Ballarat has become the backdrop for hundreds of beer-drinking runners during this year’s global Nash Hash event.
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The region’s running and walking tracks were put to the test as 750 people from around the world took part in the bi-annual event.
Event coordinator James Robinson said the run, which originally began in a military establishment in Kuala Lumpur in 1937 after a group of men decided to go for a drink after a run, had developed into a popular social event which drew runners together for two reasons.
“It’s a group of people who enjoy running, who enjoy socialising and meeting a whole lot of other people they may only see every second year,” he said.
“It’s a global social running group which is often referred to as a running group with a drinking problem.”
As part of this year’s event runners helped raise $14,000 for Ballarat White Ribbon Day during their red dress run on Thursday.
For Tasmanian runner Paul Green the event became a perfect excuse to catch up with old friends.
“I’ve been doing it for 43 years. We used to do it when we were fit, now we just do it to socialise,” he said.
“It is just fun comradery.”
The Ballarat Nash Hash group gather weekly on Monday nights at 6.30pm at Xavier Golf Club.