DRAFT Magazine

Cowtown Marathon - Ft. Worth Star Telegram photo

Deep in the heart of Texas, they love beer and running.

In Fort Worth on Saturday, nearly 5,000 people ran distances from 5K to the marathon — and afterward raced through 60 kegs of beer.

“The funny thing is I don’t even like beer, I don’t drink beer on a regular basis, but after a race it’s what I want,” marathoner Lisa Tessarowitz told a Dallas-Fort Worth TV station. “Tastes great, replenishes your body, does all the right things you know.”

“You see the shirts that say “will run for beer,” there’s a reason for that,” added beer distributor Brian Butner.

The Fort Worth Star Telegram also noticed the beer angle of the race with an article that highlighted one serious runner’s reasoning for a post-race beer:

Stacy Caudell, 57, of Lucas, is one runner who has no qualms about going straight for the beer. And it doesn’t seem to be hurting him. He’s finished a marathon in all 50 states and he’ll continue by running in the Cowtown Marathon.

“Having a few beers after a marathon is a great way to get started rehydrating and soothing the achy muscles,” he said. “The body is craving liquids and carbohydrates anyway, and the taste is noticeably more appealing.”

Be smart about it and you should be OK, Caudell continued.

“Right after a marathon, although my stomach is empty, it takes a few minutes to settle down before I am ready to start eating,” he said. “Beer is a good way to relax the stomach in preparation for the feast to come. I think that just drinking beer, without food or other liquids, would not be beneficial, since the body needs to make repairs to the damage done by the marathon.”

The winning marathon time was 2:31:58 by Logan Sherman, and Camille Riggins paced the women with a 3:01:59 finish. There was no official time for who took down the fastest post-race beer.

Jeremy Banas of Ruination Press

Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials?

Jeremy Banas: Many years ago I was nowhere close to fit. I was 60lbs overweight and not happy. When I was younger I was always on a bike, running a 10K and just getting out there. Then life changed in my mid-twenties and I became complacent, and literally stopped exercising for years. Eventually I got off my tush and back to the gym. After I shed close to 70lbs, I felt confident enough to get back out there. I get out on my bike as often as I can and hit the gym frequently. The last two years, I’ve used the MS bike tour in my area as motivation to get in shape and stay in shape. It’s become an addiction for me. When I’m not riding, I feel guilty. I’ll hook my bike up to a trainer in the house and ride after the kids have gone to bed. It allows me to have a beer or two without killing myself.

BR: How did you get into cycling?

JB: I was always into cycling. Like most kids I had a BMX (although we called them dirt bikes) and rode all over the neighborhood and hitting the makeshift BMX track my friends and I built. As I got older I got a road bike and road to school, work and just everywhere. I dropped off for many years, but picked it back up a few years ago when my oldest son said I needed to get out and ride with him. Best thing I ever did. That kid of mine is smart. I picked up a used Felt road bike and a new mountain bike. Now, I’ve upgraded the mountain and road bike and haven’t looked back. I don’t think I’ll ever give this up. My oldest son has ridden with me on two rides and now wants a road bike, so that he can start doing much longer routes with me. His goal is to do the MS ride with me in a few years. A lofty goal to be sure, but we’ll get him there. There has been nothing like having my kids there when I set off in a race and when I cross finish. However, there’s nothing better than crossing the finish with them. My father has even begun to ride.

BR: Any other memorable cycling stories?

JB: Last year, my sister and I drove to Rosarito, Mexico, for a 50-mile ride. The ride took us from Rosarito to Ensanada, Mexico. Although we had a brew the night before and after the ride was over, it was what happened along the way I will always remember. We were about halfway through the ride and had just climbed almost a 1000ft in elevation when we came upon a local roadhouse in the middle of nowhere along the route. This was not an official break point, but many riders were stopping here. My sister’s arm was bothering here, so we decided to stop there. We grabbed a tostada and a couple of Dos Equis (all they had, of course!) It was a blast, beer and cycling. All the while wearing my Arrogant Bastard jersey.

BR: How did you get into craft beer?

JB: It all started with a bottle of Pete’s Wicked Ale. I know, don’t judge, my palate wasn’t much of anything then. The Pete’s introduced me to something other than the the usual $1.99 special at the local place down the street. As the years went by I tried more and more. Each trip to the store I tried to get something different, try something new. It morphed into hitting breweries and brew pubs anywhere I went, trying whatever I could. Inspired by my uncle who is a wine sommelier and who as been reviewing wine for several publications for many years, I decided to venture into writing about beer. I launched my website about a year and a half ago. It’s mostly reviews, with some articles and news at this point. I’m working to expand it in the near future.

BR: How is your journey to 200 beers going?

JB: The quest for 200 at The Flying Saucer has ended. I hit the mark a week ago. A nice little thing to be sure, however the journey is just beginning. There is so much great micro and craft beer out there, that it will take a lifetime to try it all. It’s the journey not the destination, right? I started homebrewing as well, so my education into beer will never end.

BR: Do you have a favorite bike-themed brew?

JB: The Pike Tandem is quite good. A smooth double ale. The Stumpjumper IPA from Grand Lake Brewing Co in Grand Lake, Co is very nice.

BR: Where are your favorite places to bike in Texas?

JB: The Texas Hill Country is amazing to ride in. It’s not what I was used to growing up in Colorado, but it’s gorgeous. I haven’t gone on rides elsewhere in Texas at this point. It’s often way to hot to ride most of the year. I often have to get an early start in the morning to beat the heat. There are some races up north and I’d like to head up there at some point.

BR: What about your favorite Texan watering holes?

JB: The Flying Saucer in San Antonio is quite nice, good selection on tap an bottle. A kind of German bier garden feel. Freetail Brewing Co in San Antonio is flat out fantastic brew pub and some of the best beers I’ve had. The Draft House and Gingerman in Austin Texas are all very good places for a wide variety of craft beers on tap. However my favorite of favorites is The Tap Exchange Alehouse and Grill in north San Antonio.

BR: What’s behind the name Ruination Press?

JB: Quite honestly, it’s named for my favorite beer in the world: Stone Brewing Co’s Ruination IPA. I add ‘press’ after it since I was writing about beer. Just seemed to make sense at the time.

BR: Anything else to add?

JB: riding non motorized two wheeled contraptions, getting outdoors is just incredible. Especially with family. Oh, and beer is good. Period.

The WereBikes

Beware the WereBikes!

Actually, no need to really beware. It’s just a bike that’s tricked out like a werewolf.

Kurt and Teresa Mitchell wrapped fake fur over their bikes for a Full Moon ride in Austin. January’s full moon was known as a “wolf moon,” hence the decorations.

“We like to call them furbys,” Kurt explained. “And strangely take offense when called fuzzy.”

I met Kurt and Teresa at the BikeHugger tent at South By Southwest. I later tracked Kurt down and made him talk about the Full Moon Ride, being a personal trainer and what Austin would be if it was beer.

And remember, tonight’s a full moon, so watch out… for the WereBike!

Tell me about the Full Moon Ride. Does it involve drinking and/or howling at the moon?

It’s every full moon, starting at midnight. Drinking is the very cornerstone of the full moon ride. We try and blend in with the young hipster/doofus kids swilling Lone Star and riding fixies. My wife thinks I use think type of language to mask my longing to be hip. Damn, I hate when she’s right! The day you saw the bikes festooned as they were was for the “wolf moon” ride. That night, someone had a papier-mâché moon fixed above their bike on a wire. We were all to follow and some if not all 300 plus riders let out a howl or two.

What’s your favorite beer to have after a workout?

It all depends on who I ride with. If I’m over my head and just trying to hang on to a wheel (like riding with my wife), it’s Recoverite or Endurox R4, a nap and then a nice Wit beer. A more social ride sometimes ends with something meatier, New Belgium 1554 or Left Hand Milk Stout.

What do you specialize in as a personal trainer?

I coach a run group and a Tri group that I dearly love. Turning people on to endurance sports is fantastic. However, I think the most rewarding hours are spent helping folks change their lifestyle, their bodies, and minds.

Since I met you at the Bike Hugger tent, how did you find out about them? Do you do many things with them?

Received an email from Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop about the whole affair. At that point we knew nothing about Bike Hugger. Since then we have been on their site many times and linked to lots of bike culture crap. We don’t have a TV so websites are the primary form of entertainment.

If Austin was a beer, what would it be?

Shiner Bock. Just like Austin, it used to be dirt cheap and natural. Now, overpriced and full of crap (corn syrup). Again, why do I have to be so crass? “You kids get out of my yard!”

The Ginger Man

Where have you been all my life, Austin, Texas? Where?!

I am long overdue discovering the charms of Austin — beer, cycling, running and, of course, South By Southwest.

I’ve found the amount of Beer Runners in Austin could fill this blog for years. In the coming weeks you’ll meet some I’ve crossed paths with at the SXSW Interactive conference.

I met local beer runner Chad Costello on the sun-soaked downtown patio of the mighty Ginger Man. They have an extensive selection on tap, and I can highly recommend the Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA and the locally brewed 512 Pecan Porter.

Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA

Chad offered to give me a 5-mile running tour the next day of the trails around Lady Bird Lake, and stashed my non-running gear at his downtown office. I wasn’t disappointed.

Those not lucky enough to run into such a helpful benefactor can use the lockers at Lance Armstrong’s downtown bike shop Mellow Johnny’s. (Or so I heard.)

After a day of listening to President Obama’s favorite Hawaiian singer play live, Bill Hader of SNL get interviewed a few feet from me, and visiting my favorite store in the world, I hit up another bar: The Draught House. Just another day at SXSW.

True to its name, the Draught House has an impressive selection of beer on tap, from Dogfish Head to New Belgium to Left Hand and their own delicious Hop Gold.

Now as you read this I’ll be on my way home. So long, SXSW and Austin. You left a bitter taste in my mouth, in a good way. See you next year.