The Hash House Harriers is an international 'drinking club with a running problem'. Two thousand or so of these clubs exist worldwide and the origins of the goup lie in the old British 'hare and hounds' game. Each week a hare lays trail and the pack goes off in search of the hare. Trail is marked in clever ways, with flour or chalk, among other things. Usually the trail is about eight kilometers in length, but they also craft several 'interruptions', such as checks, false leads, loops, and back checks. These interruptions allow the pack, of varying running abilities, to more or less stick together.

Just as important at the hash is the social aspect. 'Punishments' are handed out in the after-run circle by the Hash Master, for crimes real and contrived. The hares are inevitably called to chug-a-lug a beer (or water or soda) for the evils they committed while laying trail, and various others will receive 'down downs' for offences such as short-cutting or not calling on trail!

The hash is a great way to get some running done all while having a fun time and getting to know the city a bit better, and getting to know new people. It is a rare cooperative game that really works.

The Montreal Hash House Harriers runs at 1pm on Sundays in the greater Montreal area. The Montreal Moon Hash runs roughly once a week at 7:30pm on weekdays in downtown Montreal.