So, I took a serious hiatus from running. I haven't taken more than a month break in... a decade? I took a 3.5 month break. But- but!- today is the beer mile! How could I resist?!
The field: Probably about 30 total people, and about 8 or 9- John, Darek, Jeremy, Jeremie, Jenni, Brian, Matt, Zach, and myself- running it. Of those, I'd say about five were contenders. Darek- who just ran a 2:44 marathon 3 weeks ago, Jeremy- who is a 16flat guy, Brian- who is the only one who actually drinks in our group and is a 1:30 half guy, John- who is a 2:40 marathoner, and myself. I'd consider myself in the worst shape of the group, but I am amazing at chugging water and seltzer water and have made it a regular occurrence after pretty much every bout of exercise. Obviously beer bottles are different, but not much.
The course: Four loops of a 0.28-0.29 mile loop in a neighborhood. Nice and shaded. Easy peasy.
The rules: drink 12 ounces, run a lap, drink 12 more, run a lap, drink 12 more, run a lap, drink 12, run a lap/finish (or drink a fifth one for those who hold the most magical of traditions in high regard!) Also, you are required to hold the empty upside down over your head before leaving to show it is empty.
Prep: Hilarious. Little to no running. Three weeks ago I ran 6 miles, two weeks ago I ran 14, this week I ran 19. This was going to be awful.
Race goal: Win! Of course. My plan was to own the first drink and also be tied/leading into number two. No chance at a PR time, but if I could psyche people out early, I'd be good. Brian and John were the worries- they are faster than me and performed well last year. Darek was a wild card, as he is currently the fastest in the group other than Jeremy, but is in the best shape.
The race: With a brief message and a salute we were off! Mere seconds it took for me to be first out of the gate. I was pumped! The first lap I was very conservative- 6:00/mile pace. Two runners- Jeremy and Darek were within 10 seconds by the time I grabbed my second one. Again, I simply crushed it. I don't even drink often! Lap two was consistent but I definitely started feeling it. Began to lap people, and that's when I saw the beginnings of straight carnage. Hilarious. Even the people drinking soda/seltzer throwing up on the side of the road- and as if nothing happened- continuing onward. Drinks three and four were not bad and by the time I finished my fourth, no one had even entered the start spot, so I knew I had the race wrapped up. I was worried for a moment when I saw John, but I realized I had lapped him which was surprising. For John, it turned out his went down the wrong pipe so he was coughing for the first minute or so. I finished the fourth lap I high-fived everyone and then headed over to Elia and had a fifth just for tradition. Elia- who skipped this year- went wild.
Anyway, it was fun and everyone hung out for a bit afterwards. It was fun to run in a competition again! Final time 7:09 for four, 7:35 for five.
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