DRAFT Magazine

“I married the beer runner,” says Jess Cigelske, “even though I’ve smelled him after an actual beer run.”

Yup, that’s my wife.

She’s referring to early on when we were dating, when I ran the Locust Street Days Beer Run. It’s a 1.8 mile race with four Lakefront Brewery beer stops.

Jess came to cheer me on. I smelled like sweat and dried beer saliva afterward.

Oh, and it was her birthday.

Anyone who cheers you on for a beer run on her birthday, that girl’s a keeper. And so this weekend it’s the 33rd Annual Beer Run, and the 27th Annual Jess birthday extravaganza.

Let’s start it off right with a Beer Runner profile of the Beer Runner’s wife. Let’s all wish Jess a happy birthday, with many more miles and many more beers!

What are your beer runner credentials?

I was born and raised in the Brew City (or suburbs of it), and my father worked for Miller Brewing for 22 years. I’d choose an American craft brew over any beer, any day. I’ve gotten SAVORed. Recently I’ve found my love for running. I grew up dancing, and always felt that running was kind of boring in comparison. In dance, learning and performing a piece is very cerebral–it takes a lot of focus to remember what your feet, arms, legs, and torso are doing in the next instant, and still make it look effortless. I didn’t find the same mind–body connection with running until I went through a very stressful time at work. The day after I quit my job, I went out for a run and was hooked. Any thoughts that are taking up space in my mind are pushed aside as I focus on my body placement, so I guess running is more like dance than I thought.

What beer are you going to have to celebrate your birthday?

While New Belgium has been getting a lot of play in the Cigelske residence, I have to go local for my birthday. I’m thinking we start at Lakefront Brewery for a tour, fish fry and polka. Lakefront is releasing their Wheat Monkey Ale the day before, so I will definitely try that. If it’s a warm night (which I’m hoping for!) I’d like to end the night with New Glarus’ seasonal Totally Naked (infer what you will). If we have the kind of weather we’ve been having lately, I’ll go with something that will warm me up like New Glarus’ Stone Soup. Since my birthday is on a Friday, I say we go right on celebrating into the weekend. I’d love to do a Reserve Tasting at Sprecher Brewery on Saturday afternoon, which pairs ten samples of their beers with artisan cheeses. Their Abbey Triple is one of my favorites and I’m excited to see what Premium Reserve beers they have available right now.

What was your last memorable workout?

Monday afternoon. I went for a run because the sun had finally come out after raining all day. It was a really strong run–the sun was warm but the air was cool. The colors were all really vibrant because of all the rain we’ve had. I felt so inspired. I was heading home when all of a sudden the sun disappears and this crazy mist rolls in. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen–this was not normal fog. The thunder started, and I knew I’d have to pick up the pace to get home before the storm. I made it home, but the weather was so beautiful, I decided to pull a few weeds in the yard for my cool down. As soon as I got inside, the tornado sirens started going off. It was a wild run.

Do you have an ideal post-workout beer?

I’d reach for a Fat Tire, hands down. So refreshing, so drinkable, so delicious.

Since you are (probably) the most loyal Beer Runner reader, do you have a favorite Beer Runner from the archives?

I loved the Austin post, since I was there with you to discover some Austin’s finer beer haunts. Perhaps we need to go back and do more research?

Are you going to go get me a beer now?

If you do the dishes.