By: Chris Chavez

The air was colder than the beer. Lauren Kleppin was just an innocent bystander as she witnessed her first beer mile being run was on a cold November day in Steven’s Point, Wisconsin.

“It was kind of a beautiful yet horrifying scene all at once,” Kleppin recalled. “These college kids were running around and in a matter of minutes they were on their knees puking. Beer and tears are just frozen to their beards.”

At that point in her life, Kleppin was underage and not a fan of beer. A lot has changed since that point and the 2:28 marathoner has grown to appreciate her Wisconsin roots.

When Kleppin is not running, her favorite beer to sit back and enjoy is the Myrcenary (9.3% abv.) from Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado. She enjoys a good craft beer and drinking out of bottles.

“Running a beer mile now would be a good way to pay tribute to where I come from,” Kleppin said.

Since placing 15th at the TCS New York City Marathon on Nov. 2, Kleppin has enjoyed her break and completed her first run since the race on Wednesday morning. A race that is 25.2 miles shorter and faster could be all that is left for her on the 2014 calendar year with the Flo Beer Mile World Championships on Dec. 3.

“I feel great. I’m ready to do something quick and replenish with some beer,” Kleppin said.

How fast could a marathoner run a fast beer mile? With no previous race to gauge her potential, Kleppin believes a reasonable goal for her is crossing the finish line in under seven minutes.

“I know in fact that I could run well with the first two beers,” Kleppin said. “It’s the third and fourth. That’s a lot of liquid. It would all be a matter of being put in the situation.”

The women’s world record currently stands at 6:28.60 is currently held by Chris Kimbrough, a 44-year-old mother of six from Austin Texas. Kleppin was very impressed by the feat when she first witnessed the video.

“I give that lady credit,” Kleppin said. “I watched it and that was awesome. Before I run it and before I run one, I will not call the record soft.”

Kleppin does not intend on running her first beer mile before toeing the line at the World Championships.

“It’s kind of like the marathon,” Kleppin said. “You want to forget race before even doing it again, because it’s painful. I would just want to jump into the Beer Mile World Champs with ignorant bliss.”

The competition will be tough with the likes of Kimbrough and Brooks Beasts track club runner Katie Mackey, who holds a 4:04 personal best over 1,500-meters. One factor that benefits Kleppin’s marathon training could also assist her on the track: Altitude training.

“That plays really well into the drinking and holding down the alcohol,” Kleppin said. “I may not have speed, but the competition will get me going.”

The rush of adrenaline through her veins and Pabst Blue Ribbon will fuel the girl from Wisconsin.