Houston Fourth Fest

Houston's Beer Mile Championship will take place in conjunction with the Houston Fourth Fest. A challenge of mind, body, and beer consumption to test athletes and beer drinkers of all skill levels. 

 

COURSE & RACE INFO

A 1/4 mile loop around the Vintage Park Parking lot allows for a great racing and spectating experience. Athletes will start and finish at the same place the Road Race finishes.

At the start of the race all athletes in the heat will line up at the start line. When the starting horn sounds all athletes in the heat will chug a 12oz can or bottle of beer (provided by the event) and run the entire 1/4 mile loop back to the start/finish. Once the 1st lap is complete, runners will stop, consume another 12oz can or bottle of beer and then run another loop. This continues until the 4th loop is completed and your official finish time is recorded. 

 

LIVE RACE SITE MAP

 

HEATS / START TIMES

Each runner will be placed in a heat that will consist of other, like-ability, runners. Heats are limited to 10 runners and there are no transfers among heats without first notifying a race official. If you miss your heat, you will be listed as a DNS (did not start) on the results. The number of heats will be determined by the number of participants registered for the Beer Mile. 

 

SCHEDULE & CHECK-IN / PACKET PICKUP

For details about the race schedule please click HERE. 

For check-in and packet pickup details please click HERE. 

 

RACE GOODIES & AWARDS

All registered participants will receive the following at packet pickup

• Special edition Houston Fourth Fest Beer Mile tank top
• Custom Beer Mile bib
• Free race photos
• Sponsor goodies

All Beer Mile finishers will receive an official finish time and finisher's beer glass. 

Awards will be given to top finishers based on finish time.

• Overall: top 3 male & female
• Masters (ages 40+): top 1 male & female
• Grand Masters (age 50+): top 1 male & female

 

 

BEER MILE RULES / ETIQUETTE

In order for your time to be official all the following rules must be followed. The Beer Mile overall rules are pretty straightforward; alternate drinking 4 beers and running 4 one quarter mile laps and be the fastest to do it. We will be abiding by the Beer Mile Official Rules which can be found below.

In addition to the Beer Mile Official Rules, for a safe and fun event for all we ask that all participants follow these basic rule and etiquette practices. 

• While on the course, please stay as far to the right as possible and run/walk no more than two abreast to leave room for those passing and completing their loops. 
• No pets are allowed on the course or at the race site. 
• Strollers are not allowed in the Beer Mile.
• Headphones are allowed but, in the interest of course safety, it is highly recommended that you only use them in one ear allowing your other ear to be open to hear instructions provided by race crew. 
• Make sure you wear your bib on the front and on your outermost layer of clothing. This will help ensure photographers can tag your race photos and will reduce the chances of a missed read of your timing chip at the start and finish.

Beer Mile Official Rules (quoted from BeerMile.com at https://www.beermile.com/about/rules/1)

1. Each competitor drinks four cans or bottles of beer and runs four laps around a standard 400m running track (start with chugging a beer, then run a lap, then beer, then lap, then beer, then lap, then beer, then lap - finish).
2. Beer must be consumed before the lap begins within the transition area. The transition area is the 9-meter zone between the waterfall starting line for a mile race and the finish line of a 400m track.
3. The race begins with competitors lined up on the mile starting line, drinking the first beer in the transition zone described in the step above. This ensures competitors cover a complete mile. Competitors can walk/move in the transition area while drinking, but all beer must be consumed in the transition area before setting off to run a lap.
4. Women also drink four beers and run four laps (some past rule lists only required ladies to drink three beers).
5. Competitors must drink canned or bottled beer that is no less than 355mL (12 Oz) in volume, which is the standard can/bottle size in the USA and some other countries.
6. No specialized cans or bottles may be used that give an advantage by allowing the beer to pour at a faster rate (e.g. wide mouth bottles/cans).
7. Beer cans must not be tampered with in any manner. (e.g. no shotgunning, puncturing the can, squeezing the can, etc.). The same applies for bottles - no straws or other aids allowed that speed up the pouring process. The only action allowed is opening the can with the tab at the top or twisting off the bottle cap of a bottle.
8. Beer must be a minimum of 5% alcohol by volume. Hard ciders, hard sodas, and other alcoholic sugary drinks will not suffice. The beer must be a fermented alcoholic beverage brewed from malted cereal grains and flavored with hops.
9. Each beer can/bottle must not be opened until the competitor enters the transition zone on each lap.
10. Competitors who vomit before they finish the race must complete one penalty lap at the end of the race (immediately after the completion of their 4th lap). Vomiting more than once during the race still only requires one penalty lap at the end.
11. When attempting a performance for the official records, it is recommended to provide video evidence of the race and prove that all beer was sufficiently drank. This can be achieved by tipping the empty beer over your head after each chug to verify an empty vessel or by collecting the containers and pouring the contents into a measuring cup to prove there is less than 4oz of liquid/foam remaining total across all four beers. We recommend picking up a pack of disposable measuring cups for your next beer mile event.