December 3 update: The event has been moved from the originally scheduled venue, Yellow Jacket Stadium, to Circuit of the Americas, a 3.4-mile car racing venue. Stay tuned for more details.

With no Olympics or World Championships on the calendar, 2014 marked an “off-year” for the pro running circuit. To fill the void, the folks at Flotrack decided to host a sudsy substitute—a world championship beer mile.

Dubbed the Flotrack Beer Mile World Championships, the top brew-chugging milers will go head-to-head in Austin on Wednesday for the inaugural event.

Here’s a quick rundown of facts and figures you should know:

What is a beer mile?

Invented by a group of Canadians in 1989, the beer mile consists of drinking four beers over the course of a mile run on a standard track. In other words, drink one beer, run one lap, and repeat three times. The challenge has been going mainstream, earning a national spotlight when James Nielsen broke the world record with his 4:57.1 run in April. Beermile.com, the (unofficially) official user-generated record of results, has tallied more than 60,000 finishes so far.

What are the rules?

A few basics include: Beer must be at least 5% alcohol by volume; cans (or bottles) must be at least 12 ounces and can’t have specialized openings (no “super mega mouth cans” or puncture holes); and beers must be consumed within the 10-meter transition zone at the start/finish line. If you vomit midrace you’ll earn yourself an extra lap. For a complete list of rules, go here.

What makes the World Championships unique?

Up until now, beer miles have been run as solo or group time trials where video provides the only evidence the feat. The World Championships will pit competitors in a full-fledged race setting, complete with automatic timing, professional track meet rules, and race officials.

“There have been many beer miles run over the last 20 years on different tracks, with different beer, and in different conditions,” co-creator Mark Floreani said in a press release in May. “This World Championship event will level the playing and drinking field.”

Austin-based brewery Hops & Grain is sponsoring the event, and participants will get to choose from among four of the brewery's options. (Runners in the elite fields can drink their brew of choice as long as it's within regulations.)

Prize purses will be available for race winners, and bonuses will be awarded if a world record is set. According to Flotrack, the current records are 4:57.1 for men and 6:28.55 for women.

Who’s racing?

Flotrack has assembled a men’s and women’s field consisting of both pro runners and other top beer milers from the U.S. and other countries.

Headlining the men’s field is two-time Olympic middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds, who set the then American record of 5:19 in 2012. Since then, Nielsen and Michael Cunningham have bested Symmonds’ time. (Nielsen will not be competing, but Cunningham will be in the field.) Other competitors include Corey Gallagher, whose 5:01.6 PR makes him the fastest beer-miler on Canadian soil, and Michael Cunningham of Brewster, New York, who is able to drink a beer in three seconds, according to Flotrack. The 24-year-old is also a sub-4:00 miler. Check out Flotrack’s full men’s preview here.

On the women’s side, 45-year-old Austinite Chris Kimbrough leads the field after her world-record setting run in October of 6:28.55. She’ll face off with previous world-record holder Seanna Robinson, who ran 6:42 17 years ago. Nine-time collegiate All-American Katie Mackey is the top professional runner in the field. She’s run 4:04 for 1500 meters and 15:04 for 5K, although she hasn’t notched a beer mile time yet. For Flotrack’s women’s preview, go here.

Elite competitors (from left to right) Chris Kimbrough, Katie Mackey, Kirsty Jahn (Smith), Julianne Masciana, Andrea Fisher and Kristen Findlay pose for photos at Hops & Grain Brewery in Austin. Josh Baker

Other events include open miles, subelite miles, and a corporate relay mile.

Can I watch if I’m not in Austin?

The events will be broadcasted live starting at 6:00 p.m. CST at flotrack.org. If you’re in Austin, doors open at the Circuit of the Americas facility at 5:00 p.m. Admittance to the event is free. The women’s elite mile starts at 7:25 p.m., and the men’s gun time is 7:45 p.m.

Related:

Inaugural Flo Beer Mile World Championship On Tap

Lance Armstrong Tries Beer Mile, Does Not Finish

44-Year-Old Mother of 6 Shatters Beer Mile Record

History of the Beer Mile

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