Beijing Notebook

August 10, 2008

Beijing Notebook: Did Beijing Hash, Still Hung Over, No Mas

by Amby Burfoot

Sunday afternoon I got laid low by the Beijing Hash House Harriers. I got sucker punched. How was I to see it coming? This was my first international hash, so I didn't understand all the ins and outs (that's a bit of "hash trash" right there, but I promise not to overdo). For example, the web site said I should report to Tim's Texas Roadhouse at 11 am. That seemed a tad early, given that the run start was listed as 3 pm. I'm easily bamboozled, unfortunately, so I showed up at noon, figuring that would give me plenty of time to stretch, tighten my shoelaces, and figure out why it takes hashers so long to report to the start line.

Now I know. It's called nachos and beer. Which explains why, despite my early arrival time, I actually  missed the start. I was in Tim's upstairs bathroom relieving myself. Too much beer, wouldn't you know? I raced downstairs to the start out front and panicked when I spotted none of the 50 or so runners who had been milling about moments earlier. "Which way did they go?" I yelled at a bystander. She pointed a finger, and I bolted off in that direction.