Running is my addiction and craft beer my passion. Let's start....

As is probably obvious from the title of my first vlog, I run (quite a lot for someone who recently passed half a century, and decided that ultra-marathons is now 'my thing') and I enjoy all things beer (focus on craft, but what is craft is a point of debate?), thinking about it, talking about it, listening about it, brewing it, and of course, drinking it.

In my world, they go hand in hand.

How?

I regularly listen to craft beer related podcasts, specifically when I'm out running. I love this format, much more than listening to music when I'm pounding the roads or trails. It allows me to immerse myself into a world I, like many other home brewers, dream of calling a career. The wonderful world of craft beer. 

It also helps to take the mind away from the pain of long runs. 

I also equate miles run into beer 'tokens' allowable. In my mind, 3 miles = 1 guilt free pint of beer. An approach that would probably be frowned upon by many, and especially the medical profession...

That said, when I'm off on my pre 5am morning run at points in the week, whilst I return from the run craving for a beer, having listened to someone reviewing a big, dank westie, I don't. I do need to be on my game to meet the challenges of the working day.

I've toyed with starting a podcast in a similar vein to the ones I especially enjoy: daftaboutcraft, thehopaddition, thisweekincraft, hopposites attract, triplehopped. Somehow linking the running element. But I decided against it.

Why?

Far too much time and energy required. Neither of which I have in abundance given a poor work-life balance. However, this blog will strictly steer clear of career related matters. It's an escape from it!

I also enjoy watching YouTube with vlogs and channels relating to ultra-running and craft beer, obviously... Nothing that I've seen combines both hobbies.

No way I'm going down that route. Far too onerous.

But I did want to try and merge my addiction and passion together. Just for my own log and perhaps as a way to destress and take my mind away from the pressures of life.

My aim is to loosely log my week: my runs, and thoughts about those runs; my weekly beer journey; what I've drunk, what I've brewed, and where I've (occasionally) been. That kind of thing.

Let's see where I get to in my blog journey. Whether anyone is interested is immaterial to me. But I'm sure there are other fools who will gladly go for a 10-mile run at 4:30 am, having had an impie the night before. Or decided to run 20 miles before going on the lash with mates. Actually, probably not....