Beer, a post-run recovery drink?

Above is a picture of Ashley and I at the Steamboat Marathon in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  We ran the half for fun as we were out visiting some friends in Louisville, CO.  As you can tell in the background, the scenery was like none other.  My favorite part was seeing a group of wild horses running along the mountain top as the sun rose towards the beginning of the race.  If you notice closely, there is a beer in my hand.  I grabbed it from a group of spectators mid-race and decided to grab a few drinks and shake it up for the camera. It was Budweiser anyways.  Running and beer usually go hand in hand.

Every Tuesday night track session at Waggener High School is usually followed up by a few beers at Fab-Dab (or Frankfort Avenue Beer Depot).  Nothing beats a hot summers night track workout followed by a few cold beers, usually pitchers of Bells Two Hearted of Schlafly APA.  

At the end of a majority of marathons, beer tents await finishers and finishers await a beer.  It’s a well-deserved treat for the distance (no matter the length) that they just ran.  Runners often run with shirts which proudly promote the fact that they actually run for beer. Although, I assume a majority of time they just run for the simple fact that they burn more calories in turn to enjoy more beers.  In reality,  craft beer owners should actually sponsor more races, heck even runners.  It’s free advertisement.  I would gladly support a logo, I mean I already get enough attention for my short shorts, might as well advertise with them.  It would be a great thought, but for Craft breweries, it’s tough to compete with the big boys.

For example, in two weeks we have the Derby Festival Marathon. Sold out.  Instead of runners enjoying locally brewed BBC or New Albanian after the race, Coors will be the beer of choice. Why? Because Coors pumps in money to that race.  Smaller breweries don’t have the funds to do that unfortunately.  It’s sad that a marathon is trying to popularize the city and keeping things local, but then when it comes to the beer they go corporate.

Beer is pretty much just water anyways, right?  Heck, even some studies show that beer is better for your recovery after a run than actual water.  On really hot days when I run immediately after work, I grab a beer and head to my porch to get some stretching in.  It’s kind of like a reward for a hard run or the fact that I sweat so gosh dang much.

Some running groups even drink beer during the middle of their runs.  The Hash House Harriers, for example, claim to be a drinking group with a running problem.  As a guy told me this weekend, a “rabbit” runs ahead of the group and sets out markers for where the runners are supposed to go, then they stop at a local tavern, sling back some beers, and then finish their runs.  I’ve drank a beer mid-run, it’s not very pretty or good for my stomach.

Something I have been wanting to set up for a while now is a beer mile.  4 beers, 4 laps, 1 mile total.  A beer before the first lap and then before your next lap.  Beer must be in a can or bottle…no glasses.  Puking is a penalty lap.  A group of guys I run with have discussed doing this, but the problem is where to have it.  We can’t really bring alcohol on a school track and most neighborhoods who have tracks will not be happy when a bunch of running hooligans (probably shirtless, the nerve!) come into their neighborhood running and drinking beer.  I don’t think I’ve chugged a beer since college. Gross.

So which came first? The runner or the beer drinker?

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