Race: Bubba’s Backyard Ultra Beer Mile – The race report Team RunRun didn’t know we were missing!
Runner: Chris Manwaring

Race Date: 10/06/2024
Location: Conway, NH
Result: 12 minutes 54 seconds
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- Beer! The offering was Lawson’s Little Sip, a 6.2% IPA, graciously left in the sun all day to improve consumability.
- Participants: There was a solid group of competitors in the mix, including folks crewing the ultra racers (like me), folks just in town for the day, and a few ultra racers that had dropped out earlier in the day but wanted to squeeze a little more torture into their weekend!
- Spectators: We drew a very decent crowd, mostly consisting of ultra race volunteers and racer crew members that wanted to see what all the noise was about.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Hearing all the vomit stories after the mile had finished, but I guess I signed up for this too!
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
I mean, it’s a beer mile… I think having to dodge around puke spots on the course while trying not to acknowledge that it’s puke because then your stomach might turn against you?
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Just being out there and running with friends old and new is always enjoyable. Extra camaraderie comes from patting each other on the back to free a stuck burp. One highlight was talking a little trash around lap 3 when you know everyone feels awful. My race prep worked, which consisted of drinking lots of water that morning beforehand and stopping eating of food about 2 hours before the race to keep an empty-ish stomach. However, as can be expected, four beers on an empty stomach hit hard after I was done!

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Walk the last dozen or so steps into the end of the laps. You want your heart rate and breathing rate especially to settle a little bit before chugging to avoid feeling like you’re waterboarding yourself. Also, warm beer goes down easier than cold beer! Lastly, get some good burps in right before you run!
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
I burp better while running than when I am standing still (who knew?!). I wasted a little time on the first lap trying to force a burp before running.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Bubba’s Backyard Ultra Beer Mile had two different laps, each run twice to make up the 1 mile distance. The odd and even laps are different routes and distances. The even laps are like .15 and the odd laps are like .35. It’s a cross country course all on trail and field, very New England single track.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Gorgeous course! (And the weather was perfect too!)
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Depends on how much you like chugging beer and listening to people dry heave around you!
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Bubba’s Backyard Ultra Beer Mile was about as well organized as a beer mile can get!

Competition – Is there a strong field?
For a beer mile, the field was strong! The winner run 7:40 (yep, that’s 1 mile plus chugging 4 beers in under 8 minutes!) and there were lots of strong chuggers overall.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
It’s easy to register through UltraSignup link under the Bubba’s Backyard Ultra page.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Alcoholic beer options, nonalcoholic beer options and seltzers also available.
Weather and typical race conditions
Rest assured, Bubba’s Backyard Ultra Beer Mile will be held rain or shine! So be prepared for all course conditions from dry to muddy and everywhere in between.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Just a strong stomach, a decent pair of trail shoes and good time intentions. Unless you’re planning on being there until sunset, a designate driver is also a must!
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Absolutely! Perfect spots available to watch everyone attempt to keep the beers down! This race also happens during lap 28 of the backyard ultra race, which makes for a great excuse for everyone to hang out before and afterwards cheering on the ultra competitors as they race against the clock. A good number of the participants were involved in the ultra in some fashion, either as a crew, volunteer or racer. There were also plenty of opportunities to get out before or after the beer mile (if you’re like me and want to try running hammered) and run a loop of the ultra course as well.
How’s the Swag?
Swag choices were a pick between either a roll of the infamous Bubba’s pink duck tape or a bag of freshly ground White Mountain Ski Company coffee. Obviously, I picked the duck tape.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5 out of 5 stars! I will certainly do this race again, probably aim for a sub 10?! Might have to practice a bit first.
by Chris Manwaring
Interested in tackling the mile distance (with or without the beer)? Check out” Tips for Running a Mile“.