Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Stay thirsty, my friends

Today's Tuesdays on the Run linkup topic was too good to resist. I'm a little late to the party (so what else is new?) but I can't resist sharing what is my absolutely favorite post race treat.



I made no secret of my main goal for the Chicago Marathon last fall. Oh sure, I wanted a PR. A sub 4:30 finish time. But my main goal was to feel good enough to enjoy a beer at the finish line. Now, if they had been serving Michelob ultra or something crappy like that, I don't think I would have been so enthused. But Chicago's own local craft brewery, Goose Island, had a truck parked at the finish line and they were handing out 312 Urban Ale.

I'm not a huge beer drinker, actually, I'm known more for being a wine drinker, but when I do drink beer, I drink something tasty. Maybe Dos Equis. No Miller lite, no Bud lite, and certainly no Michelob 64 for me. If I'm going to drink beer, I want to enjoy the flavor. Last spring, I ran a local race, the Lakefront 10 miler, which is organized by the Chicago Area Runners' Association. Lagunitas, another craft brewery, was opening up a brewery and tasting room in Chicago, and decided to serve beer at the finish line. Runners got a full pint glass of their IPA. Yep, at 9:30 in the morning, I was enjoying this with my new young friends. What the heck? I just ran 10 miles! I was celebrating a pain free run--at the time I was dealing with a foot injury and almost sat this one out. I could have had a few more beers because so many people were handing us their beer coupons. I kept thinking, are you crazy? I had to drive home from the city, so I held myself to one beer.
Sweaty and satisfied with my Lagunitas IPA

When I ran Zooma last summer, there was wine at the finish line. As much as I love wine, that just does not appeal to me after a hot, sweaty run. But I felt so ill at that race--it was 80F and humid--that I don't know if I would even been able to down a beer. I was able to finally get a chocolate Muscle Milk light into my stomach--and that was nasty.

Is beer a good post run recovery drink? A study presented at the 2014 American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting attempted to explain just that. The study found that beer is not as good for post run hydration and electrolyte replacement as a sports drink. But a beer will provide fluids, some electrolytes, and some carbs. In another study, researchers suggest that adjusting the content of beer to provide more electrolytes and lower alcohol would make beer a superior post run recovery drink. But the researchers noted that since beer is essentially plant based, there are lots of other naturally occurring substances that are good for your health, and in fact, beer may be just fine as a recovery drink the way it is. 

And it just tastes so darned good! 

That smile? Is the PR? The 4:17 finish time? The Goose Island 312?
Here are some of my personal favorites:

Goose Island 312 "urban" wheat ale
Hefe Weissen (German Wheat Ale, served in a tall glass) -so many good labels
New Glarus Spotted Cow (only available in Wisconsin)
Blue Moon -a belgian white wheat

For more info: 

Be sure to head over to Tuesdays on the Run aka MCM mama, Run the Great Wide Somewhere, and My No Guilt Life to see what everyone else likes after a run...


35 comments :

  1. I love New Glarus and Goose Island. I make my parents bring me New Glarus whenever they come out.

    I'll be in Chicago for a couple of days over spring break. Let me know if you'd be interested in meeting up!

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    1. When's your spring break? I'm actually off between the 14th-21st, will be in town! Let me know! I'd love it!

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  2. I'm with you on this one, too; I'm a wine drinker (or Jack Daniels. Neat, please. Thank you). But after a long, hot run when you are good and sweaty, one good, full bodied, full flavored beer it just right.

    By the way, there's another word for Michelob Ultra. It's "water."
    Keep on running.

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  3. I like a fruity beer like Magic Hat #9 or a Lemon Wheat brew :)

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  4. I'm not a beer drinker but some of those sound yummy!

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  5. I have such childish taste buds, can you believe I don't like any beer...at all? Maybe a sweet cider. Maybe I need to go into training to learn to enjoy a quality beer! Thanks for linking up with us today!

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  6. Running taught me to drink a beer! Do you like Landshark or is that too light? I'm with you - no wine right after a race. Too heavy. Margaritas, yes.

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    1. Oooh, that's another favorite! And Longboard from Kona brewing company...

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  7. I don't think I could do wine after a race, either. Just does not sound appetizing. Now a nice cold beer on the other hand... :)

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  8. Beer is delicious. And I call 9:30AM part of the "tailgate rules." Perfectly acceptable drinking time.

    Sadly, I am not built for good beer. I love Bud Light and Michelob Ultra. I wish I knew what it was about real beer, but I get a nasty aftertaste from some and a wicked headache from others. :(

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  9. I'm the odd man (gal?) out on this. Never been a beer drinker...even the pricey ones. They all taste the same to me ((sigh)). But, I do like the Apple Cider brews.....probably because they don't taste like beer LOL But upon finishing a race, no matter the temp or season, I do not crave an adult beverage. (insert another sigh here). I want Gatorade or water (or chocolate milk) #designateddriver

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  10. I should probably save this for runfessions but here goes. I've never had a beer. I had one at a party as a teen. I carried it around to fit in. Then poured it in a plant.

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    1. Oh, Marcia, my friend! I don't know what to say! But your secret is safe with me, if you want to share it on Runfessions...

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  11. Huh! I never really thought of it as a post-run recovery! I'm definitely much more of a wine drinker, but there are the occasional times I will have a beer. Just not usually after a run. (After a run I need coffee.)

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    1. Coffee? I don't think I could do that after a run. My stomach gets pretty funky!

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  12. Goose Island 312 is soooo good. And even better after a mega run. I had a Hefeweizen after marathon Saturday and it was magnificent :D

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  13. I'm not a beer drinker, but if I am going to drink beer, it's after a race, LOL.

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  14. I am not a beer drinker at all- sad right! I always give my free beer coupon away :( I do like a nice COLD Sauvignon Blanc after I have downed a water and caught my breath! Yummm!

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  15. It just tastes really good on a hot day or after a hot run, right?

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  16. I remember that beer table at Chicago marathon. Sadly, I'm not a beer drinker, but someone else was happy when I gave them my beer ticket.

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  17. I remember that beer table at Chicago marathon. Sadly, I'm not a beer drinker, but someone else was happy when I gave them my beer ticket.

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  18. I loved Zooma because they had wine post race :) I give my beer tickets to others :(

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    1. I couldn't drink wine after a race. Last summer we ran Zooma, and they had wine. But it's just not what I want...

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