Chicago Running Clubs, Meetups and Hashes
Updated May 27, 2018
Go for a Beer Run
Running is a great way to earn your bevvs, socialize with friends, or train for a race. An 'official' Beer Mile involves drinking 4 beers and running one mile (chug a beer, run a quarter mile, repeat until you're done). Are you up for the challenge? BeerMile has aggregated a list of races around the world as well as the current record holders.
Beyond the Beer Mile, pairing beer and running is a growing trend. Mikkeller has beer and running clubs all over the world. In Chicago, they've been known to meetup at Northdown Cafe.
Similarly, Hash House Harriers has several regional groups that operate under the slogan 'a drinking group with a running problem. Hashing is a tradition brought over from the British Empire, inspired the game of Hare and Hounds. The group operates on these four pillars:
- To promote physical fitness among our members.
- To get rid of weekend hangovers.
- To acquire a good thirst and satisfy it with beer.
- To persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel.
Chicago Thirstday Hash House is a similar hash running group that meets on (you guessed it!) Thursdays. Location varies across the city with participating bars such as The Atlantic and Hawkeyes.
Running for Brews is a Chicago beer running club with weekly runs, social events, themed runs, and charity events. The Will Run for Beer is another weekly group with rotating bar meetup points.
On Monday nights, head to Uptown to join the Uptown Runners meet at Fat Cat at 6:30pm. The Scout bar also has beer run nights on Tuesdays. Vice District Brewing has a seasonal running club that meets Wednesday nights at 6:30pm. Go 10 times and win prizes!
The Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) has a collaboration running group with Lagunitas Brewing called the Summer Six Series - a 6 week beer and running club to help you train, stay in shape, be social, or all of the above.
Pair running with coffee at Nextdoor cafe, which hosts a variety of classes, events and groups at its Lincoln Park location.
Prefer hot chocolate? Train for the Hot Chocolate 5/15k, where thousands of your chocolate loving friends dash toward the willy wonka-esque chocolate infused after party.
The BeerFit running series is a multi-location event (including Chicago) with a 5k and a 'Brew Mile.' 5k participants earn their beer first and consume it second, while brew milers have beer before and after their mile. BeerFit raises money for Water.org, and organization founded by Gary White and Matt Damon that provides access to safe water in hundreds of communities in Africa, South Asia, and Central America.
Chai Town Cafe, which serves hot chocolate, smoothies, protein shakes, coffee, tea, and other specialty drinks has a running club to help you train.