You should have run probably 10 runs before you commit hari kari…

The aim of the hash is to get the group to return as a group. It is usual to include checks and on-backs. Add hash halts if necessary and drink stops if you want to.

First job: pick a place to run from. A park with BBQs is a favoured site for runs during summer because then the hash makes more money (from selling the beer) rather than if it is in a pub. Alternative venues are often pubs or restaurants or fish & chip bars etc.

You should plan for where people can leave their bags during a run - i.e. make arrangements with publican before the hordes descend, if it is in a pub or restaurant, or have someone staying behind to guard them (if in a park, as well). Not everyone comes by car.

If you're not setting a run from a pub, restaurant or home, you need a place that has light, a toilet, access from public transport, and shade or cover if it is boiling hot or pouring with rain – check with the Religious Advisor.

Plan your trail on a map first (e.g. on a copy of Melways pages), then walk or run it through at least once (this is the "recce") before actually setting it. Marking it whilst riding a bike is strongly discouraged as you don't get a true sense of what the distance is for those on foot (both overall distance, and distance between marks, etc). The trail should be a big loop. Avoid coming close to ‘home’ during the run, as people may cut for home. The trail should be about 6 km in length (excluding on-backs and checks) to give a run 60-65 minutes for runners. You can measure your run from the map or maybe by using a bike with a distance meter. If the run is too long, people will short-cut home and all your hard work will be wasted. One of the points in setting a run too is that FRBs (Front Running Bastards) should not set death marches by falling into the misconception that everyone can run as fast as they can. Also, if your run is too short, you get the flack!

You can never have too many checks or on-backs – there should be at least 6 or 7 per run, 8-10 is better! My first (somewhat short) run had six checks and six on-backs. The first mark "on" after a check should be approximately 100 yards away, although this may depend on the area and how streets and etc go. And make sure the runners aren't likely to run into another part of your trail whilst looking to solve the check. Make use of laneways and off-road areas if possible. This provides variety for the runners. Know what shiggy is!

Know whether your hash run is suitable for daylight or night running. An ideal site for an on-back is up a steep hill or up a dead end lane! It’s good to have a check near the beginning or a loop that comes back around fairly near the start – it helps anyone who might have arrived a bit late to catch up. Make use of traffic lights or overpasses if they exist to help people cross roads safely. Hash halts are good for getting everyone back together. However, some say that a well set trail should not need them!

It may take several reconnaissance trips before you come up with the best run in your chosen area. Explore all possible avenues. Don't forget to tell your Trailmaster how to get to your run, what public transport is available, places for bikes etc.

Lakeside uses a double lined arrow, eg. ð Quite a few people have arrow plonkers they might lend you if you wish to save your back. White chalk, and white flour or lime are most often used. No colour chalk please cause we're all as blind as bats!

If it is dark, or may rain, be sure to put the marks where they can be seen - e.g., under streetlights for darkness; and under awnings, tees, or other covered areas etc. for rain.

On backs – I've seen crosses X, lines with an arrow going backwards, and lines with an arrow curving around – and I'm new! We don't care as long as you explain before the run what you've done.

DS equals Drink Stop; HH is a Hash Halt; a circle with a C in it is a check (some people indicate possible directions with arrows but you don't have to).

How many arrows do you need on your run? It depends on how tough you want to make it. The more arrows, the more people will stay on trail but the quicker the run. Try every 30 metres if the route is twisty; maybe longer if the way is straight and the runners can’t get lost. To slow up a run, make the checks more difficult to find.

You may like to organise a shorter route for walkers. Or, rather than giving them a separate trail, you can simply advise them of some shortcuts, or even mark a shortcut or two on the trail with a W (most runners will not choose to go on the walkers' shortcut).

Don’t make the on-backs too long if there is an opportunity for fast runners to shortcut – the aim is to have them run back, not cheat. Start with an arrow or write HS (Hash Start) in a circle. Be prepared to amend your trail if it rains – if it’s cold and wet and you have too many on-backs the pack will cut for home. If it's very hot, the trail should be shorter too. It is a good idea (if the weather’s fine) to mark out your trail the day before the run so that on the day all you have to do is check it.

Drinks stops are provided at the hare’s expense; if you set one, it should be closer to home than away. (It’s hard to run when you’re full of margaritas!) And you have to be able to get to it with the grogs while preparing food, minding bags, waiting for the latecomers. What to serve – hash splash is the traditional drink 2/3 light beer to 1/3 ginger beer, mix in a bucket and take plastic cups to serve.

The only three bits of good advice that probably should be observed are:

• No on-backs off checks.
• No checks on main roads – people can’t hear ON, ON (although sometimes it's impossible to avoid a check on a main road).
• Don’t mark arrows on the curb if there are no traffic lights to cross a busy road – this is for everyone’s safety.

Our committee give a $90 contribution towards the cost of food if you decide to risk your life and put on a spread. It is not meant to cover the whole cost - since after all, we all get cheap meals out on the nights all the other hares provide them! Check with the GM about how many people you might expect to turn up – 25-40?, and whether there are any vegetarians you might want to cater for. Lots of people will provide advice on what sort of food works well, eg. stews, curries, pastas, plus bread &/or salad. Always have plenty of bread!! And it's better to over-cater and take food home than not have enough.

Obviously if you think that my guidelines are a load of bull, check out all these other sites, kindly supplied by Barterbitch who put "setting hash trail" into Google and got these hints and guides, from several hashes far and wide!! Some make a good read anyway…

http://www.sdh3dr.com/hash%20trail.htm

http://www.glasgowh3.ukf.net/howtosetatrail.htm

http://www.bdwoolman.net/kh3_web/trailmarks/trail.htm

http://www.genevahhh.com/run/good_trail.html

http://half-mind.com/Hashing/who.htm#12

http://www.gthhh.com/bible/biblepage.asp?zzz=&bookno=2&chapterno=1

If these don't give you enough ideas and you set a crap run, just expect more down downs at the circle… Rolf Harris