Marathon Beer Stop 2004

Sun Oct 10
The Chicago Marathon Beer Stop.

This is our first announcement. We have three kegs of Goose Island beer to give away to the marathoners at mile 23. This is for all Chicago Area hashers no matter what hash they’re affiliated with. The race starts at 8AM, so the elite runners will come by about 9:45AM. The beer drinkers will start coming by about 10:45AM. We can use several volunteer to help set up everything before 9:45 AM. I also could use some volunteers with vehicles to pick up the beer on Sat. and ice on Sun. I believe I have all of the signs from last year, and they can be used again. Perhaps this year we could have some signs representing each of the local hashes.
Last year we had a lot of volunteers to help set up and give out beer. B. O. B. and I couldn’t pour beer fast enough. The runners really appreciated our efforts. Many said that it was a real treat and a boost to the finish. Let’s cheer on on with beer, all the marathoners and especially all of our fellow hashers that are actually running this year.
Any volunteers, please email Horn-E at h3horneh3@… or call at 773 248-7737, or just show up. More details next week.

CH3 #1353

Sun 10/3/2004 @ 2PM – NOTICE THE DATE AND TIME *** Recruitment Hash ***

Chicago H3 Run # 1353

Hare: Virtually Hung & Rear Loader
Venue: Weeds 1555 N. Dayton

Why: we want to invite all you folks out there that have never
hashed to come out and join the fun for FREE ! That’s right, if you
have never hashed you can come out and join the fun for free!
Hashers that bring a virgin get to hash for HALF PRICE! A whopping
$3.00! All the rest of you still get to hash for $6.00

What: You get some decent beer and maybe even some BBQ along
with some great trail in Chicago’s coolest part of town. There will
be TV’s there for you football lovers (American football that is)
so you wont miss that great play. You will get to buy raffle
tickets to benefit the hash ball and you can socialize with some of
the most fun people in town!

For all you veteran hashers, come on out and support your hash on
one of the biggest hashes of the year. This will definately be up
for hash of the year!

Crusin’ for Booze

Crusin’ for booze

Hash House Harriers scour the streets for one reason: Cold beer

Wednesday, September 22, 2004
By Courtney Greve
Staff writer

More than an hour into their run, 11 members of the Chicago Hash House Harriers are gathered around a picnic table in a Beverly back yard throwing back Miller Lite.
Eric Oliver, a Chicago police officer and the “hash” host, quiets the crew to dole out trail tips before the second half of the weekly romp.
“There’s a spot up here you can’t shortcut,” he says. “It’s not dangerous, but no skipping.”
When the cans are emptied, the runners — “hounds” — set off to follow the chalk symbols marking the Chicago neighborhood’s sidewalks, trees and railroad tracks.
A bit more sluggish than before the beer stop, the hounds slow down when they reach the northwest corner of Beverly Park. The arrows point over a fence and through a sprinkler.
“Anything that’s not a war zone is considered acceptable,” said Bill Wojtas, who is known as “Rearloader” because he piles cargo onto airplanes.
Wojtas and the other pack leaders jump the metal barricade and get a welcome shower on a sticky night.
Then a 29-year-old photographer from Chicago’s North Side Lakeview neighborhood takes the slick surface at full speed, loses her footing and lands on her face. Stunned, she stands up and blood oozes from her mouth and lips.
“I’m OK, really,” she says to the concerned pack as she moves in the direction of the end-of-trail party.
“If she thinks she’s all right, she’s all right,” says Tom Leeds of Oak Lawn. “Hashers are troopers. We’ll talk about that for the next few months.”
Welcome to the weird world of hashing, an international phenomenon that’s jokingly described as “a drinking club for those with a running problem.”
Hashing traces its origins to the late 1930s, when the British occupied Malaysia and a group of runners modified the old English school game of hares and hounds.
The story goes that a group of expatriates looking to hasten their hangover recovery from the weekend would meet on a Monday to run it off. An enterprising pub owner started meeting them at the end of their runs with beer in his car trunk, which gave birth to the idea of combining the two activities, according to Jay “Hops” Hopkins, editor of Half-Mind Catalog, an Internet hashing magazine.
There are two types of hashes: live hare and dead hare. In live hare, the hare sets out just before the hounds.
The hash through Beverly was a dead hare because Oliver set the trail — which weaved through alleys, around a cemetery and over the Rockwell Street train tracks — ahead of time. The goal is to follow the symbols to the beer, avoiding those signs that lead to false trails.
While beer figures strongly in hashing, camaraderie is the real draw.
Just ask Amy Kozy. The 29-year-old started two years ago at her boyfriend’s recommendation.
“He’s not in my life anymore but this stuck,” she said. “I like this group more than I liked him.”
For Oliver, hashing reunited him with a high school crush. While a sophomore at Mount Carmel High School, Oliver went on a blind date with Maura Lux to a St. Ignatius turnabout dance.
“He ditched me,” said Lux, a 32-year-old flight attendant.
“I should’ve told the story,” Oliver said, laughing.
“Seriously, we were 15 and didn’t have driver’s licenses,” she said. “He went south and I went north on the Halsted Street bus home.”
They never saw each other again until they met at a hash four months ago. Distance is no longer a factor.
The drive to the Beverly did prevent a large turnout for Oliver’s hash, only the second on the South Side this year.
Wojtas, who lives “as far north as you can go and still be in the city,” pretended to be surprised that Oliver had indoor plumbing.
“Very funny,” Oliver replied. “It’s the South Side, but we don’t have outhouses.”
There are three “kennels” in the Chicago area, one of which caters to suburban hounds, but hashing doesn’t have the prominence on the South Side that it does on the North Side.
“There are family-friendly hashes and college-frat party ones. We’re kinda in the middle,” said Wojtas, who started hashing while in Japan with the Marine Corps.
Athleticism isn’t a requirement, but determination is. Oliver said he enjoys running, but the drinking aspect keeps him hooked.
“It’s like one step up and two steps back,” he said.
The group is fiercely noncompetitive, so anything goes. Chugging is required for the leaders as well as those who bring up the rear.
Solange Zangiacomo has been hashing on and off for five years and has proudly never come in first.
“I hate running,” she said. “I’m the kind of harriet who walks more than runs.”
Horn-E is a 19-year veteran with some 1,300 runs under his sweatband and at least that many hashing stories to tell.
“I’ll run anywhere there’s a hash,” he said. “(Hashing) is a chance to let your hair down once a week and get away from the rigors of the world.”
Horn-E declined to give his name because he’s known in hashing circles only by his given nickname.
From now on, the photographer who slipped in the sprinkler will be known only as “Bloody Lips.” After the hash, between bawdy songs and drinking beer (known as a “down-down”), the hounds held a naming ceremony.
“We normally sprinkle you with beer to christen you, but we won’t do that since you’re going to the hospital,” says Michael Bendas of Bridgeport, the group’s religious advisor. “You will do a down-down next time.”
Somehow, through a swollen mouth, Bloody Lips says, “Here, here!”
For more information, visit chicagohash.com or the Half-Mind Catalog at www.half-mind.com.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Courtney Greve may be reached at cgreve@… or (708) 633-5983.
© 2004 Associated Press — All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

CH3 #1351

Mon 9/20/2004 @ 7PM

Chicago H3Run # 1351

Hare: Meister & Virgin Banger
Venue: Lakeshore Grill 221 N. Columbus drive
312-616-1234

Annual End of Summer Ravage the New Millenium Park Beach Party Hash.

Lower Wackoff and Meister will attempt to not get arrested for anthrax as they lay trail in and around the spankin’ new virgin Millenium Park. If you’re good you will get to see the Mega-Bean. In addition to spectacular trail, the bar features cheap beer, beer garden, good eats, and FREE PARKING. In the spirit of the annual Beach Party theme, wear a Hawaiian style shirt or something beachy-touristy. Those who don’t will get a lame, stupid-looking straw beach hat for the trail.
Getting there: Located at the old golf course off the northeast corner of Randolph and Columbus. The Lake Street L stop of the Green/Brown/Orange/Purple lines is closest. Walk east 3-4 blocks on Randolph and follow the following:

Stairs: Take stairs two flights to Lowest Wacker from Randolph/Columbus and go one block north to the old golf course. It’s inside the one story structure. For the lazy, there is an elevator on Upper Columbus next to the fire house, off of Water.

Drive from Michigan Ave: Randolph East to Columbus, then Left (North). Turn left on the ramp going down (Water St). At the end of the ramp, make a U turn left. Turn right at the stop sign and the parking lot is on the right.

Drive from North LSD: LSD to Grand/Illinois/Wacker. Wacker veers right, then move to left lane. Turn left on Columbus Drive. At the next stop light , turn right down the middle ramp, E South Water St. At the end of the ramp, make a U turn left. If you’ve been paying attention, you know the rest.

Drive from South LSD: Similar to above, without the veering, I think.

If you are coming from the Kennedy, there is another set of instructions. E-mail Meister at [email protected]. My fingers are getting tired.

CH3 #1349

Monday, September 6, 7pm: Chicago #1349 Labor Day Hash
Hare(s): Mount Me Please & Coffee Tea or Me

Starting Venue: 10721 S. Rockwell, Chicago

Directions / Other Details: Metra is the best public trans, the Rock Island Line starts at Lasalle St Station at the Board of trade, Lasalle & Congress pkwy. Take the Metra south to 107th, and walk 3/4 of a mile west to Rockwell

Welcoming the Hash back to the Far South Side after much time up North. Mount Me promises new and fun trail near 111th in the Beverly Area.

If anyone is interested in car pooling from the far north side (Rogers Park / Evanston) I will be leaving at about 5:30PM from Near Touhy and Western area. Contact Me (Rear Loader – [email protected]) if you are interested at this e-mail address!