OKTOBERFEST VIRTUAL RUN 2020: Running & Beer Combo

 

During the nascent days of my ultra running experience which saw the Bicolano Penguin (BP) join ultra marathon races from as far north as Ilocos Norte and  down south in Davao ,  one of the more intriguing sights  I have seen  is a runner or 2  partaking of a bottle of beer, usually Red Horse, in the middle of the long distance event. These runners are often the hard core ones, who bereft of a support vehicle, have found ingenious ways of carbo loading and hydrating during the ultra marathon.  

Running and Beer.  At that time, I found it oxymoronic. 

This week, Pinoy Runners Nederland (PRNL) is hosting another PRG Virtual Takbo event.  It is the "OktoBEERfest Virtual Run 2020". It will run from Oct 22 to Oct 26 covering various distances of 5km, 10km, 15km, 21km and 42km. 

Looks enticing.  Looks like  the beautiful maidens of PRNL know a thing or 2 about running and beer. How about asking them about their favorite brand of beer and what they think is the benefit of beer to their running.  Good idea.  And while we are at it, might as well ask runners from the various running barangays of Pinoy Runners Global. 

The Team Captain of Pinoy Runners Nederland is Minnie. Her fav beer is Radler bier.  For her, the benefit is "I can sleep good after tagay tagay." 

Els of Pinoy Runners Nederland does not drink alcohol and if she does drink, it is without alcohol.  That is why her favorite beer is Amstel Radler 0%. For her, beer helps for recovery.  She tried it at the Berlin Marathon which is a normal drink at the finish line.   

Bernie of Pinoy Runners Barcelona enjoys Heineken. For him, beer is a stress reliever.  Whether your body is tight from a long run, a cold beer can help relax by reducing tension and stiffness. He added "wag lang sobra at malalasing."

Rolando, an accomplished ultra runners from the Endurance Pinoy Irish Club, prefers the Belgian beer. Leffe.  He finds drinking 2 but not more than 3 bottles of beer the day before an event beneficial  as it not only gives him nutrients and electrolytes but also relaxes and makes him sleep better. It also helps take the jitters away. 

Rona, one of the founding members of Pinoy Runners USA,  is a wine lover but change her habit to alternating it to beer twice a week after reading about the benefits of beer. The benefits include effective in figthing cancer and reducing risk of gallstones and kidney stones. A newfound favorite is Lagunitas IPA.   

Team Captain of Brgy Virginia, Ray's favorite beer brand is Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.  For him, it just feels good and refreshing after a run , specially after a hard race, even at 9 or 10am in the morning when races in his area normally ends.  

Elcid is a Team Captain  of Pinoy Guam Runners.  His favorite beer is Corona Extra with Lime.  The benefit of beer for his running is that it restores calories, contains minerals, can reduce infammation and helps athletes relax from hard efforts.  Basta wag sobra sobra sa pag inom ng beer at alak.  

 

Judz of Pinoy Runners PH likes Red Horse. Beer is her stress relief. She adds "It's nice to celebrate a full or half marathon with a cold can or bottle of beer." 

And just to complete the picture, the BP inquired from  runners and race directors on some of the ultra marathons I have joined here in the Philippines on their preference of the beer brand and the benefits of beer to their running. 

Ran with Cyndee at the Pagudpud Ultra Marathon in 2016. San Miguel Light Beer is her favorite. She considers beer to be her dietary vice.  She drinks in complete moderation.  To quote her "The malt in beer has  niacin, folate riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 among other vitamin complex that are essential to metabolism.  It is rich in antioxidant.  And a nice good sleep after a long run. In short it gives me energy. "
          

First met Jonel at the 2013 Bataan Death March (102kms). He is the Race Director of some of the more challenging trail ultras in the Philippines like Clark-Miyamit Falls Trail Ultra and the Hardcore Hundred Miles. The benefit of beer for him is he feels good after and able to rest better.  

Rodel is the Race Director of the Malicboy-Atimonan-Pagbilao (MAP) 50Km Ultra which the BP joined in 2014.  His favorite beer is the classic SMB Pale Pilsen. However, most of the time after an ultra marathon,he takes 2 ice-cold bottles (500ml) of SMB Red Horse for fast recovery and to have a quiet sleep.  

Doods' favorite beer is SMB Pale Pilsen.  Pampatulog ang beer. As a race organizer of 2 successful beer runs (the 1st beer running event in Bicol), he hopes that the covid pandemic will be over soon so that they can have the 3rd edition. 

Jay is the Race Director of the Digos City to Davao City Ultra Marathon which the BP joined in 2014. His favorite are San Miguel Light and Pale Pilsen (if low budget Red Horse para tipsy agad).  He takes beer as a (liquid) carbo intake when in ultra running. Pampatapang at pampabuhay ng dugo."  

First met Nikka when we both ran the Negros Oriental 100 Ultra Marathon in 2015. Her favorite is Tiger Beer.  The benefit is that beer gives her strength and she can sleep easily after.  

Stress Reliever,  Promotes better sleep. Reduces inflammation.  Faster recovery.   Source of electrolytes. Rich in antioxidants.   Looks like drinking beer (moderately) produces a bounty of benefits for runners.  A check with articles from Runner's World and Women's Running  verify these benefits. And mind you, most of such benefits are backed by scientific studies published in reputable medical publications like the American Journal of Epidemiology   and  American Journal of Medical Sciences. 

So, beer and running are not oxymoronic after all. There is wisdom to imbibing a cold bottle of beer for runners.    But let us be clear on one thing. Moderation is the key. "Wag lang sobra at malalasing."

Cheers to that.  Proost!!!