Guidelines for Hares

Hashing has no rules, but Haring does.   To ensure that we all have fun, and that the Hares aren't dismembered, here are a few guidelines.

First and foremost USE COMMON SENSE.                     

What do Hares do?

Hares are responsible for the following;

路 Planning and setting fun and exciting trails for the Hashers

路 Recommending a Bash location to the F&B Hash

路 Ensuring that the Hash coolers and snacks get from the Hash Van to the Pre-Run and Post-Run Circle locations (the Hash van driver will not carry coolers for you)

路 Pouring beer and ensuring the glasses are kept full at the post-run Circle

Things to remember:
Suzhou H3 always has a main run and snail trail
The Run should end at a place suitably quiet for the Circle and close to the Bash location
The Bash location should be reasonably-priced and be an attractive place for the post-run party.  Ideally both food and drink should be available at the Bash location
VIRGIN HARES must lay with experienced Hares, never with other Virgins. Ideally 2 experienced Hares with one Virgin. -As we have two trails to set, there should be at least two hares. If you don't arrange for a suitably experienced co-hare yourself, the Hare Raiser will appoint one for you.
Run start. The start should allow sufficient, safe gathering, ideally with the possibility for thirsty Harriers to have a beer or something to eat before the start.  Be sure the expected crowd can be accommodated at the start area.  Keep in mind that the Run start and finish will both need to have convenient road/parking access for the Hash Van to bring beverages and snacks and also to load and unload Hashers' belongings after the Run.
Run end. Get everyone to the finish in one to two hours. Avoid traffic and crossing busy intersections, and respect "No Trespassing" signs.  Again, the Run start and finish will both need to have convenient road/parking access for the Hash Van to park and load/unload. The end will be in an area where the down-down circle can be and where the hash can congregate without interference (and ideally without crowds on local onlookers, tv cameras, etc.).. Light is necessary and depending on the time of year, may have to be provided by lanterns, etc.  bring beverages and snacks and also to load and unload Hashers' belongings after the Run.
Down-down Circle and Bash:  Should be within walking distance of the end of the run, or hares must provide transportation. Ideally the site should be well lighted and include restrooms. In case of rain, an alternate site that is sheltered, or at least covered, is a must in winter. Hares are responsible for ensuring that the Hash coolers, beverages and snacks are all brought to the Circle from the Hash Van at the proper time
LOST HASHERS: Hares are responsible for finding any Hashers still out on the trail by the time the ON ON is over. This is good incentive to lay a well-marked trail!!! The search party starts with the hares.

The Trail
Trails are classified as - Live Hare and Dead Hare trails. Most runs are dead Hare trails where the Hares lay the trail in advance. In a Live Hare trail the Hares are given a 15 minutes head start and set the trail as they go along.  However, there are certain risks to the Live Hare trail. If  Live Hares are caught, they risk losing their pants, and those that catch them become fellow co-hares. Runs can be from point A to point B  (A-B Run) or from point A back to point A. (A to A Run).
The H3 GM will need to know the estimated distance in km and the amount of time your run will take so that invitations to the Run can be prepared.  Run the entire run in advance and time it to estimate the overall length or use a pedometer. If it's a night Run, run it in the dark to avoid losing your way in a canyon (or falling into a canal) or setting an overly difficult to follow Run.
Markings: See http://www.whatsoninsuzhou.com.cn/go/SZH3/Calls.asp for details and photos of standard Hash markings.
Flour or chalk / paper etc. marks should be approximately every 25 meters. The general rule of thumb is that overmarking is always preferred to undermarking.
Arrows should be used to indicate any change in direction and at all street corners. Toilet paper can be used when flour and chalk arrows can not be seen.
Checks tend to bring the strewn out run group together. Front runners will look for true trail from a check while the rest of the pack reaches the check waiting for an inkling as to where to go next.

• A run should contain approximately a half dozen checks. Fewer could make for a boring trail, and a lot more can make for a much longer run.
• The trail should start up within a maximum of 100 meters of the check. Back tracks should be less than 50m  long.
• The true trail should come out of check in a forward direction, on to the right or left, (not back in the direction of the original trail).
• Along the same lines, never bring your trail back onto the same (part of the) road or path you have already been on, or it will cause confusion.
• A trail should be easy to follow when you are on trail. Flour and marking  placement can be clever, but should not be hidden.
• Use interesting checks to keep the pack together, not obscure trails.
• Trails should not go through private property without owners' permission.
• Dangerous places, such as unstable cliffs on night runs or heavy traffic areas, should be avoided.
• Overly polluted areas (like extended runs on busy streets) should be avoided.
• Beer checks are a good idea, and should include sodas & plenty of water. Long and/or hot trails should include extra water.
• At a check, a trail cannot 'die'. If a trail is marked and it is not true trail there will be a Check Back or False Trail mark. See http://www.whatsoninsuzhou.com.cn/go/SZH3/Calls.asp for more details on markings.

Run Length

If you want longer runs you must have a short-cut option, in addition to a snail trail for walkers. No one should have to run more than 6 km if they don't want to.  The Suzhou H3 always has a main run trail (often with short-cut options) and snail trail.

Hares Run for free, but do have some extra tasks, in addition to setting the Run...

It is the HashBrew's responsibility to find a way to organize the  beer, munchies, cups and spare chalk and get them all in the Hash Van and transported as near as possible to the Run Start meeting point. The Hares don't have to worry about buying beer, making ice, etc. BUT ---The Hash Brew will take no more responsibility for the coolers, beverages and snacks after the Van reaches the designated area.  It is the Hare's responsibility to ensure that the Van is unloaded and reloaded and that the driver is given directions to get to the end point of the Run.  Hares are responsible for finding a way to ensure that the beer coolers, munchies and hashers' bags get taken from the Hash Van to the finish point so they are ready for the Circle. This must be planned and arranged in advance by the Hares.
After the Circle, the Hares are responsible for clean-up of cups, bottles and all litter and putting it into trash bags and returning all Hash property, coolers and left-over beverages and snacks into the Hash Van

Transport
For A to B runs, hares need to make sure that if needed, there are vehicles available to transport hashers back to the start and may make a few trips. Plan to have a large enough vehicle to do this.
If you would like to hare an Away Hash where transport to the outskirts or outside of Suzhou is involved, a proposal must be made to Mismanagement and estimated transport costs for the Hash must be given. Hares need tell Mismanagement what the plan is and apply for transport funds from the Hash Cash if a Hash Bus is needed.  That way, any additional transport costs incurred (and estimated Bash costs) can be announced along with run fees in the Invitation to the Hash that is e-mailed to all Hashers. Once Mismanagement has agreed, Mismanagement will take responsibility for organizing the transport to the Hash starting point and back from the finishing point, or Bash, as the case may be. Mismanagement has the right to veto proposed Run locations if they are deemed unsuitable (i.e. unreasonably far, too expensive / complicated to get to) 

Bash
The Suzhou H3 always has a Bash after each Run. There should be food and plentiful drink at the Bash and it should not be prohibitively expensive for anyone.  The general area for the Bash is determined by the down-down Circle location (-ideally the Bash should be within a five-minute walk). Bash locations are recommended by the Hare and selected by the F&B HashBash who coordinates special deals with the restaurant or pub for our group for the event and chooses places that he/she feels offer the best value and location for the Hash. Hares are welcome to organize their own Bash location, but Mismanagement reserves the right to refuse to accept the choice if the location is deemed too expensive, or otherwise unsuitable. In the case that the Hares' choice isn't acceptable, the F&B HashBash will recommend an alternate location in the same area.
The HashBash will handle every aspect of negotiation with the Bash location. It must be made very clear that the location is responsible for collecting all monies due directly from the Hashers consuming. The Suzhou H3 will take no responsibility for unpaid bills.