Over the past couple years, I have taken to the idea that beer and running most certainly go together but normally, not in that order. Yes, I have indulged in a pint before a three or five mile run at Big Boss Run Club over this past summer but generally speaking, I prefer to indulge after my run or race. It's a proven fact that beer helps with recovery and in my humble opinion, it just tastes better than water or sports drinks after a good workout.
So setting that premise to the side for a moment - about a year ago I learned of an event called the Beer Mile in which participants must drink four 12oz beers while running one mile. Earlier this summer, a friend of mine hosted a running of the Beer Mile here in Raleigh. I was out of town that weekend and missed it but finally got my chance last weekend when another running of the Beer Mile was held at a local track for all those willing to take the challenge.
As a Beer Mile competitor, I studied the rules and did a little research online to see what tactics I would need to finish the race. Basically, each beer runner must provide his or her own beers - four 12oz cans or bottles of 5% ABV or higher fermented beer. Each runner must run the race in the following format - drink a beer, run a 1/4 mile (1 lap on a 400m track), drink a beer, run a 1/4 mile, drink a beer, run 1/4 mile, drink a beer, run 1/4 mile and done. You have to drink the beer within a designated box at the start/finish line before each lap and no tricks are allowed. ie. no straws, no punctured cans, no shotgunning, no bongs, no running with your beer and so forth. If a runner pukes during his 1 mile run, another 1/4 mile must be run as a penalty lap. Those are the basics behind the Beer Mile but there are plenty more rules also posted at the beermile.com.
For my beer, I wanted to go with something fairly light in body but with enough flavor that I would enjoy chugging four of them. I considered several different NC canned beers but in the end went with Ska Brewing's Euphoria Pale Ale. I liked the can label and I liked the beer so that was good enough for me.
Race day came and I met my fellow competitors (including our race organizer who was also running the Beer Mile for the second time) at a local public school's track. Several friends of the group showed up to spectate and assist with recording the moment as six of us hurled ourselves around the track for the sloshy one mile sprint.
When the time had come, we each opened and chugged our first beer. I finished first and took off on my first lap belching loudly the first 100 meters. I picked up speed, rounded the last corner and slowed down to trot into the start for my next beer. From there, I just repeated the steps three more times paying close attention to where the rest of my competitors were. Luckily, the urge to vomit never hit me and I finished the mile with a winning time of 8:38.
The rest of the field powered through the mile as well with only one runner puking. He was drinking an oatmeal stout from the bottle which seemed a rough challenge in itself.
While I don't intend to make a habit out of running the Beer Mile or drinking and running, I do expect to run it again in the future and defend my title as the Triangle Beer Runners Challenge Champion.
Big thanks to Kevin for organizing the event and Dave from the Craft Beer Collective for the video recap.
So setting that premise to the side for a moment - about a year ago I learned of an event called the Beer Mile in which participants must drink four 12oz beers while running one mile. Earlier this summer, a friend of mine hosted a running of the Beer Mile here in Raleigh. I was out of town that weekend and missed it but finally got my chance last weekend when another running of the Beer Mile was held at a local track for all those willing to take the challenge.
As a Beer Mile competitor, I studied the rules and did a little research online to see what tactics I would need to finish the race. Basically, each beer runner must provide his or her own beers - four 12oz cans or bottles of 5% ABV or higher fermented beer. Each runner must run the race in the following format - drink a beer, run a 1/4 mile (1 lap on a 400m track), drink a beer, run a 1/4 mile, drink a beer, run 1/4 mile, drink a beer, run 1/4 mile and done. You have to drink the beer within a designated box at the start/finish line before each lap and no tricks are allowed. ie. no straws, no punctured cans, no shotgunning, no bongs, no running with your beer and so forth. If a runner pukes during his 1 mile run, another 1/4 mile must be run as a penalty lap. Those are the basics behind the Beer Mile but there are plenty more rules also posted at the beermile.com.
For my beer, I wanted to go with something fairly light in body but with enough flavor that I would enjoy chugging four of them. I considered several different NC canned beers but in the end went with Ska Brewing's Euphoria Pale Ale. I liked the can label and I liked the beer so that was good enough for me.
Race day came and I met my fellow competitors (including our race organizer who was also running the Beer Mile for the second time) at a local public school's track. Several friends of the group showed up to spectate and assist with recording the moment as six of us hurled ourselves around the track for the sloshy one mile sprint.
When the time had come, we each opened and chugged our first beer. I finished first and took off on my first lap belching loudly the first 100 meters. I picked up speed, rounded the last corner and slowed down to trot into the start for my next beer. From there, I just repeated the steps three more times paying close attention to where the rest of my competitors were. Luckily, the urge to vomit never hit me and I finished the mile with a winning time of 8:38.
The rest of the field powered through the mile as well with only one runner puking. He was drinking an oatmeal stout from the bottle which seemed a rough challenge in itself.
While I don't intend to make a habit out of running the Beer Mile or drinking and running, I do expect to run it again in the future and defend my title as the Triangle Beer Runners Challenge Champion.
Big thanks to Kevin for organizing the event and Dave from the Craft Beer Collective for the video recap.
