DRAFT Magazine

Rachael Ray adds a dash of beer

At least that’s the impression I get from People magazine, where the cooking show empire owner discusses running while drinking beer.

“I started running 3½ miles every morning after throat surgery to remove a cyst last year,” Ray told the magazine while reportedly “sipping a beer.” (It does not specify what kind.)

“The gym used to be my adversary. But that has all changed,” she says. “Now, I look forward to it every morning.”

People reports that Ray spends about 30 minutes running, 45-60 more minutes of elliptical training and then hits up weight machines for circuit training.

People is becoming my definititve source for revealing celebrity beer runners. Or at least Rachael Ray and Patrick Dempsey.

You can see some of Rachael Ray’s beer and food pairings here and her Can O’ Beer Chicken recipe here.

Sam from Dogfish Head on a 7-mile training run

For Christmas this year, Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head entered himself and his wife Mariah in the New York City Half Marathon lottery.

Next thing they know, they’re full-on beer runners in training for the 13.1-mile race on March 21.

“It should be interesting,” Mariah said. “Neither of us are regular distance runners. We did a half marathon years ago and finished – but came in nearly last. We’re so slow!!!!”

But can anyone on the course claim to brew more adventurous beers?

The Beer Runner: How’s the training going so far?

Mariah Calagione: So far, so good — although it’s pretty darn cold!!!. I am following a training schedule provided by Tim Bamforth of Seashore Striders (he is the race director for our annual Dogfish Dash - you should come out for it - 9/26/10). The plan has me running 5 miles 4-5 days/week. Sam is doing more of a cross-training thing with 2-3 days of running plus some spinning/rowing machine workouts and yoga.

BR: What half marathon did you run before?

MC: We did a half marathon years ago here in Lewes, DE (it was a race Tim put on and is coming up again in April). We finished something like 2nd and 3rd from last - no lie!!! But we finished. Our training was pretty lame. Hopefully we won’t be last this time around!!!

BR: What’s your favorite Dogfish Head beer to finish a training run with?

Sam and the Beer Runner at GABF

MC: For everyday, I’d say we’d both go with a 60 Minute IPA - although on a particularly cold day Sam will opt for an Indian Brown Ale.

BR: Anything else to add?

MC: We’ve been having fun!!!!! We’re looking forward to being part of such a huge, exciting race in our fave city.

Speaking of races, I’m on my way to Death Valley National Park for a trail marathon tomorrow morning. I’m bringing my phone and plan on sending out photos and 140-character updates along the course, if I’m not in too much pain. You can get them by following @TheBeerRunner on Twitter or becoming a fan on Facebook.

If I lived in Philadelphia, there’s no doubt who I would want to run and drink with.

The Fishtown Beer Runners formed in 2007 to scientifically test Professor Manuel Garzon’s study stating beer tops water for post-exercise hydration. The group’s real-world findings supported lab results.

“We found that beer was indeed the perfect replenishing substance after a long run,” said co-founder and co-president David April. “We combine responsible running with responsible drinking in the interest of science.”

Today the group gathers weekly to run 3-5 miles, have a beer or two, and recruit everyone from runners off the street to best-selling authors to join them.

The Beer Runner: How famous is your group getting in Philadelphia?

David April: Four people participated in our first run, now between 20-40 people show up each week. About 150 people have participated in a beer run at some point. Recruitment has been bolstered by several newspaper articles, running and beer blogs, internet postings, and word of mouth. The Philadelphia Weekly did a significant article and video about the club. The Philadelphia Brewing Company also champions our cause. We are constantly recruiting while running or at our pub. I’ve been known to invite lone runners off the street.

BR: What’s been some of your most memorable group runs?

DA: It is always a joy to have little kids run with us for a block or two or to see a bar owner’s eyes light up as 30 hot and thirsty runners come in on a slow night. We’ve been dubbed as an “instant stimulus package.” We have run in 10 degrees, snow, ice, torrential rain, and 95 degrees. We always draw attention during our annual Halloween run. We did a Christmas lights tour of South Philly with the South Philly Striders Running Club, and afterward 70 of us piled into For Pete’s Sake Tavern for some holiday cheer. The Memphis Tap Room hosted us with a large birthday cake and named a few entrees in our honor for our first anniversary, and the Standard Tap provided an incredible spread and festive atmosphere for our second anniversary. Another memorable event was running to an art galley to support one of our artist runners. Perhaps our most memorable run was the run clinic with “Born to Run” author Chris McDougall.

BR: How did Chris McDougall end up joining your group?

David (left) with Born to Run author Chris McDougall

DA: He contacted me out of the blue the same day I read an article about him and his book “Born to Run” in the Philadelphia Inquirer. He had read about the Fishtown Beer Runners and wanted to join us for a run. Chris had to cancel the first date we arranged because John Stewart called and wanted him on The Daily Show. In September we teamed up with Head House Books and Chris did a Barefooted Run Clinic followed by a talk and book signing. Afterward we gathered at Bridget Foy’s for beer and food. Now several of the beer runners have embraced barefoot running, and Chris contacts me periodically when in Philly to arrange a run with us. Chris commented that the Fishtown Beer Runners was the “Coolest running club he had ever seen.”

BR: What kind of beer do your group members normally drink?

DA: Drinking a beer after a long run is simply amazing as your palette is overwhelmed by flavor. We’re not beer snobs, but we do believe that craft beer works better for rehydrating yourself after a long run. Locally brewed craft beer works even better! Personally, I enjoy drinking a cold Kenzinger made locally at the Philadelphia Brewing Company. Others like to sample brews from the other area craft breweries or imports. Although Johanna drinks Miller just to piss me off! Often times our socializing will turn into an impromptu beer tasting as members are eager to try and share beers with each other. Luckily for us, Philadelphia is a real beer city boasting hundreds of unique and interesting bars, taverns and restaurants.

BR: Do you have members who are known as the biggest beer drinker or fastest runner, and if so, who gets the most respect for their talents?

The Fishtown Beer Runners

DA: We encourage runners of all abilities to join us. We have several actual runners in the group, but we’ve all increased our running and drinking abilities during the past two years! The great thing about our group is seeing new runners and marathoners interact over a beer. Many have commented that FBR was the impetus to run for the first time, or that it challenged them get back into running or that it motivated them to set and reach new goals. Our fastest runner is Pete Roland who finished the 2009 Broad Street Run in 618th place out of 23,244 finishers! Mike Xander and Samantha Bogin, two of our first members, started running for the first time in December 2007 and completed the Broad Street Run held the following May. Holly Schweitzer and Mallory Fay qualified for the Boston Marathon. After a run, our esteemed co-founder and co-president Eric Fiedler made it back to the bar with a broken knee cap to toast the professor.

BR: If someone is interested in joining the Fishtown Beer Runners, how would they go about doing that?

DA: Just show up at 2346 E. Susquehanna Ave in beautiful Fishtown. We leave at 7PM sharp every Thursday evening, rain or shine! There are no membership dues, fees, or by-laws. Just come and run.

“Since joining the group in May 2009, my time spent in Philadelphia has vastly improved. I feel connected and involved in the city and because of my time with the Fishtown Beer Runners; I have pursued and completed my first marathon and learned quite a few life lessons from my older peers. I have enjoyed every night on Thursdays and any time I spend with the runners.” - Dave Maver, Philadelphia

BR: What are your group goals for this year?

DA: In 2010 the Fishtown Beer Runners will continue to test the results of the Professor’s scientific research. Beyond this important work, ongoing goals are:

· to encourage people of all abilities to exercise by running (or walking)

· to provide friendly camaraderie for all who hate to exercise

· to promote the responsible enjoyment of QUALITY beer

· to support local tavern owners and breweries

· to continue to organize and manage two annual 5k races for the River City Festival and the Shad Fest.

· to participate in the Broad Street Run, Philadelphia Marathon, and 5K’s around the area.

· to receive national press coverage.

· To organize a group trip to visit The Professor in Granada, Spain.

· to promote a ban on spandex (read: ban men wearing spandex leggings without shorts)

· to develop a secret handshake

BR: Any parting words of wisdom?

DA: Beer running combines two seemingly mutually exclusive activities. Mixing the two brings out the strengths of each. To those who don’t run: If you like beer, you are halfway to becoming a Beer Runner. You can do it one step, one block, one beer at a time. To serious runners: You need to get out and be with other people! There are six other days you can run alone and train. To Beer Geeks and Snobs: Get off your can, get some exercise and go meet some people. To All: Raise your glass and toast “To the professor!”

It’s not everyday I get to talk with a dude quite so accomplished as Thom Beers.

Beers almost single-handedly created the genre of Testosterone TV with “Monster Garage,” “Lobster Wars,” the Emmy-nominated “Deadliest Catch,” and several other guy-friendly shows.

I interviewed him for the new issue of DRAFT, and he told me all about tribal spit-beer, hang-gliding into a hippo, and having your eyes frozen shut at 40 degrees below zero. The man has a few good stories, that’s for sure.

I may be biased, but I think you should check out the article.

ALSO, because you’re a loyal reader of the Beer Runner, you get this exclusive Beer Runner question. Enjoy.

What do you do to stay in shape?

I have two regiments. I have this great British instructor, Ben Cullen, and three days a week I do a 90-minute session with him that’s mosty weights and running and exercise stuff, and the last 15 minutes is just straight up boxing. it just feels really good to nail someone in the head or take a big shot. And the next day I go to yoga. The whole idea of breathing and breath control is the complete opposite of boxing. So you’re really working your diaphram and those two different regiments really complement each other. So I recomind boxing and yoga to everyone.

Rehydrating.

One of my favorite things about the cycling community is the easy, instant camaraderie. You meet a new rider, you bike together, you have a few beers, and BAM! you have a new best friend.

Now throw in a higher purpose than just logging a few hours in the trainer, and you have some real potential for bonding.

It was under these conditions that I recently met some stellar cyclists: Tom Schuler, Scott Galaska and Brent Emery. And it just so happened that one was a former Olympian.

The four of us biked for most of the Admirals game to get people to sign up for the Greater Milwaukee Tour de Cure, a fund-raising ride for the American Diabetes Association.

Tom Schuler

Tom, it turns out, is the man behind the legendary Bone Ride, an annual day-long bike trip from Milwaukee to Madison and back again — a distance of about 180 miles. I’ve only heard of this ride mentioned in hushed tones. It’s for serious riders who can maintain 20+ miles per hour the entire way.

Tom, I found out later, is a retired pro racer and is prominent enough in the cycling community to have his own Wikipedia page. And he let me borrow his trainer.

Brent Emery

On the other side of me was former Olympian, record holder, and developer of one of the first aero bars in the world. Meet Brent Emery. He had just finished closing up his shop for the night, and was returning in the morning to lead a 5:30 a.m. training session.

Even though both man’s reputations preceded them, they were quite content to pedal, chat and have a beer on the bike with any random cyclist, like me. It doesn’t take much to make friends in the Beer Cyclist community.

And now here’s a photo of me biking with a sign that says beer cheese! Rock!

Welcome to a new feature in which we identify those celebrities with Beer Runner tendencies. That is, those that combine a love of beer with an active, healthy lifestyle. Just to review.

First up: Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs.

Mike Rowe is one of my heroes, as he is to countless men who have ever been dirty, greasy, stinky, physically exhausted, covered in guano, or all of the above as a result of their job. In short, anyone who has earned their post-work beer.

Rowe has identified Negro Modelo, Sierra Nevada, Anchor Steam, or “anything that’s cold” as his favorite beers.

It’s fitting that his next task is picking hops in the Yakima Valley — and the show is airing THIS TUESDAY NIGHT on the Discovery Channel. Check out a photo of him with the hop workers here.

Apparently, while he was there Rowe worked with Ralph Olson of Hopunion. I’ve actually interviewed Olson for an article in DRAFT Magazine. In other words, there is one degree of separation between me and Mike Rowe!!

Ahem.

Anyway, the Yakima Herald provides a preview of the episode here:

Rowe spent two days picking and inspecting hops, working the kilns that dry the hops and making bales. In addition to visiting Hopunion, which provides hop leaves, pellets, extracts and oils to the craft brewery industry, Rowe worked in the fields.

As for his fitness credentials? Besides listing “a bit of running” under his hobbies and doing the voiceover for The Ultimate Fighter — OK, maybe I know a little too much about Mike Rowe — here’s what his daily workout looks like. Enjoy.

It’s called a prison workout. It’s named thusly because it can be carried out in a cell, or in my case, a cheap hotel room.

Begin standing. Quickly drop to a squatting position, and then kick your legs back and assume a push-up position. Do one push-up, quickly and smoothly. In a fluid motion, pull your legs forward into a squatting position, and leap straight into the air. Land squarely on both feet. Repeat the entire motion. Move as fast as you can without losing control or balance. Do 10 reps, and rest 30 seconds. Then do nine, and rest another 30 seconds. Then eight, then seven, then six, all the way to one. Always do descending sets. Never rest more than 30 seconds between sets. If it’s too easy — it won’t be — start higher. If you vomit, start lower.

Do three complete sets before breakfast.