LEITH Poole and Tammy Ackerman bested veteran runners and came out on top in their respective divisions of the 1st Michelob Ultra Beer Mile which was sponsored by Run Saipan and hosted by Saipan Country Club.
It was Run Saipan Secretary and Treasurer Dr. Ron Snyder who came up with this unique event. “I was visiting my family in Buffalo, New York, 10 years ago and a craft Beer Mile run was held. None of my family participated and I said, ‘What is this garbage?’ So, for years, I had this in the back of my mind and when we [Run Saipan] started putting races together I thought, what about a Beer Mile?”
He said their main mission is to get people moving. “So, whether it’s the adrenaline junkie fit for the ‘Dash and Splash’ run, or someone who wants to drink beer, having them move through the Beer Mile is always a plus,” he added.
For the Beer Mile event on Friday, there were three waves of runners so the 95 participants would have room to drink and run.
In wave 1, Leith Poole led the pack and set the record as he completed all four laps and four cans for a first-place finish with a time of 08:03.
Michael Mancao was doing pretty well in the first two laps, but eventually he could not hold it any longer and had to throw up. He had to do an extra lap and lost his spot in the top 3.
Demetrius Borge came in second with a time of 09:34 while Ian Maclean was third at 10:37.
In wave 2, the women were up for the challenge with Rosemarie Chisato finishing first at 10:51 followed by Ann Bang in second with a time of 11:33 and Robyn Spaeth in third with a time of 12:26.
In wave 3, Chace Talbot was first at 08:32, Scott Smith was second at 08:40, Tammy Ackerman was third at 09:01 and Vic Sablan was fourth at 10:16.
Ackerman finished first among the women.
“I like beer, I also didn’t eat a lot,” Poole said, referring to his “race strategy.”
When asked which of the four cans of beer was the hardest to chug during the race, he said, “The first can was the hardest because of the adrenaline. But I finished it fast and was excited to start running.”
Poole said beating national and veteran runners was a prize on its own. “I like beating young guys. I’m 50 and taking out the younger crew is good for the ego,” he added.
Ackerman, for her part, said: “I’m just really grateful to Dr. Snyder and the organizers for bringing four of my favorite things — beer, beer, beer and beer. The whole time I was saying to myself, ‘Don’t puke, don’t puke, don’t puke.’ ”
From left, Run Saipan President Edward Dela Cruz, Secretary and Treasurer Dr. Ron Snyder, Vic Sablan, Chace Talbot, Tammy Ackerman and Scott Smith pose with their medals at the conclusion of the 1st Michelob Ultra Beer Mile on Friday at Saipan Country Club.
Participants gulp down Michelob Ultra during the 1st Michelob Ultra Beer Mile on Friday at Saipan Country Club.
Leith Poole runs toward the finish line to finish first in the 1st Michelob Ultra Beer Mile on Friday at Saipan Country Club.
