Beer drinkers, runners unite

BEER DRINKERS,

RUNNERS

UNITE

Trollingwood Taproom and Brewery hosts “brew runs”

When a group of runners finish a three-mile run around downtown Greenville, they immediately quench their post-run thirst with an ice cold beer.

It might sound crazy; but it’s not. It’s the result of the Trollingwood Taproom and Brewery Brewery Run Club.

Robin Ashley, organizer of the club, said members show up for the run, and stay for the beer. And if there ever was a universal motivator -- perhaps it’s a local craft brew.

“Man, there are many days that I don't want to do it, I don't want to run,” Ashley said. “But sitting on the patio, in the breeze, with a beer, surrounded by a bunch of people who just did the same thing I just did... it's a wonderful feeling.”

The club started when Ashley, a former bartender at Trollingwood, was chatting with East Carolina University professor Blakely Brooks. Brooks ran with a run club in Raleigh and brought the idea of starting one at Trollingwood up to Ashley -- she was all in.

“I was like, ‘If you want one, if you think there’s enough, then let’s do it!”

They kicked off the first run on St. Patricks Day of 2017 with nearly 20 runners, and it’s continued to grow since that first run. Ashley said they have a steady group of about 15 runners who run every week, creating friendships and a sense of family within the club.

“It's a nice little family. We celebrate each other's accomplishments, each other's races, each other's graduations,” Ashley said.

And even when races take runners to far-away cities, like marathons in Ocracoke, that love transcends the Trollingwood patio.

“We cheer each other on because we know each other from this club,” she said.

Other establishments have followed suit; Uptown Brewing Company on Evans Street has their own run club on Wednesdays. Ashley said it’s always beneficial to have multiple

things going on at one time.

“A rising tide floats all boats. We have a wonderful growing craft beer community, and a wonderful running community here in Greenville.

“Always room for runners and beer drinkers,” Ashley said.

The group meets every Thursday night on the patio at 6 p.m. and run until about 7 p.m., rain or shine, hot or cold. Any running level is welcome, and it’s not unlikely to see some four-legged pals on the run — including Shelby, the official run dog.

“I think she's got more runs than me,” Ashley laughed.