Nairobi Hash House Harriers
Where can you do a 50 minute jog, then spend the next hour or two sharing risqué jokes and swigging beer with your fellow runners numbering anywhere from 30 to 100 people? This weekly experience awaits you at the Nairobi Hash House Harriers (NH3) and other Hash running groups around the world. Whoever said you cannot have your cake and eat it clearly never met the hashers, as they are popularly called.
This self-styled drinking club with a running problem is part of an international fraternity of running clubs with a presence in every major city in the world. The hashing tradition is said to have began in 1938 in Kuala Lumpur. Its history in Nairobi however dates back to 1978 when the first group of runners came together to form NH3. Since then, its popularity has seen it grow and spawn two other running clubs in the City, Original Nairobi Hash House Harriers and Sunday Hash House Harriers. Those unfamiliar with hashing may find the club’s traditions bizarre, but with time, most people adjust.
The NH3 meet for their weekly runs every Monday evening at 5:45pm, with the venue changing every week. Running distances are typically 6km for those doing a short run, and 10km for those interested in a longer run. Runs are characterized by false trails designed to mislead faster runners, allowing slower runners to catch up and keep the group together. In addition, they have a brief stop called a halt at the halfway point for a ritual song, dance and refreshments.
Besides the Monday runs, the NH3 have a calendar of weekend runs that have over the years become very popular with recreational running enthusiasts from all over the country and the East African region. Some of these include the Ngongathon, Mt Kenya Run and the Naivasha Relay.
No membership fee is required to join NH3. However, each runner is required to pay a registration fee of Ksh 200/= on every run, which goes towards the cost of the ritual down down ceremony (don’t ask…) held after the run.
For further information on running venues, calendar of events, or to be added to their mailing list, contact the Scribe by email on nhhhscribe@gmail.com, or visit their website www.nhhh.co.ke.
morning?…i really want to join nhhh in Nairobi or Westlands, am highly talented in running.
I enjoyed reading your introduction to the Nairobi Hashes. I wonder if you still have up to 100 runners per week? Here in Kampala we have a minimum of 150, sometimes 250 every Monday night!
Look forward to seeing you at another Hash event. ON ON!
You might enjoy reading my account of the Kampala to Jinja relay – the sugar cane Hash http://muzungubloguganda.com/2010/08/kampala-to-jinja-relay-2010/
Thank you Charlotte. Wow, hashing in Kampala seems to be quite popular! Here in Nairobi, the numbers have lately declined to between 30 and 50 for Monday runs:( Most blame our traffic jams. Out of town runs however are still a big draw.
Like the group, i am a runner in Nairobi Kileleshwa.
That’s one of their favourite running grounds. You are welcome to join.
I want to join for fitness & fun but I can hardly run. I will probably be jog-walking most of the way. Is there a place for me?
You are welcome to join. You’ll find other runners with a similar running style, so you’ll fit right in.
I want to join for fitness and fun. How do I go about it?
Thanks for asking. Contact sunnhhh@gmail.com or nhhhscribe.com to be added to their mailing list.