Hash it Out

Imagine if an adult scavenger hunt, a run club, a bar crawl, and what some may refer to as light hazing all came together for one group activity (sport?). Oh wait, it already exists — it’s called Hashing and it’s been around since British Special Forces soldiers started it in the 1930s. Even Southern Pines has a chapter of the Hash House Harriers. “It’s a very tight knit group even though it’s worldwide,” says Tiffany Wessman, the local GM (that’s grand mister).

It’s based off Hounds & Hares, a childhood game where one person (the hare) takes off and leaves a trail for the “pack” to follow. They use biodegradable items, like baking flour, to leave symbols along the route. But it’s not just a game of tag. There are checkpoints along the way — oh and costumes, parody song breaks, NSFW challenges and drinking if you so choose. You don’t have to be a runner. You can walk as long as you’re not lame about it.

“If you’re adventurous and don’t take life too seriously, it’s the place to be,” says Tiffany. They call their management team “mismanagement” and nicknames are an earned rite of passage.

The Southern Pines group began in 2011, and there are currently about 50 local active members. They meet up for runs the second weekend of every month, guided by vague coordinates that are only released a week in advance. “It might be on roads, trails, we never really know. That’s part of the thrill of it,” says Tiffany.

So, how do you join? The most common way is to be invited but if you find them, you’re just as welcome. We should also say this is a strictly adult, 21+ group and probably not for you if you’ve never told a “that’s what she said” joke or cracked a smile at anything in “American Pie” or “Scary Movie.” You can peruse the website to get a feel for what we mean.