Last night was another fun running event for me!
Being from West Michigan, one of the larger running events in the area is the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon. The race is held this year on October 20th, and besides a marathon, also includes a half marathon, a marathon relay, and a kids marathon.
Being from West Michigan, one of the larger running events in the area is the Metro Health Grand Rapids Marathon. The race is held this year on October 20th, and besides a marathon, also includes a half marathon, a marathon relay, and a kids marathon.
In an effort to increase awareness of the race, they hold a series of Beer Runs, almost every Tuesday all summer long. These are part training runs and part social occasions for the local running community. The runs are sponsored by
local company the New Holland Brewery who covers the tab for your choice of their drafts at each bar and also by Saucony, who kicks in with demo shoes to run in and door prizes.
Last night's event was one of the ones closer to my house and only a few miles from my friend Coley's house, so we agreed to meet up there for a nice run and a cold one after.
Each run costs $10, which gets you a beer at the end of the run, some snacks and a ticket for raffle prizes. When you check in they give you a ticket for beer and raffles and then you're ready to hit the road!
The runs generally go about 3-5 miles, depending on the location and the availability of places to run. Last night's run included a nice 4.8 mile loop out around a local lake and ended up being one of the more scenic routes.
Coley and I wanted to keep a nice 10 minute/mile pace for our run. Neither she nor I was feeling up to pushing it too hard and too fast. I may have mentioned I twisted my knee a few weeks ago and it's still bothering me a bit, but usually gets better the longer into the run I get. But that first mile can really SUCK.
local company the New Holland Brewery who covers the tab for your choice of their drafts at each bar and also by Saucony, who kicks in with demo shoes to run in and door prizes.
Last night's event was one of the ones closer to my house and only a few miles from my friend Coley's house, so we agreed to meet up there for a nice run and a cold one after.
Each run costs $10, which gets you a beer at the end of the run, some snacks and a ticket for raffle prizes. When you check in they give you a ticket for beer and raffles and then you're ready to hit the road!
The runs generally go about 3-5 miles, depending on the location and the availability of places to run. Last night's run included a nice 4.8 mile loop out around a local lake and ended up being one of the more scenic routes.
Coley and I wanted to keep a nice 10 minute/mile pace for our run. Neither she nor I was feeling up to pushing it too hard and too fast. I may have mentioned I twisted my knee a few weeks ago and it's still bothering me a bit, but usually gets better the longer into the run I get. But that first mile can really SUCK.
We enjoyed ourselves and really ended up with pretty nice weather, although it got pretty warm to twards the end when the sun came back out in full force... Plus, we'd already been running for 4 miles... So we were a little sweaty. ;)
Luckily for us, Coley's boyfriend also lives close by and Ucello's, where the run was being held, is a sportsbar, so he agreed to come out and get a table while we ran so we would have a place to sit when we got back.
After trading in our tickets for a New Holland White Hatter (A Belgian Style White Pale Ale), Coley and I got to enjoy a pretty nice dinner together while watching The Tigers do what they do best with a win against Cleveland.
Luckily for us, Coley's boyfriend also lives close by and Ucello's, where the run was being held, is a sportsbar, so he agreed to come out and get a table while we ran so we would have a place to sit when we got back.
After trading in our tickets for a New Holland White Hatter (A Belgian Style White Pale Ale), Coley and I got to enjoy a pretty nice dinner together while watching The Tigers do what they do best with a win against Cleveland.
PLUS! As an added bonus, my lucky streak continues. At almost every run I've done this summer, I've been lucky enough to win a door prize. I may not be fast, but apparently, I am lucky... Or I just make smart choices about choosing runs with lots of door prizes and few participants... You make the call!
Nicole and I both ended up with some nice Grand Rapids Marathon technical shirts that we can wear while we train to run the half marathon this Fall.
And hey, who doesn't like a nice evening of running, beer, and prizes?!?!
Nicole and I both ended up with some nice Grand Rapids Marathon technical shirts that we can wear while we train to run the half marathon this Fall.
And hey, who doesn't like a nice evening of running, beer, and prizes?!?!