I’ve been looking for a way to jumpstart my running routine again after the month of EXTREME that was June. When my good friend Holly (Mt. Rainier Musketeer) suggested I try out an event called 1st Thursdays, my interest was piqued.
Fine, you caught me. She prefaced it with “you get a free beer” and then after I agreed to go she told me what it was all about.
The first Thursday of every month Road Runner Sports in Green Lake puts on this fab event. From 5-6pm runners gather in the parking lot behind the shop to enjoy free samples from companies like GU and PowerBar. Brooks shoes is there as well doing something kind of interesting…they rent out pairs of shoes for people to try out during the run!
Right at 6 the great people from Road Runners turn around a giant map of the surrounding area. From there it’s a scramble to write down 12 hotspots shown on the map. Each spot is a local business that has agreed to let 100+ runners dash into their shops to pick up a raffle ticket. Runners try and get to as many of the spots as possible to grab as many raffle tickets as they can.
Everyone has until 7 to make it back to the parking lot. Obviously once the run is over the real fun begins. Deschutes Brewery brings out two different beers for people to saddle their taste buds up to. With your free registration you get one beer token to enjoy! Every beer after that is only $2.
And guess what? All those local businesses you just ran to? They probably donated a raffle item! They probably donated 2 raffle items! No really – the sheer volume of raffle prizes being handed out is insane. If you are a lucky person at ALL your chances of winning are huge. Everyone I was with won something. Holly actually won TWO somethings. It’s the best raffle I’ve ever seen.
It gets better. If you love the 1st Thursday concept (who wouldn’t)…you can run yourself right around the corner and sign up to be in the club! (I love clubs…something about being part of the elite “in” crowd – clearly I joined) For just $24 you get an awesome wicking t-shirt to wear at every event (so everyone knows you are part of the elite “in” crowd), a Deschutes pint glass, TWO free beer tokens at EVERY 1st Thursday, and double the raffle tickets at every hot spot. Woah. DOUBLE? Yes. Double. So now your chances at the raffle have improved even more.
If this hasn’t convinced you yet…everyone loves a top 10 list so here goes…
Top 10 reasons K-Nols LOVES 1st Thursdays at Road Runners Sports:
10. Free beer
9. Free samples
8. Fun for all ages – literally saw kids, dogs, parents with strollers…
7. Single and ready to mingle? There are tons of young people there who you already know like to stay active, try something new, and enjoy themselves. Done and done.
6. The Green Lake area is mostly flat – aka a nice area to run around and not die from overexertion
5. You can pick how far you want to run. Having an off day? Take it easy and only go to the closer hot spots. Feeling awesome and competitive? Get after all the hot spots!
4. No one goes home empty handed – no literally. You can’t. From the free beer to the free samples to the raffle there is something there for you.
3. The party doesn’t stop after the run! A restaurant close by is pegged as the official after party location. They offer specials on drinks and food. It’s not like some lame after party that no one shows up to either! Everyone is all in for more fun!
2. Get to know the local businesses of Green Lake – true you are only running in and out of them during the run, but chances are you (or a friend) will win a gift certificate to one of them during the raffle. What better way to get to know the community?
1. Free beer. It’s even GUILT free beer – you just ran…so you can safely consume some calories. It costs no money…so you’re wallet is happy too. I know I seem to get really excited about this concept but are you hearing me? IT’S FREE.
At this point I just know you are dying to know how you too can participate in this AMAZING event…. Register for free for the next 1st Thursday event on August 4th here:
http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/content/topic.jsp?contentId=700008
(Look to the left for a grey box labeled Thursday Adventure Runs – then you under it you will see the tab Adventure Run Sign Up)
Hope to see you all there!
Cheers ~ K-Nols