BEER RUN Is it a spew world record?
YOU’LL need plenty of bottle to run this race. Well, four bottles to be precise.
A group of British athletes are shunning dry January to train for glory in this year’s Beer Mile Classic.
Competitors have to down a 355ml bottle or can of beer at least 5% strong before each of the four 400-metre laps.
Anyone who leaves more than a third in the bottom is disqualified. Those who vomit do a penalty lap.
Hopefuls include PE teacher Laura Riches, 28, from Leigh, Lancs.
She said: “You don’t feel drunk while running because the race is so quick, but running with it filling your stomach takes practice.
“I never normally drink beer because I hate it. My first race beer took 20 seconds, but now I can drink fast.”
England’s women’s European record holder Polly Keen, 33, from Cambridge, said: “Everyone trains at least five days a week.
“My drinking speed is solid but I think I can improve.
Slurping
“Some people are very good at slurping the foam up quickly. You have to not be too out of breath after each lap to finish your beer.”
Last year’s fourth-placed John Tayleur, 26, a Leeds maths teacher who can drink six pints in under a minute, said: “Some of the fastest runners aren’t so good at combining it with drink.
“The carbonation is the problem. The best policy is burping as much
as possible. I’ve constantly improved.”
Last year’s race was held at Leigh Sports Village, Lancashire, and organisers are hoping to attract massive crowds by hiring an athletics stadium in Europe this year.
During lockdown in 2020 the event was held virtually with competitors filming their efforts at local tracks.
North Americans dominate the event. Last year Canadian Corey Bellemore won his third title and became the first to break the barrier of four minutes and 30 seconds.
The women’s record holder is Allison Grace Morgan, from Oregon, who can do it in 6.16.
England’s Dale Clutterbuck holds the European record of 4.47.