Chicago Beer Mile Championships

Four beers. One mile.

The Chicago Beer Mile will take place on Friday June 9th.

Run, Drink, Repeat! This is a one-mile fun run for runners who enjoy beers. Drink a beer, run/walk/jog (or skip, crawl, whatever you want) your way a quarter mile around the track, and repeat three more times.

There will be opportunities for those who do not wish to consume beer.  We will have a Chocolate Milk Mile followed by a Non Alcoholic Beer Mile.

Volunteers are also needed.

Races will begin at 4:00 pm.  A final schedule of events will be posted on June 9th.  Each race will have 15-17 entries. There will be a total of 13 sections. The event will conclude with two sections of elite Beer Milers. The event will be capped at 200 entries.

There will be prize money for the top three men and women. $500 for 1st place, $250 for second place, and $100 for third place. In order to be eligible for the prize money, you must compete in the elite section of the beer mile.  To request entry into the elite heat, email bob@ilpreptoptiming.com.

Schedule(subject to change)


6:00 PM- Beer Mile Section 1

6:20 PM- Beer Half Mile

6:40 PM- Elite Women Beer Mile

7:00 PM- Elite Men Beer Mile

Beer Mile Official Rules
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).
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.

7. 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.

8. Each beer can/bottle must not be opened until the competitor enters the transition zone on each lap.

9. 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.

10. 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.

Every competitor MUST be over 21 years of age. Designated drivers or use of public transportation is highly encouraged. Identification will be checked at packet pickup.