DRAFT Magazine

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.

Beer running with Dogfish Head

Chago Navarro shows off his beer runner pride at the finish line of today’s 5th Annual Run into the New Year at State Fair Park in Wisconsin. A former Division 1 collegiate runner, Navarro covered the snowy and slushy 5K course in about 18:30.

About 1,300 people braved an icy wind and 20-degree temperatures for their last race of the decade. Their reward: A goodie bag with champagne and free beer after the race.

Happy New Year, beer runners. What is your resolution for the new decade?

Celebrating 3,000 bike miles at Romans Pub

Five years ago, Jeff Bedel ditched his car, picked up his bike after a 12-year hiatus, and started setting goals to ride longer each year.

First 1,000 miles. Then 2,500 miles. Then 3,000 miles.

This year he reached his goal 34 days ahead of schedule, despite a crash that left him with bruised ribs and lungs.

“July was a tough month,” he said, “but I still squeaked out three or four hundred miles.”

How did he get the mileage in? Must have been all those beer runs on the bike.

“I’ve biked a many miles to and from bars,” he says, “and carried several 6-packs from Blatz Liquor on my way home from work or bike trips.”

What are your beer runner credentials?

I was first introduced to craft beer back in college. It’s the longest relationship I’ve ever had. I used to collect all the bottles of the different beer I’d ever tried, but after moving so often it got be a hassle. I’m a huge craft beer and cycling advocate so I’m always ranting about how people should stop drinking macro beer and find a more efficient and healthy way to commute around the city. Milwaukee and Wisconsin are very bike friendly, especially compared to Indianapolis where I moved from. So doing more miles has been easier/safer commuting to work, running errands, Bomber Burgers, beer, and getting across town or the next county over (or two).

Tell me about your 3,000 mile biking goal. How and why did you set that?

After completing a mini-marathon 5 years ago, I wanted a new challenge. I did a 1,000 miles my first year and have gradually increased that goal every year. In 2006 I was unemployed and did over 2,500 and set the goal for 3,000 miles the past two years, but failed miserably. This year I trained inside over the winter which made it easier to do longer rides out of the gate.  Also that large of a number can be overwhelming so I set out to do a 1,000 by June 1.  Once I accomplished that I broke the last 2,000 into “goal days” to reach by Nov 1. From there it was pretty easy.

What was the biggest challenge to achieving your goal?

Being a Beer Runner can leave you sloth like and incapacitated (hungover) for a long ride the next morning.  Meeting lots of people on Twitter hasn’t helped either. I’m very destination oriented, and I pretty much (even though I’m fairly new to Wisconsin) ran out of new places to check out within a 50 mile radius of Milwaukee. A bike crash back in late June while doing a ride up in the Michigan U.P. was also the first time I was ever injured significantly.

What did you do to celebrate mile 3,000?

Like a good Beer Runner should; biking to his favorite craft beer bar! I set a Tweetup to do the 3,000th mile at Romans’ Pub in Bay View. I celebrated first with a Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA.  Had several beers thereafter.  Many couldn’t make it since it was a Wednesday night, but I was going on vacation the next day. I’ll still accept late celebratory beers.

What’s your next biking goal?

Naturally I want to think about 4,000 miles (I’m currently at 3,200 already this year) for next year, but more importantly I want to drive (via Zipcar) to new places and see a bit more of the region/country and maybe even bike into Canada. Ironically when people asked me why I got rid of my car 5 years ago my answer was to “travel more”.  I’ve achieved that and want to do more.  I’m really inspired to by @follownathan on Twitter who did a coast to coast ride this past summer. Now there is a fun challenge/goal!

Ever think about creating a similar goal, but for beer consumption?

Yes, less actually.

Anything else to add?

I’m very knowledgeable and passionate about craft beer, so someone listening out there should get me a job in the industry.

Dogfish keg races

Let it never be said that beer runners aren’t fast.

At the 4th annual Dogfish Dash this past Sunday, the top times were blistering.

The 5K winner clocked in at 16:39, or an average pace of 5:22 per mile. The 10K winner finished in 33:51, or a 5:28 mile for 6.2 miles. Very impressive.

The 750 runners who crossed the finish line were rewarded for their effort — and for braving rainy, cloudy Delaware weather — with breakfast and beer at the Dogfish Head brewery.

Possibly even more impressive than the 5K and 10k times were the keg races.

There was also a larger cause at play. The event raised $25,000 for the Delaware Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and their mission to protect plants, animals and natural communities.

You can already start training for next year’s race. Sunday, September 26, 2010, is the preliminary date for the 5th Annual Dogfish Dash. Start hoisting those kegs.

“I never really played with the girls,” says Ashley Routson. “It was much more fun to play against the boys.”

Growing up, the self-described tomboy enjoyed beating the boys at their own games. That practice took her all the way to Ohio State, where she was a Big Ten varsity swimmer before a shoulder injury ended her career.

Then she got into craft beer — traditionally another male-dominated field — and started her blog The Beer Wench.

Here the Beer Wench talks to the Beer Runner about Olympic athletes, bike polo, and her favorite ancient adventure beer.

What are your Beer Runner credentials?

My parents practically threw me in the pool immediately after birth. In high school I broke 7 out of 11 school swimming records and was my school’s first female pole-vaulter. I was on the Ohio State swimming and diving team, and on the rowing team until I needed ankle surgery. I was awarded the Buckeye Power Club Award for excellence in the weight room. After college I got into yoga because my injuries limit high impact exercise. My activity of choice these days is cycling, since it only mildly bothers my ankle.

How did you get into beer?

I got into beer through my passion for food & wine. After college, I was beverage manager for an extraordinary restaurant in Columbus and began studying wine for sommelier certification. We also only carried craft beers, which forced me to familiarize myself with those styles of beer. I wanted to write a wine blog, but got intimidated by the pretentiousness of the wine writing world. In a moment of inspiration the idea for The Beer Wench came to me and I’ve been living the dream ever since.

Ohio State: Better at sports or drinking?

Depends who you ask. I would say athletics, but many non-athletes would say drinking. Ohio State boasts the largest population of students at a university in the entire world. We have 36 varsity sports and about 1,000 athletes, including 11 athletes in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And then there are the other 50,000 students — who are ridiculously awesome at drinking.

You recently moved to Orlando. How’s the beer there?

We have RED LIGHT RED LIGHT - dubbed by RateBeer as the 4th-best beer bar in the WORLD. The owners have been teaching me a thing or two about beer and because of them I’ve tasted some rare and extraordinary beers!

What about the places for exercise in Orlando?

I’m still trying to find my niche. I need to find something that both fits my personality and physical abilities. Rock climbing appeals to me and I have been told that I have good tendons for it. I belong to the Orlando RDV, also home of the Orlando Magic. It is really hard for me to motivate myself to get to the gym. Too boring. I’m also pretty kick-ass on hockey skates.

The Golden Elixir

You write on your blog that you’re “an adventurer and explorer.” What’s been the most adventurous beer and workout you’ve ever had?

Wow. What a great yet complicated question! Dogfish Head founder Sam Caglione is constantly experimenting with recipes to find the most unique ingredients for his off-centered ales. Their Midas Touch is on of the most adventurous beers I’ve ever tasted. Dr. Patrick McGovern, a molecular biologist at the University of Pennsylvania Museum, analyzed residues from the vessels of King Midas’ tomb. Using this ancient chemical evidence, Dogfish Head Brewery recreated the Phrygian cocktail, combining grape wine, barley beer and honey mead. Dogfish Head Midas Touch contains barley, white Muscat grapes, honey & saffron. Pretty damn adventurous beer!

As for adventurous workout: bike polo. It’s exactly like it sounds — polo on bicycles. We played it in outdoor street hockey rinks with homemade polo sticks. There was always blood, never fail. Don’t think I ever left the rink without blood trickling out of some wound. It sounds crazy because it is crazy.

As someone who “specializes in the overanalyzation of behavior and manipulation of minds,” why do you think you or anyone would be into both beer and fitness?

Both beer and fitness can put one in a good state of mind. Both are euphoric and build confidence. Not to mention, if one is drinking copious amounts of beer — then one needs to compensate for the excess calories. Unless one does not care about having a beer belly.