The Beer Run Redefined

Running for beer, what could be better?

One way to enjoy your beer is to work for it; there is something about working up a sweat to make that first beer so much tastier. As that golden liquid hits your taste buds you know you have earned it. Luckily there is a new race series that offers you the perfect pairing of running and relaxing with fine Colorado Craft beer.

The Rocky Mountain BrewRuns just finished its first year of races across Colorado visiting regional microbreweries. The races are the idea of Scott and Lauren Jones, veterans of the national road race scene. The young couple decided it was time to stop touring the nation staging large road races and set up shop in Colorado. “We were on the road for months at a time which was fun until I became pregnant. Once we had a family we both realized that we were tired of the chaos surrounding big races, it was time to get back in touch with our roots, small local fun runs,” says Lauren. “Since both of us like beer the creation of the brew runs seemed logical.”

The opening slate featured ten microbreweries spread up and down the Front Range. The 5K cost $25 runs are a relaxed affair with no course marshals and such, you start at the sponsoring brewery following a well laid out path focusing more on fun than timing, but there is a clock if you are so inclined. The last race of the 2014 calendar was held this two weekends ago in Boulder at Bru Handbuilt Ales and Eats. In typical Colorado fashion there were 10 to 15 dogs accompanying their owners as they ran out and back course along Boulder Creek. The relaxed atmosphere of the run was a welcome change from the normally high octane running scene usually evident around Boulder.

Once you arrived back at the brewery every runner received a pint glass and a beer to correctly celebrate their feats. As the approximately 100 runners settled in Lauren organized several beer themed events for all to partake in. The first was a blind taste test challenge where you tested you palate against your fellow competitors seeing who could correctly identify their style of beer. The second event of the afternoon was Beer Olympics, a combination of athletic skills, running, and competitive beer drinking. Winners received shirts and hats from the brewery plus the pride in a job well done, sort of.

“Typically our after party lasts three to four times longer than the actual run, we like it that way,” says Lauren.

I can assure you that as I sat on the front deck at Bru relaxing with my wife, dog and IPA a smile was bright upon my face. We pushed ourselves enough to feel we earned our cold brews and were already talking about next year’s race series and how we were planning on hitting several of them with several of our friends. I don’t think the races will stay intimate for very long, it is just that good of an idea so make sure you catch a few next year.

For more details checkout their website here and tell your favorite brewpub or brewery to contact them to get on the schedule next year.