Pub Run & 4 Pub Reviews

Today was the Sweat Pink and Rogue Running Pub Run.  We ran five (5) miles and stopped at four (4) bars.  Now that’s my kind of run!

To prepare myself for Operation Snarky Shirt (read here) I did a test run with the knee high socks and pigtails to see if I would be thoroughly embarrassed by my own attire or if I would be okay with it.  I took the pigtails out twice but re-did it after my husband promised me that I looked sassy and not stupid.  (I’m an approval-seeking junkie at times.)  Anyway, here’s the pic:

At Rogue Running I met two gals from Louisiana – Martina and Natalie – and we clicked, so that was cool.  It’s always more fun to run with interesting people.  This is them along with Jaime and Alyse from Sweat Pink.

And….take off!  We are off on an incredibly low-key, easy intense one (1) mile run to the first pub, the Yellow Jacket Social Club, 1704 E. 5th Street.

I ordered Dos XX and drank about half of it.  (It was $4 plus $1 tip.)

They had a bunch of picnic tables out front.  Everything was kind of muddy from yesterday’s rain but you couldn’t ask for a more perfect day weather-wise.  Since Martina and Natalie were from Louisiana we swapped drinking stories (of course.)   They expressed their lament about no other state allowing alcohol to be carried outside in an open cup (I sympathize completely,) and I told them a ghost story from the haunted house tour I took the last time we went to New Orleans.   Time up!  We’re off to the next pub.

This time I run with PJ.  He just ran two (2) marathons in two (2) months.  For those of you who don’t know much about running:  THIS IS CRAZY!!!  Crazy in an I’m-impressed sort of way.  We chat about the Austin-Statesman and all the good tips they have online for free.  I’ll have to check it out.

Whew!  That mile was TOUGH.  Time for another drink.  We stop at The Side Bar, 602 E 7th Street.  I’m actually pretty tipsy from the half beer I had so this time around I just order grapefruit juice ($1 juice, $1 tip.)  I know – I’m lame for not drinking.  But honestly I’d rather be lame and still functioning versus cool and puking. 😉  We went out back to the patio.  I get to meet more people.

This is the Austin Fit Couple.  They met on a pub run in 1986 and have been together ever since.  They said, “We were drinkers with a running problem.”

A bunch of the runners there are PE teachers.  The man on the left is also working at SXSW – he got the second to last volunteer spot available and he was thrilled.

Apparently some celebrities are in town for the film section of the event.  I can’t remember all of them but Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake were mentioned a few times. 

And we’re off!  Austin is waking up now and crowds are in the street, cheering us on.  We shouted, “Will Run For Beer!”

We ran past a woman holding an enormous pastry and cup of coffee and she shook her head at us as though we needed our heads examined for running and said, “It’s Sunday.”

I laughed aloud.  That comment made me smile.  People were wearing their badges and vendors were strapping on wrist bands on us with their company’s hashtag while others shouted, “Rogue Running!”

That mile was BRUTAL!  BRUTAL I TELL YOU!  So we stopped at The Brew Exchange at 706 W 6th Street.

OMG, this is the BEST BAR EVER!!!  Is it because the drinks were delicious and affordable ($1 mimosas, $1 tip)?  Is it because the theme is based upon the New York Stock Exchange and they have a cool ticker running over the bar?  No my friends, no.  It is the most awesome bar ever because I GOT CARDED!!!  (If you are in your 20’s this is annoying.  When it happens to you at age 39; well it made me want to kiss the bouncer.  Or at least take his picture.)

I chatted with a woman in town for SXSW.  She works for William Sonoma and we talked about techie stuff, children, weight loss and everything in between.

And now it’s time for the final mile.  We run to Banger’s Sausage and Beer Garden at 81 Rainey Street.

The place was mobbed.  The bratwurst smelled amazing, but since I already had a beer and a mimosa I didn’t want to push my luck too much with my meal plan.  I ordered an egg and toast because I was really feeling tipsy and a Diet Coke.

A band was playing in the background and everyone was having a good time.  I was snapping pictures and handing out cards to everyone when a guy said, “Hey I know your blog!  Why do I know your blog?  Did you post on Rogue Running before?”

“No…I write about a lot of different things, but mostly bodybuilding and clean eating.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Well, I wrote a story about my friend Kaylan that started going viral.  (You can read it here:  Chiari Warrior.)”

“Yes!  That’s it!  I used to work with Kaylan eight years ago!  That woman is amazing!”  I told the crowd about her.  How she has Chiari Malformation and cancer but remains the most positive person I know.  Told them about her tattoos so she can remember her bucket list; how next week she would be walking on stage for her first bodybuilding competition; how she would be planning some mud runs after that.

A bunch of people said they were in.  It was a good crowd and a good day.  I’m glad I did this.

How was your weekend?

Lisa

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