Pattaya Hash House
Harriers.

Pattaya Hash House Harriers

Overview

Pattaya Hash House Harriers (PH3) is the first and original Hash House Harriers chapter in Pattaya — a non-competitive social running club that has met every single Monday since 1984, making it one of the longest-running expat sports clubs in the city. PH3 is part of the global Hash House Harriers movement (founded 1938 in Kuala Lumpur by British colonial officers), self-described as "a drinking club with a running problem" — a unique blend of trail running, social drinking, ribald songs, and decades-old hashing tradition.

What makes PH3 stand out from a regular running club is the format: a "Hare" lays a paper trail through forest, fields, beaches, or hillsides; the "Pack" of runners follows the trail, with false trails and check-backs designed to slow front-runners and let the pack regroup. After the run comes the "On On" — a circle gathering with songs, beers, awards (and "downdowns" for misdeeds), and a shared meal.

For Pattaya residents and visiting runners wanting a social fitness experience that doubles as instant immersion in the city's expat community, PH3 is the longest-established, best-known, most accessible option in the city.

Position in Pattaya's Running Scene

Pattaya has multiple Hash House Harriers chapters that have spawned over the decades:

Pattaya Hash is the mother chapter in Pattaya — the chapter that all other Pattaya hashes branched from — and the only one that has sustained continuous weekly Monday operation for over 40 years.

Hash House Harriers — Global Background

Understanding PH3 requires understanding the parent movement:

Origins (Kuala Lumpur, 1938)

The Hash House Harriers were founded by A.S. "G" Gispert, a British accountant in Kuala Lumpur, on December 24, 1938, when he and a small group of expatriate civil servants began following the paper-chase running format (also called "hare and hounds") around what they called the "Hash House" — their nickname for the Royal Selangor Club Chambers' dining room (which had a reputation for monotonous food).

The name "Hash House Harriers" combined:

• Hash House (the dining hall they met at)
• Harriers (a traditional English running club style)

After Gispert was killed in WWII (Battle of Singapore, 1942), the club was revived post-war and expanded across Asia, becoming a global expat phenomenon with chapters worldwide.

Modern Scale

By 2026, the Hash House Harriers global network includes:

• Approximately 1,800+ chapters across over 180 countries
• Self-described as "the largest non-competitive running club in the world"
• Each chapter (called a "kennel") runs weekly or monthly
• Ribald songs, mock-ceremonial circles, and beer culture are universal across chapters
• Members earn "hash names" through humorous ceremonies — usually unflattering nicknames they retain for life

Spread to Thailand

• 1977: Bangkok Hash House Harriers founded
• 1984: Pattaya Hash House Harriers founded (first Pattaya hash)
• Subsequent decades: Pattaya Jungle Hash, Pattaya Monkey Hash, and various other satellite kennels formed

What a Pattaya Hash Run Looks Like

The Format

A typical Monday with Pattaya Hash House Harriers:

Pre-run:

• Meet at the announced location (varies week to week — check pattayah3.com for the current run's start point)
• Usually late afternoon (2:30 PM-4:00 PM start, depending on season/sunset)
• Hare(s) for the day pre-set the trail with paper or chalk markings
• Hash fee typically ฿200-300 for visitors (covers run + drinks + snacks)
• Sign in as a visitor or returning member

The Run:

• Length usually 5-10 km depending on the trail and terrain
• Trail markings include: dots (you're on trail), checks (decision point), false trails, etc.
• Front-runners follow the trail; slower pack catches up at checks
• Walking groups often available alongside running groups
• "On On!" is the call when the trail is found
• Some sections may go through jungle, fields, paddies, beaches, hills

The Circle (post-run):

• All gather at the trail end
• Beer, water, snacks distributed
• The Religious Advisor (RA) runs the circle ceremony
• Songs — traditional bawdy hashing songs sung by the group
• Down-downs — humorous drinks awarded to members for run-related mishaps, late arrivals, virgins (first-timers), birthdays, returnees
• Hash naming ceremonies for members who've completed enough runs

Post-circle:

• Group meal (often Thai, sometimes BBQ)
• Bar evening continues into the night
• Strong social bond — many friendships, marriages even, born from hash circles

Run Locations

PH3 runs in varied locations around the Pattaya area week to week:

• East Pattaya farmland
• Buddha Hill jungle trails
• Khao Mai Kaew area
• Sattahip hills
• Bang Saray countryside
• Beachfronts (occasionally)
• Hills around Phoenix Golf Course

The variety is a feature — members never know exactly where they'll run, and the Hare's choice creates anticipation.

Membership & Fees

Visitor Fee

• ~฿200-300 per run for one-time visitors
• Covers: trail use, drinks at the circle, snacks, song participation
• No long-term commitment

Regular Member Fee

• Annual membership fee typically ฿500-1,000 (covers regular drinks subsidies, hash sheets, extra benefits)
• Shows up automatically in dataset reporting/communications

Hash Sheet (Magazine)

PH3 publishes a periodic Hash Sheet with run reports, photos, songs, in-jokes, and news from related hashes — a long tradition in the global Hash movement.

Who Joins Pattaya Hash?

Demographics

The PH3 membership reflects Pattaya's expat community:

• British, Australian, German, Scandinavian, American expats — the largest contingent
• Long-stay retirees (Pattaya has Thailand's largest concentration of retired Western expats)
• Working expats from Eastern Seaboard industrial parks
• Visiting Hash members from Bangkok, other cities, traveling internationally
• Thai members — fewer in number but present
• All ages — runs suit walkers and joggers as well as serious runners

Why People Join

• Instant social network in Pattaya — you'll know dozens of people after 3-4 runs
• Healthy outlet for expats whose social lives might otherwise revolve around bars
• Outdoor exploration — discovers hidden trails most tourists never see
• Gentle competition — pace is set by the pack, not the front
• Continuous tradition — songs, ceremonies, member names span decades

Pros

• 40+ years of continuous Monday operation — Pattaya's longest-running expat sports club
• Instant social entry to the Pattaya expat community
• Beginner-friendly — runners, joggers, and walkers all welcome
• Cheap — ฿200-300 per run including drinks/snacks
• Outdoor exploration of varied Pattaya area terrain
• No qualification, no barrier to entry — show up, sign in, run
• Active satellite hashes (Jungle, Monkey) for those wanting more days
• Global Hash network — your hash name + visitor cred works anywhere
• Mixed-gender, mixed-age, mixed-ability

Cons

• Drinking culture is integral — non-drinkers can opt out of the circle, but it's part of the experience
• Bawdy songs and circle humor may not suit everyone — Hashing is unapologetically ribald
• Variable run quality — the Hare for the week determines trail enjoyment
• Outdoor running can be hot/humid March-October
• Trail terrain unpredictable — bring shoes you don't mind getting muddy
• No fixed location — must check website weekly for run point
• Strongly expat-skewed — language and humor anglophone

Best For

• Expats wanting community in Pattaya
• Visiting Hash members from other chapters
• Casual runners + joggers + walkers seeking a structured weekly outing
• Adventurers who like exploring countryside and hills
• Singles, couples, families alike — many members bring partners
• Long-stay travellers wanting Monday-night plans every week

Not Best For

• Strict-pace serious runners seeking competition (try MD Pattaya runs)
• Teetotalers / non-drinkers uncomfortable with beer-centric circles
• Religious-conservative travellers — hash humor is irreverent and crude
• Solo female runners seeking women-only spaces (PH3 is mixed)

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