There’s nothing like hot dogs and a beer after an intense 10-mile race

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I’m competing in a series of 10-mile, 15k and half marathons this Spring as I prepare for my firstMarathon_2
marathon (San Diego in early June).

Road races are a blast to compete in and provide an amazing sense of accomplishment when completed. They also provide very cool pre- and post-race bonding experiences with fellow runners.

As is the case with other aspects of life, however, there are well organized and not-so-well organized runs (last Summer’s Chicago Marathon, for example, will be forever remembered as the ‘Bataan Death March’ of competitive road racing).

I finished a 10-mile race on March 30th that had a little bit of everything: superb planning, a scenic course, supportive crowds and hot dogs and beers for the finishers. Say what? Yup, the 19th annual Freehold Area Runners Club St. Paddy’s Day 10 Miler provided some very non-traditional food and drink.

And, while I ‘get’ the St. Paddy’s beer part, I was floored to see steaming hot dogs on either side of the finish line. I was even more flabbergasted to see exhausted runners actually downing the dogs. Yuck! How could anyone ingest such dreck immediately after cleansing one’s body?

It was mind boggling and image rattling at the same time. But, hey, to each his own. As for me, I’ll stick with the post-run bananas and quart of cold water, and hope that my more traditional dietary strategy pays off in California.

2 thoughts on “There’s nothing like hot dogs and a beer after an intense 10-mile race”

  1. As a runner myself, I agree whole-heartedly that road races are always a great time. Many having their own quirky theme, and all trying to come up with the catchiest t-shirt to be sported by all the participants. Throughout my years of competitive running, I have concluded that runners are some of the most superstitious people I know, and they can have cravings like pregnant women. The only explanation I can give for the some of the finishers downing the hot dogs is a craving for the sodium lost after sweating for 10 miles. Whatever the case is, I think I’ll stick to the pretzels and water as well.

  2. I cannot tell a lie: when I ran my first half marathon two years ago (in 80+ degree temps!), I couldn’t resist the cold beers they were passing out at the halfway point. Just a few sips helped me persevere to the finish…