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What is Rideau Hash House Harriers?

Rideau Hash House Harriers (RHHH) is a casual, social running group in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, founded on 26 July 2012. It describes itself as an off-shoot of the Ottawa Hash House Harriers and follows the "hashing" tradition: runs that mix exercise with socializing, humor, and a deliberately informal, non-judgmental atmosphere. The group's stated theme is to hold runs in downtown or central Ottawa, within the area bounded by the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal — hence the "Rideau" name.

How it works in practice

• Schedule: RHHH runs at 7 pm on the second Thursday of every month, regardless of weather.
• Location focus: Runs are set in Ottawa's central core rather than outlying suburbs, which suits people who live or work downtown and want a weeknight activity.
• Culture: The site quotes a "Hash Bible" passage describing hashing as reliving childhood or fraternity days and "acting a fool amongst others who will not judge you." It also notes the traditional hash motto, "A drinking club with a running problem," while stating that RHHH strongly encourages responsible drinking.

Who it suits

This is a better fit for someone who wants a recurring, low-pressure social run and enjoys quirky traditions than for someone seeking structured training, pace groups, or race preparation. Because it meets only once a month, it works well as a supplement to another running routine rather than a primary club.

A useful next step

If you are considering joining, check the group's Upcoming Run Schedule page for the next date and starting point, and look at the Hash Trash and Photos sections to get a feel for the tone before attending. The site also lists a Mismanagement Committee and contact page, which is the right place to ask practical questions such as whether first-timers (called "virgins" in hash terminology) need to bring anything or arrive early.

How do I join a Rideau Hash run as a newcomer?

A newcomer can simply show up at a Rideau Hash run and expect to be welcomed as a "virgin hasher" — the club's own history notes that its very first run included one. There is no membership process described on the site; the practical step is to check the Upcoming Run Schedule page and turn up at the listed time and place.

H3 What to expect

• Runs happen at 7 pm on the second Thursday of every month, in any weather.
• Meeting areas are in downtown or central Ottawa, within the area bounded by the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal.
• The group's stated purpose is social: reliving childhood, releasing everyday tension and "acting a fool" among people who judge you only on your sense of humour.
• The club describes itself as encouraging responsible drinking, so alcohol is part of the culture but not the point of the run.

H3 Practical first steps

1. Open the schedule page and find the next second-Thursday run.
2. Check the Contact page if you need directions or want to confirm details before travelling.
3. Bring weather-appropriate running gear and a change of clothes; runs go ahead regardless of conditions.
4. Introduce yourself as new — being a first-timer is a recognised, expected role in hash culture.

H3 How this compares with other options The Rideau Hash is an offshoot of the Ottawa Hash House Harriers, formed in 2012 after enough people were turning out to support a second regular group in the city. If the monthly second-Thursday slot does not fit your schedule, the parent club is the obvious alternative to look up: Ottawa Hash House Harriers. Choosing between them comes down to frequency and location rather than format — Rideau runs monthly and centres on the downtown core and canal corridor.

H3 A quick decision rule If you want a low-commitment, once-a-month social run in central Ottawa and are comfortable with a drinking-club tradition, start with Rideau. If you want more frequent runs or a different part of the city, check the Ottawa Hash instead.

When and where do Rideau Hash runs take place?

Rideau Hash House Harriers runs at 7 pm on the second Thursday of every month, regardless of weather. The group is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and its runs are intentionally set in the downtown or central core, within the area bounded by the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal.

That schedule makes it a good fit if you want a recurring, low-commitment weeknight run rather than a weekly club. Because it is monthly, missing one means a fairly long wait for the next; it also means each run tends to function as a social gathering as much as a run.

To join a specific run, check the group's Upcoming Run Schedule page for the current date and meeting details, since the exact start location can change from run to run. The site also lists a Hash Trash page (run write-ups) and a Contact page if you want to confirm details before showing up.

How is Rideau Hash different from the Ottawa Hash House Harriers?

Rideau Hash is a second, smaller regular hash in Ottawa that spun off from the Ottawa Hash House Harriers (OH3), with a deliberately narrower geographic focus and a different run rhythm.

The main differences

What that means in practice

If you live or work downtown and want a hash you can reach without a long trip, Rideau's central-core footprint is the practical draw. Its once-a-month, second-Thursday rhythm also suits people who want a regular commitment without weekly runs — you can plan around it months ahead, and it goes ahead regardless of weather.

The trade-off is frequency and scale. One run a month is a thin calendar, so if you want to hash more often, you would pair Rideau with OH3 rather than choose between them; many hashers in a city with two groups simply attend both. The smaller, newer group also means a tighter circle where newcomers stand out more quickly — pleasant if you like being noticed, less so if you prefer to blend into a large pack.

Next step

Check Rideau's upcoming run schedule and its "Hash Trash" write-ups before your first run: the schedule confirms the next second-Thursday date and start point, and the trash tells you the tone of the group. Then look at Ottawa Hash House Harriers for its own schedule if you want a second monthly run. Hash newcomers should also read up on general hash etiquette — arriving early, bringing cash for the circle, and expecting a run followed by socializing — since that applies to both groups.

What should I expect at my first hash run with RHHH?

Expect a casual, social run rather than a race: RHHH describes itself as an Ottawa, Ontario group that “runs,” regardless of weather, at 7 pm every second Thursday of the month. The page also sets a deliberately unserious tone, quoting Stray Dog: hashing is about “reliving their childhood or fraternity days, releasing the tensions of everyday life, and generally, acting a fool amongst others who will not judge you or measure you by anything more than your sense of humor.”

For a first-timer, the practical picture is:

• Format: A group run followed by socializing. The page frames RHHH as a Hash House Harriers group, so the culture is informal and community-led.
• Schedule: 7 pm on the second Thursday of each month. Check the Upcoming Run Schedule before you go, since that is where the site points for current and future runs.
• Weather: Runs happen regardless of weather, so dress for the conditions rather than expecting cancellations.
• Location theme: RHHH runs are meant to be in downtown or central Ottawa, within the area bounded by the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal.
• Drinking culture: The broader Hash motto is “A drinking club with a running problem,” but RHHH specifically says it “STRONGLY ENCOURAGES RESPONSIBLE DRINKING.” If you do not drink, that should not stop you from joining the run and social part.
• Who else will be there: The first RHHH run in July 2012 had 18 participants, including one “virgin hasher,” so newcomers are part of the group’s history and vocabulary.

Your best next step is to open the Upcoming Run Schedule on the RHHH site, confirm the next second-Thursday run, and look at the Contact page if you want to ask about the meeting point or what to bring. As general advice rather than a stated RHHH rule, bring water, wear running shoes you do not mind getting dirty, and plan for a relaxed post-run social period.

How can I contact or get involved with the RHHH mismanagement committee?

Reach the Rideau Hash House Harriers (RHHH) through the contact page on their site, and show up to a run — that is the practical route to the mismanagement committee. The committee is the informal group that organizes RHHH, so new and returning hashers usually meet them at the run rather than through a formal membership process.

Rideau Hash House Harriers

H3 Practical steps

• Check the "Upcoming Run Schedule" on the site for the next run date and location.
• Use the "Contact" page to ask about the mismanagement committee, volunteering, or hare duties.
• Look at "Hash Trash" and "Photos" for a sense of the group's tone and who is active.
• The site also lists the "Mismanagement Committee" and "Original Mismanagement Committee," which tells you who has been involved.

H3 What to expect RHHH describes itself as running at 7 pm every second Thursday of the month, regardless of weather, in Ottawa's central core around the Rideau River and Rideau Canal. It began in July 2012 as an offshoot of the Ottawa Hash House Harriers, and the first run drew 18 participants. The site emphasizes responsible drinking, so if you are considering involvement, treat the social side as central but not obligatory.

H3 A useful next step If you want a committee role, ask at a run what tasks need help — hares, trail setting, hash cash, or social organizing — and offer to assist at one event before taking on a recurring job. For a broader look at hashing in the area, the parent group is Ottawa Hash House Harriers.