Sean Mitchell's Journey Update!
Since our last interview, Sean has been committed to bringing the gift of running to the community and being a positive influence. Currently serving as the ambassador to the Vancouver Island Race Series, Sean is sharing the love he has for more than just the goal of cracking open an Athletic Brew at the finish line. His dedication to fostering a running community and promoting the sport's joys extends beyond personal achievements, embodying the spirit of camaraderie and passion for the sport.
Sean Mitchell's Journey
Sean Mitchell A.K.A @runningbeernerd lives an inspiring journey. Many who follow Sean, know that he is a strong athlete, a great friend with an endeavor to inspire his community. His running posts make you want to get out there and crush it even if you already came back from a run. However, running isn't his only passion beer could easily be his second. Follow along and find out how he found he brewed up his love for running and local beer.
Your running profile is as refreshing as the beer you post, post run. Tell us a little about how your journey in running brewed up as well as your love for beer?
Well, they’re both kinds of related, to be honest! After growing up, going to university at UBC and working in the lower mainland (that’s 30ish years, I’m old!), in 2015 we moved back to the Island, where my wife was raised and I have quite a bit of family too. I took a job in Victoria with a metal fabrication company specializing in the design and fabrication of craft brewing and distilling equipment. It was a bit of a serendipitous moment, as we had talked of coming back ‘home’, the job was right up my alley, career-wise, and I was a fledgling craft beer nerd! In fact, my wife was almost convinced they secretly wrote the job description for me. :)
Once we got here and got settled, I needed something to do. I had played men's league basketball and ultimate frisbee in Vancouver, but in a new city, my old routines didn’t really work anymore. While I had only considered myself an occasional recreational runner, there was a Running Room store not far from my new house, so in early 2016 I started a 10k clinic there led by an all-around great guy (and triathlete!) Duncan Atkinson, and had a great experience. The rest, they say, was history - I’ve been running ever since! I now do most of my running with the Prairie Inn Harriers, but I also help lead half marathon clinics at the Running Room (COVID notwithstanding). The more I run on the island, the more I love it! We live in a special part of the world, with an endless variety of roads and trails to discover and enjoy. Mt Work, Gowlland Tod, Goldstream, Mt Doug - we are lucky indeed!
As with probably everyone else out there, 2020 was a bit of a wild year, with race plans being canceled left and right, and anxiety and uncertainty all over the place. At that time, I had been participating in an informal run group with a bunch of fellow Harrier beer aficionados. We would gather at one person’s house, go for a 10-12k run, then have a mini beer to share afterward, as everyone would bring a beer, ideally one they’d not had before.
So when COVID became an issue and it became unwise to gather as a group, we pivoted to holding the event outdoors, in a shotgun-style format. I would simply leave a cooler with a few brews and glasses on my front porch, and others would do the same. Then we would simply run to someone else’s house, drink some of their beer, and continue onwards. That way, it was up to the individual how far they ran, with some doing 8k and some doing 25k! Let me tell you, nothing makes a rainy January night run more enjoyable than the thought of a refreshment stop or two along the route. :)
You post some amazing and absolutely delicious thirst quenching beers on your instagram. Do you have an ultimate 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.
What runners are you wearing now and what gear are you using when you are out and about
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.
Do you have any list of races or adventures you are training for or have on a list for the future?
Right now, it’s nice being able to train for something! I currently have the Royal Victoria half on my agenda, and that’s about it. But hey - it will be great just to race again.
Longer-term, I would love to qualify for Boston - but with two younger kids, I find it hard to fully commit to a marathon training program right now, so that will have to wait for a while. This is a bonus, because that BQ time just keeps getting more attainable the older I get!
More than anything, I just enjoy getting out and running on my local trails. Mt Doug, Lochside, the Martindale farm area, and Elk/Beaver are steady haunts for me. Aside from that, we’re always up to some fun stuff on the lower island. Sooke Hills, Mt Work, Channel Ridge on Saltspring, running between lakes in the Highlands - you never know where we’ll end up!
How can our readers follow your Running After Beer adventures?
You can find me at @runningbeernerd on Instagram