beer mile world record. @fittish #recordsmashed #beermile

Ok, so I have a new hero, James Nielsen, a two-time NCAA 5,000-meters champion. Why you ask? He just smashed the beer mile world record over the weekend with a time of four minutes, 57 seconds. I didn't even know this was a sport!

It seems that the beer mile is more complicated than you might think, there are official rules and everything. Each competitor drinks four cans of beer and runs four laps, beers must be consumed before the lap is begun, within the transition area which is the 10 meter zone before the start/finish line on a 400m track. The race begins with the first drink, no acceptations for the ladies either, comptitors run a complete mile (1609 meters). Competitors must drink canned beer, no substitutes. The beer must be a minimum of 5% alcohol by volume. Each beer can must not be opened until the competitor enters the transition zone on each lap. And my favorite, competitors who vomit before they finish the race must complete one penalty lap at the end of the race (immediately after the completion of their 4th lap).

According to James, "I have studied the anatomy of the esophagus and the upper sphincter," Nielsen said of his preparation. Also, "I have consulted with some of the best chemical minds on the planet about the chemistry composition of beer and carbon dioxide displacement in a can."

"He was rewarded with a record that few will challenge, mostly because it's kind of stupid."

"That is really painful," Nielsen said after his record. "Holy shit."

I am thinking this should be an event in the next Olympic Games. What about you?

Referenced by FitTish