leave paper trails through woods and hills for the hounds to follow. A group of Londoners took up the game in 1867 as a way to stay in shape and adopted the name Harriers. Since then, the term has become a nickname for cross-country runners. It's also been popularized by the Hash House Harriers - the "drinking club with a running problem." This global network of social runners adds their own twist - beer - the old-school game.

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