This Race Gives Runners a Glass of Wine Every Two Miles

The burn in your throat, the ache in your woefully under-utilised calf muscles, the pinching beginnings of a stitch: running is hard work, man. No matter how expensive your trainers or how plentiful your #fitspo Instagram follows, the act of speedily putting one foot in front of the other without collapsing in a sweaty heap after ten minutes is the preserve of an elite few superhumans. And people who really like neon Lycra.

But a race scheduled to take place in Glasgow later this year may be the catalyst that brings long distance running to the masses. In September, the city will host a ten-kilometre race that sees runners fueled not by sports drinks and orange slices—but wine.

It gives a whole new definition to the concept of a "runner's high."

Organised by events company TeamOA, participants are given a different wine to sample at each two-mile rest stop, with full bottles available to buy at the end of the race. Prizes are also offered for runners who turn up in the best fancy dress.

Groups of wine-swigging people staggering around a city dressed as the Blues Brothers may sound like a scene from Freshers' Week, but TeamOA, who have hosted similar races with pie and chocolate intervals, sees the race as a way to get people into running.

Managing director Wane Law said: "We want to put the fun back into running and prove that you don't have to be an elite race snake. We've run previous events and the people who are doing the races are not diehard runners, it's people bringing picnic blankets and making a day of it."

He has a point there. Watching a bunch of boozehounds attempt to make their way around a track without spilling their plastic tumblers of Chardonnay does sound like a pretty fun day out.

But the wine-fueled race hasn't been welcomed by everyone. Glasgow Evening Times reports that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is planning to "contest any application" for TeamOA to hold the race in Glasgow.

An NHS spokesman said: "We would contest any application for this event. Not only is alcohol detrimental to sports performance but this proposed event stands against our public health messages."

The race may also not adhere to the city's liquor laws. While TeamOA has successfully held similar events in Yorkshire and Huddersfield, street drinking is banned in Glasgow and handing out samples of wine would require a licence.

Liquor lawyer Jack Cummins and former Government advisor on licensing told the newspaper: "The event organisers look to be stepping into a licensing minefield. And they shouldn't take any comfort from their experience south of the border where different legislation applies."

Y'know guys, we could just forget the whole running part and go to the pub for a glass of wine instead …