Eau Claire (WQOW)- Eau Claire residents grabbed their snowshoes and their beer for a friendly competition.

Dozens of people showed up for the annual National Snowshoe Beer Mile Championship.

The Eau Claire Hash House Harriers hosted the competition and the president of the club, Tim McManus, said competitors signed up for a mile or half mile. He said they have to run two to four laps and after each lap they have to chug a beer, but this year the competition was a little bit harder.

“This is by far the most snow that we’ve had, and we have done it this year where we have not groomed or let anyone run on any of the course, so the course will be completely untouched,” McManus said. “It’ll be as you can see about knee high deep in snow and so that’s going to add an extra challenge to it.”

McManus said every year somebody gets sick, and when that happens the runner is penalized and has to run an extra lap.

He said they do have 12 medals to give out, but said most people want to win for bragging rights.