Beer mile

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 (355 ml) 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.

In North America, typically, 12 US ounces of beer is consumed from a can or bottle before every lap. Since the advent of the Internet, the rules of the beer mile have become more standardized, particularly in the United States and Canada. The standard rules published by BeerMile.com are based on the most common rules used in North America.

James Nielsen helped bring the beer mile into the public eye after becoming the first to break the five-minute barrier in 2014. Much like the four-minute barrier in the mile run, the five-minute barrier tempts beer-milers worldwide. 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.

In 2014, the inaugural Beer Mile World Championship was held in Austin, Texas, giving new legitimacy to the event. The men's race was won by Canadian Corey Gallagher with a time of 5:00.23. In the women's race, American Beth Herndon set a new world record with a time of 6:17.8.

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 becoming the first man ever to dip below the 4:55 mark.

World record holder Joe 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 four 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: Australia, James Nielsen: USA, and Lewis Kent: Canada). Canadian Jim Finlayson, another former world record holder, finished third overall, behind Kent and American Brian Anderson.

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Wikipedia