DRAFT Magazine

Serious about his beer and running

John Frenette has lived in the great epicenters of American beer-drinking and running cultures.

First he went to school at DePaul in Chicago during the rise of the microbrew culture.

“Chicago has a vigorous drinking ethic,” he says. “What else are you going to do when it’s 10 degrees below zero?”

And now he lives in San Francisco where he’s launching his start-up website Hella Sound to make custom running music.

“I have never in my life seen as many runners as in San Francisco,” he says. “They’re absolutely everywhere. I believe this to be one of the great running cities in the country — if not the world.”

You can catch him writing about his workouts on his blog Slow Mofo or on Twitter or right now on the Beer Runner.

Do you have a favorite post-run beer?

Not really, although when I bonked at the San Jose Rock & Roll Half Marathon, my spirits were lifted by someone in the crowd holding a sign that said “5 More Miles Until Beer!” As I trudged along I kept thinking “yeah, a beer would be good.”

What were your favorite bar haunts while you lived in Chicago?

I tended bar in college at The Note in Wicker Park and The Elbo Room on Lincoln. This was the funnest possible job you could have in college. The Note, a 4 o’clock bar, was a crazy experience. You’ll see some antics working at a bar that doesn’t get busy until 2 a.m. I also frequented concert places like The Double Door, The Empty Bottle, Lounge Ax, and a bunch of other places. The Empty Bottle had a good beer selection; at many rock clubs, you’re lucky to get a plastic cup of Miller Lite.

What’s your favorite place to grab a beer in San Francisco?

There’s a place called Chez Maman on Union, a block or two from home. It’s a bistro that’s become our regular drinking hang out. They have fantastic food and Kronenbourg on tap. The owner is a great host and his father was apparently the brewmaster at Kronenbourg for 30 years.

Since you create soundtracks for running, what’s the best soundtrack for beer drinking?

DMB: NOT Beer Music (Thanks to Rasmin on Flickr)

I’ve never been to Oktoberfest, but I’d bet the Germans own the answer to that question. I’ll tell you what’s not beer-drinking music:  Dave Matthews’ “Satellite.” It was on a near-endless loop on the jukebox at a place we regularly drank. Sure, it’s a good song, but it’s a bit melodramatic. By the 40th listen you need a Silkwood shower and a slap in the face to feel normal again.

What’s the biggest difference between Midwest and West Coast beers cultures?

There were more comfy neighborhood bars in Chicago, more variety in the beer available. In the summer everyone is having BBQs and cookouts. My perspective is also affected by my age. I was in my 20s in Chicago — my prime drinking years — and have since gotten older and less interesting. It might be a result of trends, but there seems to be a lot of cocktail drinking in California. Maybe people are worried about calories, forgetting that complex carbohydrates are your friend.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Apparently the first marathoner racers drank milk and beer before running the event. So, beer has been with distance running since its modern inception. You can’t argue with history.