LaGrange woman tops 1-mile Beer Run at Callaway Gardens Craft Beer Festival
Published 12:00 am Monday, September 14, 2015
PINE MOUNTAIN — Vickie Crenshaw of LaGrange won the women’s Beer Run 1-mile race Saturday afternoon at the second annual Craft Beer Festival at Callaway Gardens.
Runners had to gulp 12 ounces of beer every quarter mile during the race, including one at the start of the race. Around 30 people participated in the event.
“I feel awful,” Crenshaw said after the race. “I normally don’t run with four beers in my system.”
Crenshaw, who said she runs four times a week, prepared for the race by eating breakfast and skipping lunch, as well as drinking water — and not beer — before the race.
Crenshaw’s sister, Angela Roorbach of Pine Mountain, participated in the race as well.
Matt Lewis from Ashland, Ohio, who is stationed at Fort Benning, won the men’s race.
“It’s harder to catch your breath,” Lewis said. “… It adds a different dynamic to it, that’s for sure.”
The Callaway Craft Beer Festival on Saturday afternoon brought people from all over Georgia and states as far as Ohio, Washington and New York.
The $40 entrance fee also purchased an about 6-ounce mug that allowed patrons “all you can taste” sampling from a wide variety of craft beers from 25 different vendors, many of whom brew in Georgia.
Brandy Adams from LaGrange chose to celebrate her birthday at the event with her husband. They paid for a babysitter to watch their children so the couple could spend time together.
“My husband said, ‘What fancy restaurant do you want to go to?’” Adams said. “We’ve got two kids, let’s go to the beer fest. It’s during the day, you’ve got beer, you’ve got music … this is perfect.”
The LaGrange band Barstool Prophets treated patrons to music. College football fans were able to watch the games on TVs as well.
An estimated 600 people attended the event, according to Rachel Crumbley, director of marketing and public relations for Callaway Gardens.
Editor’s note: Story updated to reflect corrections and clarifications.
