Brew Mile organizer Andrea Johnson (left) with host Heather Foster of Eddy’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill at Geist.

Last month, 120 runners and walkers descended on Eddy’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill at the Geist Marina to run the “Brew Mile”: A one-mile run through Bridgewater ending with a beer at the finish.

“The idea is to get people out and off the couch and get a little exercise,” said Andrea Johnson with Blue Mile, the running series sponsor and organizer.

Families, friends, even dogs participated in the event. Participants pay $5 for their running bib and finishing beverage of choice with all proceeds benefiting various charities in the area. Local runners like Kristy Busack, who won the women’s race with a time of 6:21, like the fact that it’s close and designed for families.

“My boys and husband are right behind me, it’s nice to have something like this in our backyard,” she said.
Kathy Oneacre, another Geist resident, brought her son 8 year-old son Colm with her to run. “We ran a few of these last year together, this is our first one this year, we had a lot of fun.”

Employees from RICS Software, the point of purchase software that BlueMile utilizes for their stores, came out to support the Brew Mile.

Even corporate teams were represented. RICS Software, a local point of purchase software company that provides services to Blue Mile retail stores, recruited over a dozen employees to participate.

“We’re here to support Blue Mile but also help out a local charity,” said Eric Chreist with RICS Software. “It’s great to do something with our co-workers after hours that’s not only fun but for a good cause.”

Thanks to Scott and Heather Foster at Eddy’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill, the event raised more than most of the other events. The Fosters donated all the finish line refreshments, allowing Blue Mile organizers to give more of the proceeds to Back on My Feet, a local homeless running program that reaped the proceeds of this event.
To see the schedule for 2013 or for more information, visit www.BlueMile.com or email Andrea Johnson at Andrea.Johnson@bluemile.com.

Members of the Carmel Runners Club visited Geist for the Brew Mile (left to right) Todd Oliver, Adam Scott, and Ross Harding.

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