Beer mile

Bierathlon participants in Harrislee

A beer mile is a drinking race combining running and speed drinking. Typically, the race takes place on a standard 400 meter or 1/4 mile running track. The race begins at the 1-mile starting line with the consumption of a 12-ounce (355ml) beer, followed by a full lap around the track. The second lap continues in a similar manner; another 12 ounce beer is consumed before commencing the running of the second lap. This process is repeated for the next two laps. Following the completion of the fourth running lap (and four beers), a competitor has finished the race. More specific rules of the race vary by region.

North American tradition

In North America, typically, 12 US ounces of beer is consumed from a can or bottle before every lap.[1][2] Since the advent of the internet, the rules of the Beer Mile have become more standardized, particularly in the United States and Canada.[3] The standard rules published by BEERMILE.COM are based on the most common rules used in North America. These rules specify that any competitor that vomits prior to finishing the race must complete a penalty lap immediately following the fourth lap. The penalty lap does not require the drinking of an additional beer. The standard rules also dictate that the beer be consumed directly from the pour of the can (i.e. tampering with the cans, such as "shotgunning", is not allowed). The beer used for the competition must also be full-strength, or at least 5.0% ABV. Hard ciders and other alcoholic beverages are generally not allowed.[1] == James Nielsen[4] helped bring the Beer Mile into the public eye after becoming the first life form to break the magical five-minute barrier in 2014. Much like the four-minute barrier in the mile run, the five-minute barrier tempts beer-milers worldwide.[5] Since then the record has been lowered a handful of times by runners from all over the world, including Australia's Josh Harris and James Hansen who ran 4:56.20 and 4:56.25 respectively.[6] In August 2015, Lewis Kent of Canada ran a 4:55.78, becoming the then fastest recorded beer mile ever. His beer of choice was Amsterdam Blonde. Determined to break the five-minute barrier, on October 10, 2015 at the University of Manitoba track, Corey Gallagher ran a 4:54.4[7] being the first man ever to dip below the 4:55 mark.[8]

The current Women's World Record is 6:17.8 by Beth Herndon[9] in the inaugural FloTrack Beer Mile World Championships set in Austin, Texas. The Men's race was won by Corey Gallagher in a time of 5:00.23 to become the events first world champion.[10]

World Record holder Lewis Kent was the victor in the inaugural Beer Mile World Classic held at Treasure Island in San Francisco. Founded by James Nielsen and Kingston Rule Pioneer John Markell. The Men's inaugural World Classic pitted the last 4 World Record Holders against each other for the first time. Called the Beer Mile of the Century, it was the first time sub-5 minute beer milers competed in the same race (Josh Harris:[11] Australia, James Nielsen:[12] USA, and Lewis Kent:[13] Canada).[14] Canadian Jim Finlayson, another former World Record Holder, finished 3rd overall, behind Kent and American Brian Anderson.

Canada won the men's World Classic Kingston Cup. Nielsen was a notable disqualification (for excessive spillage). Josh Harris suffered a reversal of fortune in the sport's most prominent puke. Race announcer Josh Muxen dubbed it the "Chunder from Down Under." Nielsen's disqualification was the deciding factor in the Canadian Men's Victory. Turning the 10-11 American victory into an 10-11 Canadian win. The American women won the Queens cup in a sweep, with Caitlin Judd, Chris Kimbrough and Lindsay Harper taking the Top 3 Spots.[15]

The 2nd Annual FloTrack Beer Mile World Championship will be held in Austin, Texas on December 1, 2015.[16] For the first time ever the top two fastest men in the world will be competing against each other in the same race, with current world record holder Corey Gallagher defending his World Title against previous world record holder Lewis Kent. The women's elite field will consist of two of the top three fastest women ever making this the most competitive Beer Mile field ever assembled.[17]

"Chunder" Mile

In the United Kingdom, an imperial pint (19.2 imperial ounces) typically is consumed before every lap, with no specification of the drinking vessel but pint glasses are preferred for the speed in which the beverage can be finished. The one lap penalty for "chundering" (vomiting) is not generally enforced.

Variations

A variation allows female competitors to consume one fewer beer than the male competitors. Females are allowed to begin the first running lap without consuming a beer. This rule is often enacted to encourage participation from females.

While full strength beer is generally the preferred beverage, some races allow consumption of alternative beverages such as light beer, malt beverages, or chocolate milk.

The beer mile is often combined with other running/drinking events such as the:

4 x 40 oz. relay -- where a team of 4 competitors run 100m each around the track, finishing a 40 oz. bottle of beer or malt liquor on the way
Wild Turkey 2-mile -- each competitor runs 8 laps, with a shot of whiskey (usually Wild Turkey) before every lap.
naked 4 x 400m -- each member of a 4 competitor team runs a lap around the track nude - drinking is technically optional, but encouraged
The Beer 2 Mile -- variation of the beer mile which adds four more beers so you are completing eight beers and eight laps, vomiting only incurs one penalty lap.

Kastenlauf

Kastenlauf (short for "Bierkastenlauf", literally "beer crate running"), Kistenlauf, Bierlauf, Bierkastenrennen (literally crate-running, beer crate-running, or equivalents), Bier-Rallye, Bierathlon, etc., is a drinking sport in the German-speaking countries Austria, Germany and Switzerland. It is a race among teams that consist of two people carrying a crate of beer, all of which must be consumed prior to crossing the finish line. The route is about 10 km long, although it can vary from half this to twice this.

The name bierathlon is also used for a students' event where participants have to drink a beer in a fixed order in a number of pubs of the city, which is certified by stamps.

External links

References

  1. 1 2 BEERMILE.COM - Frequently Asked Questions
  2. ↑ http://www.menees.com/BeerMile/Rules.aspx
  3. ↑ News | Flotrack | Flotrack
  4. ↑ Erika Odmark (2014-04-28), Official Beer Mile World Record: 4:57 by James Nielsen, retrieved 2016-02-15
  5. ↑ 5 minute barrier: will it be broken?
  6. ↑ "Aussie Josh Harris Sets Beer Mile World Record". flotrack. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  7. ↑ "Corey Gallagher Lowers Beer Mile World Record to 4:54". www.trackie.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  8. ↑ "Corey Gallagher breaks beer mile world record". flotrack. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  9. ↑ "2014 Beer Mile World Championship - Women\'s Race (Herndon sets WR 6:17.76)". flotrack. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  10. ↑ "2014 Beer Mile World Championship - Men\'s Race (Gallagher wins in 5:00.23!)". flotrack. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  11. ↑ "Josh Harris looking to reclaim world record at Beer Mile World Classic". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  12. ↑ "After bringing beer mile to forefront, James Nielsen is back for more". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  13. ↑ "As Beer Mile World Classic approaches, Lewis Kent relives world-record run". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  14. ↑ "Beer Mile World Classic delivers excitement". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  15. ↑ "Canadian Men, American Women Dominate Beer Mile World Classic". Runner's World. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  16. ↑ "2015 FloTrack Beer Mile World Championships Press Release". flotrack. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  17. ↑ "FloSports Announces Elite Field for 2015 FloTrack Beer Mile World Championships". FloSports. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
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