First annual Furies Beer Run Relay at Hamilton's Bar & Grill (June 27 at 2pm)

We have an invitation to the Furies Beer Run Relay. Even though there is too much physical activity and too many rules, there is beer!
-Grant

Plenty of rugby players are fast on their feet. And even more can quickly down a beer. But on Saturday, June 27, the Washington Furies will host the first annual Furies Beer Run Relay at Hamilton's Bar & Grill, giving area rugby teams, veteran hashers and their friends the opportunity to see who is best at both.

Each relay team is composed of five runners doing four laps. The first runner will chug a beer, run a lap around the block and return to the transition zone, where they will slap their teammate's hand to "hand off" to the next runner. When the fifth runner finishes, the first runner is next in line.

Teams must drink/run the relay in order, and each runner must drink four beers and run four laps (about 1.3 miles total). The first team to complete the four laps of the relay in each division wins. Cheaters will be roundly mocked at the after-party and may be assigned embarrassing or unpleasant tasks.

Race volunteers will be stationed to help runners navigate and answer race-day questions, but teams themselves are responsible for getting their teammates into the transition zone for the next lap. This could be complicated because drinking between laps is encouraged and will win style points with the organizers.

Teams compete in one of three divisions: Men's, Women and Co-Ed. Individuals may register and will be assigned to teams according to their estimated mile time and division preference. If you have just two or three friends who want to compete, but not enough for a full team, that's fine -- list each other's names during registration to be assigned to the same team. We'll round out your team with other runners.

Participants need to be at metro-accessible Hamilton's by 2 p.m. to get their numbers and listen to pre-race announcements. The race will begin promptly at 2:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the winner of each division and for Best Team Spirit, which can be displayed in the form of costumes, team names or songs/chants. All runners get a commemorative t-shirt, even if they finish dead last. Drink specials will be available to those who stay at Hamilton's after the race.

Team registration is $100 ($20/person) and includes five t-shirts and 20 beers. Individual registration is $25 and includes one t-shirt and four beers. All funds raised from this event will benefit the Washington Furies Women's Rugby Football Club, who invite you to drink, run and be merry.

Questions? Concerns? E-mail race coordinator Margaret McElligott at gotmce (at) yahoo (dot) com.