You’ve heard of the beer mile, but beer 3 miles? On the tail of the massive success from the annual Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival, the city is kicking things into high gear with the first-ever pre-festival 5K and beer run.
 

The Hops Trot 5K takes runners love of carbo-loading through beer and combines it with a 5K run down the Atlantic City boardwalk. Runners start at the Steel Pier, where they are given a 3 oz sampling of Yard’s Brewing Co. beer before making their way to their first pit stop. There runners are required to sample another 3 oz. pour, this time from Tuckahoe Brewing Co., at the second stop, Margaritaville.
 

Stop No. 2 is Harry’s Oyster Bar, with a pour from Cape May Brewing Co. Runners then head to Chickie’s & Pete’s for a sampling of Dogfish Head before continuing on to Stop No. 4, Kennedy Plaza, where they’re greeted by drinks from Forgotten Boardwalk Brewing Co. and a satellite bar for guests and especially thirsty runners, sponsored by Duck Town Tavern.
 

Just when it seems like you’ve had enough, the race concludes at the mouth of the Atlantic City Beer Fest, where the sampling starts all over again.
 

The best part of the run might just be the perks. The $75 admission price gets you access to the race, a finisher’s medal, Hops Trot 5K beer glass, and early admission into Saturday’s first session, featuring the band Manchester Orchestra. Normal VIP tickets-- which grant you early access as well, but also come with some extra perks not included in the race fee-- cost around $99, while other tickets start at $55.

If we absolutely need to run, we prefer there’s always a beer at the end-- or in this case, beginning, middle, and end.

Photo via Hops Trot 5K