Bloemfontein Striders Beer Mile | 2026

The 2026 Bloemfontein Striders Beer Mile takes place on Thursday, 24 September 2026 at the Free State Athletics Stadium in Bloemfontein, Free State. 🏃‍♂️🍺

Organised by Bloemfontein Striders, this Heritage Day event combines running, fun, club spirit and beer mile racing in a lively track format. The event includes alcoholic, non-alcoholic, relay, kids relay, and 1 beer / 1 x 400m race options, making it suitable for adult runners, running clubs, relay teams, social participants, supporters and families. 👟

The beer mile format is simple: participants drink and run in alternating order around a standard 400m track. In the standard format, each competitor completes four beers and four laps, starting with a beer before running each lap. Relay teams consist of four members, with each participant completing one drink and one lap. 🎖️

The first race starts at 09h00, with races scheduled approximately every 20 minutes. Participants must be ready 10 minutes before their allocated start time for a race briefing. Each participant has a maximum of 20 minutes to complete their race before the next race begins. 🌄

Race Format

1. Standard Beer Mile: 4 beers and 4 laps
2. Non-Alcoholic Beer Mile: Same race format using non-alcoholic drinks
3. Relay Races: Teams of 4, with one lap per team member
4. Kids Relay: Team relay format for younger participants
5. 1 Beer / 1 x 400m: Short-format race option
6. Race interval: New races start approximately every 20 minutes

Classes, Start Times & Entry Fees

1. Alcoholic Beer Mile – 09h00 – R150 🍺
2. Non-Alcoholic Beer Mile – 09h00 – R150 👟
3. Race 4 Relay – 10h00 – R200 per team 🎖️
4. Race 9 Relay Running Club Challenge – 11h40 – R200 per team
5. Kids Relay – 12h00 – R200 per team
6. 1 Beer / 1 x 400m – 12h00 – R50
7. Race 14 Relay – 13h20 – R200 per team
8. Race 15 Relay – 13h40 – R200 per team

Event Details

📅 Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026

⏰ First Start: 09h00

📍 Venue: Free State Athletics Stadium

🛣️ Address: Att Horak Street & 1st Avenue, Willows

🌍 City/Town: Bloemfontein

📌 Province: Free State

👤 Organiser: Bloemfontein Striders

Entries

1. Entries: Via Entry Ninja
2. Entry Fees: R50–R200
3. Participants must enter the correct race category
4. Relay teams consist of 4 members
5. Only the team captain needs to enter a relay team

Race Day Information

1. First race starts at 09h00
2. Races are scheduled approximately every 20 minutes
3. Participants must be ready 10 minutes before their allocated start time
4. Each participant has a maximum of 20 minutes to complete the race
5. Food stall and beer garden available
6. Participants and supporters may celebrate Braai Day next to the track on the grass banks

Important Rules

1. Beer is supplied by South African Breweries and Bloemfontein Striders
2. Beer must be consumed in the transition area before each lap
3. Empty bottles must be turned over above the head before being discarded
4. No tampering with cans or bottles
5. No straws, shotgunning, puncturing or other aids allowed
6. Competitors who vomit before finishing must complete one penalty lap
7. Spilling beer may result in a penalty lap
8. No seconding or outside assistance is allowed
9. Race officials and marshals must be obeyed at all times
10. The race referee has the final say

Responsible Drinking Notice

1. No alcohol or alcoholic race entry may be sold to persons under the age of 18
2. Alcohol must not be supplied to minors
3. Participants are reminded to drink responsibly

Contact & More Information

🌐 More Information: bloemstriders.co.za/events/

🌐 Entries: Entry Ninja