Chugging n/a beer, then running? My experience at the first non-alcoholic 'beer mile' in Canada
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PHOTO CREDIT iRun Magazine, 2023
I used to be a half-marathoner but hung up my shoes about two years ago when I decided I’d had enough of sitting in bi-weekly physiotherapy sessions to keep my body together. So when iRun magazine editor Ben Kaplan invited me to a “beer run” with Athletic Brewing Company I was sceptical I could even run once around the track. Athletic Brewing Company, as you know, is one of the best brands of non-alcoholic beer in North America and much beloved by the running community. I was curious to put it through its paces under the duress of a beer mile.
For those new to ‘beer-miling’, the concept is to chug a can of beer, run 400m around a track, and then do it three more times. With regular beer, it usually becomes a circus as your mental faculties and physical performance start to quickly decline under the stress of racing around a track. Since I hadn’t run more than a few times in two years, I was taking it easy and happy to enjoy some beers and running in the sunshine.
PHOTO CREDIT iRun Magazine, 2023
iRun had invited some pretty serious runners, so when I got to the track I happily found another woman who had the same goals as I did: have fun and finish smiling.
PHOTO CREDIT iRun Magazine, 2023
The first beer went down so smoothly, but about halfway around the track I could really feel the beer sloshing around already. The second beer was slightly warmer than the first, but I had to set a good example for the n/a community and sucked that brew back like a champ. The gas buildup was excruciating during that lap, but on the third go-round, after some really healthy burbs, I was flying. I was feeling fuzzy on the fourth lap, but not from the beer…. feeling the sun on my sweaty face and seeing other runners around me was like coming home. It felt really good.
Hanging around the finish line after, I realized some of the better runners were still struggling to finish their beers and get their laps in. I don’t want to gloat, but practicing drinking n/a beers really came in handy for me.
Ben Kaplan, iRun Magazine Publisher; Sarah Kate, Some Good Clean Fun Publisher; PHOTO CREDIT iRun Magazine, 2023
A big thank you to iRun magazine and Athletic Brewing Company for bringing a bunch of fun loving runners together on a random Saturday afternoon to celebrate a healthy lifestyle. What a blast!
Many happy miles to all you runners out there!
