PRESS RELEASE:
It’s a well-earned beer run, as the area’s hand-crafted running series, the Race To The Taps, returns for its second year. The first of this season’s four events is at 2:30pm Saturday, April 23 at Catawba Brewing Company on Banks Avenue downtown.
The five-miler starts and ends in front of the brewery, with a big party at the finish line.
“The Race To The Taps has become a favorite of runners of all skill levels, and we’ll even have people walking the course,” said Nikki Mitchell, events director for Mix 96.5 radio, which produces the series. “We have more than 400 pre-registered, and will have space to add a few dozen more on race day.” Online registration at www.RaceToTheTaps.com ends Wednesday at 11:59pm. On-site registration begins Saturday at 12:30pm.
The events are known to bring out spirited runners dressed in brewery-inspired outits. “It’ll be fun to see the many versions of White Zombies and Mother Truckers who come to run, and other Catawba-themed costumes,” said Mary Mayo of Catawba Brewing Company. “We’ll be on the lookout for them to see who gets to be Queen and King of the Taps.”
There are also awards for each age category, as well as the Gold’s Gym Golden MOP Award – “middle of the pack” – presented to the participant with the average of the fastest and slowest times. The finish line also features the latest in running gear and services, cool tunes from Mix 96.5’s DJ Kipper, and pets looking for forever homes from the Asheville Humane Society. AHS will receive a portion of race proceeds.
Those who take part in the Catawba run and go on to participate in the entire Race To The Taps season will log a cumulative 26.2 miles. Registration is also underway for the other three events, which include:
· June 11: 6.2-miler at Southern Appalachian Brewery in Hendersonville
· September 24: 7-miler at Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain
· October 29: 8-miler at New Belgium Brewing in Asheville’s River Arts District
The Race To The Taps is presented by Paramount Kia of Asheville and Gold’s Gym, with additional support from Kick It Event Management, Fleet Feet Sports, Whole Foods, Greenlife Grocery, Alan’s Jewelry and Pawn, River Arts Dentistry, Asheville Regional Airport, Sheppard Insurance, Blue Ridge Orthodontics, Oowee Products, Cornerstone Physical Therapy, Blubus Clothing, Griffin Waste Services, and the Runners’ Mechanic.
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