The St. Patrick’s Day Hash Run is my favorite TCTC social event. I am not sure why. Maybe it’s because that hash run, hosted by Karen and Mike Mathewson, is the first TCTC social event I attended in 1995. I remember Angi Linville welcoming me, and I joined the club soon after that run.
I remember runs hosted by Keith Stone and Joan Crewson with routes through the West End neighborhood/downtown and drinking green beer on their big front porch. Connie Frye hosted many St. Patrick’s Day Hash Runs with routes through the Ardmore neighborhood and Miller Park. Connie made that event a party! She wanted everyone to come. She would always ask me to bring my daughter, Kara, and buy special treats for the kids. Kara even wrote an article for the Flyer years ago where she mentions playing Twister at Connie’s. I remember standing in Connie’s kitchen in March 2020 and hearing that schools were closing the upcoming week due to Covid. Little did we know how long they would be closed!
TCTC got creative with the Hash Runs after 2020. We ran on our own or in small groups starting at Reynolda Gardens and collected gold coins from the porches of TCTC members. At the end, we could redeem our gold coins for a treat at Dough Joe’s. The next year we did a QR code run from Fiddlin’ Fish through the streets of downtown finishing with a drink at the brewery.
The past few years, the St. Patrick’s Day Hash Run has been hosted by Dan Bradley and J.K. Curry returning to the West End area. Like the runs from Keith and Joan’s house, routes are typically through West End and downtown followed by socializing on a big front porch with green beer.
This year’s run will again be hosted by Dan and J.K. on March 14 at 4:00. It is always a lot of fun and an opportunity to meet new people. I hope to see you there!
NOTE:
What is a Hash Run?
A hash run is led by a “hare” who, given a 10-minute head start, leaves a trail of flour or “hash marks” for the pursuing pack to follow. Some marks are easily found, others are more obscure and require the lead runners to split up and look in several directions. This gives slower runners a chance to catch up. Hash runs often involve unusual areas or terrain through different neighborhoods in our city. They are not races; they are social runs meant to be enjoyed by elite racers, casual runners and families.
See below photos from our last hash run, the 2026 Red Dress Run. This is a great annual run with a fun history.
