Victoria runner Sean Mitchell shares what gear he loves to train in but he also shared a few of his favourite beers. If you haven't read Sean's amazing athletic journey you can catch up here. Get geared up and get prepared to quench your thirst at the same time.
What's Your Favourite Athletic Gear?
I’m generally an Adidas fan – I have (let me see) 4 pairs in rotation right now; two pairs of Solarboosts, Boston 9s for tempo stuff, and a pair of Adios Pro 2s for racing and time trials. I also have a pair of Salomon Speedcross for trail running, and some On Cloudflows that see the light of day from time to time. Whew!
In terms of other gear, I don’t go far without my Garmin 245, and I have a Salomon Adv5 running vest for longer excursions.
Garmin Forerunner245
ON Cloudflow
Solomon Speedcross
ADIDAS Boston 9
ADIDAS Solar Boost
Adidas Pro 2
SALOMON ADV SKIN 5 SET
Do You Have a Favourite Beer?
I joke that the breweries I work with are like my children, and it’s not right to show favoritism to one child over the others, right? 😉 There are some styles I like more than others, but more than anything I appreciate a well-executed beer, where the brewer absolutely nails the style. We’re fortunate that there is a long, long list of really good breweries just in the Victoria area, which makes picking some standouts a tall order! But, since you asked so nicely, here are just a few of my local favourites:
Category 12 – Juicy Data Hazy IPA
This one is a big hit in my house. Dry hopped, so you get a lot of hop aromatics without a lot of the bitterness; and loads of stone fruit on the nose.
Ile Sauvage – Raspberry Sour
Like a slightly tart fruit smoothie – in the best possible way! This brewery makes the best sours around, and if you like that style then you’ll love their beers. Loads of raspberry and not a lot of hoppy bitterness, this one goes down smooth and is a big seller.
Driftwood Brewery – Singularity Russian Imperial Stout
At 10% ABV and up, and super dark, stouts are not for everyone. But this one is a great example of the style. Rich dark malts, notes of bourbon, coffee and chocolate, and very smooth – this is the beer to warm you back up after that long, dark, rainy winter training session.
Moon Under Water – This is Hefeweizen
I’ve been to Oktoberfest in Munich, and drank my fair share of German weissbier. I can tell you (and I’ve told Clay), Moon’s Hefeweizen is probably the most authentic North American version I’ve had – and that’s saying a lot! Nice thick head, loads of banana and clove, and exceptionally drinkable, it’s one of my favourites for sure.
Special mention – Phillips Brewing ‘Little Wonder’ Mix Pack
Phillips recently released this mix pack of 3 of 4 different beers (Lager, White Ale, Pale Ale, Hazy IPA), and I have to say it’s been a welcome addition to our fridge. Sometimes you don’t want a big beer, and what I love about these is that they’re all 4% ABV or less and under 100 calories, but still have loads of flavour. If you’re craving a ‘sessionable’ beer to enjoy without feeling heavy afterward, or you’re in the middle of a serious training block and need to be careful about your intake, then I would recommend checking these out.
Disclaimer
TriNerds is affiliated and sponsored by Frontrunners Victoria. We are not affiliated with these local beer companies. A big thanks Sean Mitchell for sharing your journey.