Months and months of physical and mental preparation all came down to Saturday afternoon at the California State University Long Beach Campus Beermile, hosted by the Los Angeles & Long Beach Hash House Harriers. Saturdays running of the beermile brought the largest turnout in Southern California history, with a field comprised of track and field legends, competitive racewalkers and professional drinkers alike.
The beermile started promptly at 11 am, which of course meant that by hashtime, we got under way right around noon. Some speculated that the lack of shadows during the run could provide a weight advantage during the run, others were focused on proper stretching so as not to pull a hammy, while others jockeyed for position in the transition area. Due to the size of the field and the late arrivals, the officials elected to go with three heats, with FL running the final heat solo with her daughters, while DtAC performed the often imitated never duplicated double beermile.
Heat one presented 6 first time beermilers and one veteran. Their results can only be described as potential lost. What did they expect? What could they expect? As the veterans looked on with cocked eyebrows at the sight of track spikes and split shorts, the gun went off and the beers were cracked! BS took an early lead, only to chunder every 100 m of the second lap followed by chunder after chunder until there could be nothing left to chunder. After the smoke cleared on BSs penalty lap, he still posted an excellent time! IF, a clear favorite for the gold based on his elite track status (circa 1973), was well in the lead at the bell lap, but suddenly and unexpectedly puked in the transition area (the chunder heard round the world). It took all the courage he had left to finish his beer, lap and finally penalty lap.
Heat two, comprised of both first timers, veterans and late comers, set the stage for a new track record. With the first heat over with and the chundering rampant, it was difficult for the beermilers to keep the even first beer down, but they pressed on. X got off to a slow start, but came on strong in the final quarters to end up shattering the track record of 99:99, and posting a top 100 (age group) time! Most improved awards go out to TB and FP after improving to sub 11 minute times with less than 2 weeks training. Most unimproved awards go out to BMM and HA for training the most leading up to todays event and failing to post a PR, given the excellent conditions/track. DtAC earned recognition for running the first ever Double Header-ed Beermile, and giggling like a school girl afterwards. EMTs were summonded to the race site after CH passed out following his heroic sprint to the finish line, but not to fear, he was all right; he just needed to puke (in his car). Honorable mention goes out to 4H for putting in his work on the track but came down with a gnarly case of food poisoning the night before. We will see you in heaven, 4H, if we ever get there. Excellent race to all those who participated and big ups for those who lent their time and support to make this beermile a giant success!
After the beermile, the athletes took refuge from the heat at a local watering hole to ponder the days events, discuss politics, the great pumpkin, and other worldy issues over frosty malt beverages.
The beermile started promptly at 11 am, which of course meant that by hashtime, we got under way right around noon. Some speculated that the lack of shadows during the run could provide a weight advantage during the run, others were focused on proper stretching so as not to pull a hammy, while others jockeyed for position in the transition area. Due to the size of the field and the late arrivals, the officials elected to go with three heats, with FL running the final heat solo with her daughters, while DtAC performed the often imitated never duplicated double beermile.
Heat one presented 6 first time beermilers and one veteran. Their results can only be described as potential lost. What did they expect? What could they expect? As the veterans looked on with cocked eyebrows at the sight of track spikes and split shorts, the gun went off and the beers were cracked! BS took an early lead, only to chunder every 100 m of the second lap followed by chunder after chunder until there could be nothing left to chunder. After the smoke cleared on BSs penalty lap, he still posted an excellent time! IF, a clear favorite for the gold based on his elite track status (circa 1973), was well in the lead at the bell lap, but suddenly and unexpectedly puked in the transition area (the chunder heard round the world). It took all the courage he had left to finish his beer, lap and finally penalty lap.
Heat two, comprised of both first timers, veterans and late comers, set the stage for a new track record. With the first heat over with and the chundering rampant, it was difficult for the beermilers to keep the even first beer down, but they pressed on. X got off to a slow start, but came on strong in the final quarters to end up shattering the track record of 99:99, and posting a top 100 (age group) time! Most improved awards go out to TB and FP after improving to sub 11 minute times with less than 2 weeks training. Most unimproved awards go out to BMM and HA for training the most leading up to todays event and failing to post a PR, given the excellent conditions/track. DtAC earned recognition for running the first ever Double Header-ed Beermile, and giggling like a school girl afterwards. EMTs were summonded to the race site after CH passed out following his heroic sprint to the finish line, but not to fear, he was all right; he just needed to puke (in his car). Honorable mention goes out to 4H for putting in his work on the track but came down with a gnarly case of food poisoning the night before. We will see you in heaven, 4H, if we ever get there. Excellent race to all those who participated and big ups for those who lent their time and support to make this beermile a giant success!
After the beermile, the athletes took refuge from the heat at a local watering hole to ponder the days events, discuss politics, the great pumpkin, and other worldy issues over frosty malt beverages.