I love to run. And I love to drink beer. I could do both at the same time, like those who participate in a Beer Mile, drinking an entire beer every quarter mile, 4 beers, one mile, but I enjoy running, and not puking. So I choose to participate in a beer running club. This beer drinking runner has been participating in the Jack Quinn's Running Club since June of 2010. The concept is pretty simple, show up, run the course (many club's courses are a 5K), then head back to the bar and drink beer, eat food and socialize with other beer loving runners.
Jack Quinn's Running Club's first run dates back to June 13, 2006 and since then the club has grown to enormous proportions. According to their website a whopping 14,944 have signed up to run at least once. 4,484 people have received their free shirt after participating in 10 runs and the total number of runs since it's inception is 237. They hit a new record for participation this past summer when on June 15, 2010 they had 1,276 runners. All levels of runners come, from families with young children who walk the trail, to hardcore running enthusiasts who think a 5K is hardly even a warm-up. People come year round, yes even in the bitter cold months of winter. Many use it as an opportunity to stay in shape for their marathon training, including the Pikes Peak Marathon and the Leadville 100.
Other groups have seen Jack Quinn's success and started their own running clubs. Check out our list below, and let us know if there are any more beer drinking running groups out there we should know about.
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Colorado Springs
Monday
Trinity Brewing Company
1466 Garden of the Gods Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
719-634-0029
trinitybrew.com
Soul Runners meet at 5:45 and run either a 4 or 8 mile course, then enjoy $3 house beers afterwards.
Tuesday
Jack Quinn's Running Club
21 South Tejon St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719-385-0766
www.jackquinnsrunners.com
Runners meet at 6PM for a 5K, followed by food and beer specials. After 10 runs you receive a shirt, special Jack Quinn's Running Club shirt after 100 runs.
Nacho Ordinary Running Club
Salsa Brava
9420 Briar Village Point
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
719-955-6650
www.salsabravaonline.com
3 mile run starts at 6PM followed by discounted appetizers and $2.50 22Oz draft beer. Free shirt after 5 runs, free appetizer after 10 runs, free entree after 20 runs.
Wednesday
Blood Sweat and Beers Running Club
Colorado Mountain Brewery
11202 Rampart Hills View
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
719-434-5750
2 mile walk and a 5 mile jog. Meet at 5:45, run starts at 6PM. Afterwards enjoy $3 draft beers and 10% off food items.
Thursday
Muffs Running Club
Meadow Muffins
2432 W. Colorado Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO
719-633-0583
5K Run/Walk at 6PM. $6 pizzas and $2 beers for participants. Shirt after your 10th run.
Mr. Biggs Runners Roost Fun Run
5825 Mark Dabling Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO
www.becooldoright.com
5K at 6PM. $2 Laughing Lab Pints, $1 bowling Games, 2 for $20 pizza, T-shirts and other prizes. And here's a few other beer runs around the state.
Denver
Thursday
Irish Snug Running Club
1201 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80218
303-839-1394
irishsnugrunners.com
Two 5Ks one starting at 6PM and one at 6:15PM. Followed by free spaghetti and salad buffet and $3 pints. Free shirt after 10 runs.
Boulder
Wednesday
Pearl Street Running Club
Conor O'Neill's
1922 13th St Boulder, CO
303-449-1922
www.pearlstreetrunners.com
Meet at 6:15PM for a 5K and afterwards enjoy free food and $1 off all beers.
