How fitting is it that I am setting up our March Ultimate Coffee Date while sitting in Starbucks? Hopefully by the time we get together I will be enjoying my morning coffee at home. No matter where I am, I look forward to our monthly gatherings, where we imagine that we are getting together for coffee (or tea, or your favorite relaxing beverage), and share what’s going on in our lives. It’s a chance to get to know each other better and support each other in all our endeavors. Since it’s no fun to have coffee alone, make sure you leave comments on other blogs in the link up, and don’t forget to visit my co-host Deborah at Confessions Of A Mother Runner.
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If We Were Having Coffee …
If we were having coffee, I would have to get a Starbucks gripe off my chest. When I am home I brew Starbucks coffee using beans I buy at the grocery store. While Starbucks purchases earn 2 stars for every dollar spent, grocery store-bought Starbucks coffee now earns only 5 stars, even though it costs at least $8 .
Those 5.0 stars cost a lot more than those 4.9 stars!
When they first rolled out the dollar-based program, grocery store-bought coffee earned 10 stars, but that’s changed recently. 🙁
If we were having coffee, I would ask if there is a culture of beer + running (or running + beer) in your area. The microbrewery near our house partners with a local running store for weekly “Joggers and Lagers” fun runs, and I know other microbreweries host similar events. Last week while visiting my daughter, I came across Shoes and Brews in Longmont, Colorado which takes it one step further — it is a running store and taproom combined!
I have come to like a good microbrew after a race, but since I am a morning runner, I m not usually looking for a beer when I finish. 🙂
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I am trying hard not to have any expectations about my “race” tomorrow. Over I have focused on rehabbing my PF, which has meant minimal long runs and no hill workouts.
This course is HILLY. It will be HARD. I am lucky to be able to run it at all, and really need to treat it as a supported training run ….
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What would you tell me over coffee?
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Yes to the beer + running here. There are a few bars around that host social runs, I go to the one in my area. Also, there’s a race series that does 5ks at craft breweries through out TX.
I would love to talk with you about the beer and running thing as I am thinking of doing a story on it. It’s not my thing at all. Good luck tomorrow at Reston. The weather looks good. Maybe just take it easy and go for a training run. Hope you get your power back soon
There might be combo running+beer stores in Chicago, but I’m not aware of them! I love a good craft beer after a race, tho!
I drink Starbucks at home too and I agree, bad deal with the starts.
Good luck on your race!
Hi!
What is it about running and beer? Maybe the carbs….lol.
Take it easy on your ‘race’ tomorrow! I am procrastinating doing my 6 mile run this morning.
Thanks for sharing.
I buy the giant Starbucks bag from Costco. Now I’m interested to see how many stars I get for that. You’re right it’s a ripoff. Sheesh. Good luck at your race!
I’ve definitely been seeing more beer runs popping up around here, and I know a couple of run groups who finish their runs at a pub. Like you I’m a morning runner, but I do love a good craft beer post-race 😉
Good luck tomorrow!
I’m a Dunkin’ Donuts girl, both at home and on the road, but I recently bought a total of nine of the big boxes of brewed coffee (‘travelers’) at Starbucks over a three day period and totally forgot about the Star Rewards program so didn’t get any! I still have the receipts *somewhere*. I wonder if I can still apply. Good luck with your race. I hate hills!
Starbucks’ recent change to the grocery store coffee points irritates me, too. They probably make more money when we buy the beans in the Starbucks store and want to incentivize us to buy it there instead? I used to buy it there but it is so much easier to pick it up at the grocery store.
Good luck tomorrow! I’m sorry I won’t be out on the course cheering for you this year. The PR Cherry Blossom training meets at the same time. A lot of our participants are running the Reston Ten Miler, though, so I wish I could be in both places at once! Imagine me on the sidelines telling you that you are doing great and reminding you to take it slow and treat it like a training run 🙂
I’ll miss your cheers for sure! It will definitely be a training run … especially since I’m still up. 🙂
I have never herd of a this beer and running combo. I am also a morning runner so the combo sounds less than appealing to me.
What?! It’s such a thing here! I avoided it for a while, and am only tempted by special races.
I’ve noticed that our area is getting “beer runs” too (well, the metro area about an hour from me anyway!) I get that it’s a way to bring more people in to the group events, but it’s not at all appealing to me. I like to eat my calories – not drink them! haha
I can fit a good beer into my diet budget, but the emphasis is on GOOD. 🙂
Best of luck with your race! I bet you’ll do better than you’re anticipating, but you’re wise to proceed with caution anyways. Coming back from injury (or recovery LOL) is such a tight wire…the temptation to jump right back in vs. taking things slow with lower expectations is a tough battle.
I’ve been trying really hard to hold back. I won’t be racing tomorrow, but I hope to have a good run.
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There’s definitely a beer and running culture here in Tampa but not nearly as much as there was in NH. I remember one running group that had a microbrew run, they literally ran from one bar to another with multiple stops for an evening! (Pretty sure it was a special event.)
Hah, what if it was a regular thing? We’ve done bike/brewery routes before, but the ones around here are a bit too far apart to run to!
Good luck at your race! That looks tough! There are a lot of beer related running events in Chicago but that store is a new to me idea. I was in Longmont this week for work, too! Ran on the trail that connects Longmont to Boulder. That was fun! Have a great weekend!
Oh my gosh! I’ve never met anyone else who went to Longmont. I think I was on a different trail, or maybe just at the other end of it?
I hope the race goes better than you’re expecting it to! Sometimes the best races are when we have low expectations.
There is, indeed, a running/beer thing going on up here. Except I don’t drink beer (or drink alcohol at all), and while it’s not far, it’s a little drive away so I haven’t checked it out.
Honestly, as much as I like a good IPA, it would not be why I’d sign up for a race.
Tomorrow I will really, Really, REALLY not be racing.
I have the same Starbucks gripe. I buy my coffee in the grocery store and make it at home.
We have a local beer race but am away st the time.
However my half in Fl. is called Brew 2 Brew. But do I want a beer at 10 am?
Good luck tomorrow
It depends on the brew! Craft IPA = yes. Miller Lite = no. 😉
I am not a beer drinker, so those runs with brews don’t appeal to me. But, I know a few runners that love them!
Good luck at your race tomorrow! Hope you’re PF doesn’t cause any real issues.
Thanks! It’s more likely to make me pay later — fingers crossed!
No beer/running combo in my neck of the woods that I know of, but just about every race serves beer of some sort for the post-race party!
I feel you on the PF and hills ..my 10k race today was super hilly (total elevation gain over 750ft) and my PF is talking to me now! Good luck tomorrow!
Thanks. There are so many reasons I should DNS this one, but I hope I talk myself out of them in the morning!
That sucks that Starbucks reduced the star points to 5 on store-bought packages! I usually stock up when they have a special like Earn 20 extra stars at the grocery store, but I don’t actually drink a lot of coffee at home – usually just on the weekends. Of course, this weekend I’m drinking tea because of this stupid head cold. 🙁
That Shoes & Brews is kinda brilliant! I’m not a beer drinker, but I know a lot of people are. It’s a great idea to keep customers coming back more often than just when they need to buy gear.
Hope your race went well today!
I definitely see a lot of free beer after runs/races over here too! The OCR I signed up for has that, but since I don’t drink alcohol, I’m just gonna see if I can find any takers for it, haha.
I hope your “race” today went well! Hilly runs are tough! x_x
This was such a nice read, Coco! I enjoyed reading your story and it felt like we are indeed having coffee and chatting. There isn’t a culture of beer + running in my place but it seems like a great event. 🙂
Aw, thanks. Coffee date posts really do bring us closer together. 😉
Was that the Reston 10-Miler you ran today? I haven’t run it for a few years, but it is a hilly course! I used to do at least one of my weekly runs in Reston so I do know those hills well. I hope you had an enjoyable race.
I’m not a beer drinker so I don’t really enjoy the microbreweries. Last time I went, I had water and that’s no fun. 😉
Thanks for the linkup!
Yes, I did the Reston Ten Miler. I sort of like the hills. 🙂
I don’t get the running and beer thing. It’s not a huge thing among my running circles here (NYC), but I was in Fort Lauderdale in February and a happy hour run ended with beer by the hotel pool. And there was more beer than water. Not complaining, but it seemed odd.