This summer, our capital city will host an adrenaline-fueled race that pairs the best of the region: award-winning ales and adventure. Capitol to Bay Relay, taking place on Aug. 6, is an adventure race that includes mountain and road biking, running and paddling. Recently sanctioned as an official adventure race by the United States Adventure Racing Association, the relay allows competitors to participate solo, but encourages them to compete in tandem or with a team.
The course begins in Capitol State Forest and ends in downtown Olympia, totaling 37 miles of the region’s mountains, waterways and prairies. The best part: It ends with entry to Olympia Brewfest, a tasting celebration with 30-plus beers, live music and food.
Experts agree that pairing beer and exercise is a fruitful combination. A recent medical study by researchers at Pennsylvania State University found positive connections between exercise and beer. The study, as reported by The New York Times, shows an “unequivocal correlation between exercising on any given day and subsequently drinking, especially if someone exercised more than usual.”
So grab your friends and let the “training” begin! The Capitol to Bay Relay website offers a detailed map of the course for training preparations. Thurston County is home to several top spots for imbibing post-workout, including Top Rung Brewing in Lacey, Oly Tap Room on the Olympia waterfront and Three Magnets Brewing in downtown Olympia.
For more information or to register, visit capitoltobayrelay.com. The Capitol to Bay Relay is organized as a benefit for the PARC Foundation of Thurston County, which is dedicated to preserving the vital green spaces of our natural surroundings, and expanding and supporting works of art and artists in the community.
To plan your trip, go to visitolympia.com.