The Ides of March is the name the Romans gave to the 15 March. Actually, because they spoke Latin, they called it Idus Martias, but you get the point. (To make things a bit more confusing, the ides was the Latin term for 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of the other eight months. Don't ask us why: They spoke Latin; they didn't believe in keeping things simple. )
In Roman times, the Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the war god Mars, which made it a good day for a parade. It was less of a good day for the noted military general and self-proclaimed permanent dictator, Julius Caesar, who was stabbed to death by important senators and former friends in 44 BC.
The Ides of March are still celebrated in Rome, but instead of a military parade, there's a sloppy race run by a scrappy group of crazies who call themselves the Hash House Harriers. They tear through the streets of Rome to the place where Caesar was stabbed, then go off for a meal and a drink.
The Harriers (variously called HHH or H3) describe themselves as a disorganization of running and partying enthusiasts. The group got its start among British soldiers in Kuala Lumpur in 1938, where soldiers would go for a run to shake off the sloth of the weekend. And we can't think of a better way for them to do it. It's certainly less controversial than stabbing a dictator.
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