December 31, 2024 • 37 mins
RED Episode 300 SHOW NOTES
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Support the Moffitt Cancer Center!
In this episode, we talk with Bill Manley, Sales and Marketing Director for Foothills Brewing, and Nikki Popovich, Marketing Director for 311 Endurance Events. They were so generous with their time that they donated an entry to an event made for Runcationers like us… the CraftHalf!
Find Mike and great beer from Foothills here:
https://www.foothillsbrewing.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi everyone, it's Mevka Flesgahi, the Boston
Marathon, New York City Marathonchampion and Olympic silver
medalist and you are listeningto the Run Eat Drink podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to the Run Eat Drink podcast.
We feature destination racesfrom across the country and
after the race, we take you on atour of the best local food and
beverage to celebrate.
So, whether you are an eliterunner or a back of the packer
like us, you'll know the bestplaces to accomplish, explore
and indulge on your nextruncation.
(00:35):
Hey, welcome to episode 300.
It's finally here.
We made it.
It's episode 300 and we can'tthank all of you enough
Runcation Nation for yoursupport, for listening to this
(00:57):
podcast for 300 plus episodes.
We have little ones in the feedthat are quick bites and little
messages from hurricanes andwhatnot, and we just don't know
how to thank you enough forhelping us build a wonderful
community and for coming alongon this crazy ride for the last
(01:18):
300 episodes.
This episode is going to featureone of our auction items from
this auction that we have goingon online for Moffitt Cancer
Center, which ends tonight.
We are supporting MoffittCancer Center and all the way up
through tonight they will match, match.
(01:47):
It's a two times match forMoffitt Cancer Center and, as
most of my father has receivedlife-changing and life-saving
treatments from Moffitt CancerCenter and we're so grateful to
them.
One of the auction itemshappens to be a race entry, so
if we have any 50 staters tryingto get a half marathon in there
, we have Nikki Popovich on ourshow and also a very special
(02:12):
guest from a brewery on thisepisode to give us a little bit
of a chat about entry to thecraft half in Winston-Salem,
north Carolina.
Without further ado, we aregoing to celebrate this New
Year's Eve episode with a lovelychat from amazing people.
(02:35):
Here's Nikki and a very specialguest and we hope you enjoy,
have a happy new year and youall can still bid on items up
through tonight and we hope thatyou do.
And thanks for 300 amazingepisodes.
Runcation Nation Enjoy Happy newyear.
(02:57):
It's the Run Eat Drink podcastand this week we are
highlighting what I think is theperfect event for us, and today
joining me we have Nikki andBill.
Nikki Popovich, your branddevelopment for Junction 311,
endurance Events, and peoplewill know your face from
(03:19):
previous episodes and when youhear her voice, you will hear
her and recall her from BigBeach Marathon weekend and
talking about what we can't waitto do in January of 2025.
But today we have a brand newguest joining her Bill Manley,
who's Director of Sales andMarketing for Foothills Brewing.
You all welcome and goodmorning on this fine Sunday
(03:41):
morning.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
We're so excited.
Good morning, Nikki.
And so thank you for coming onback and thank you for bringing
Bill with you.
I really appreciate you allcoordinating this, the craft
half.
When you sent me a messageabout that and you were willing
to donate a free race entry tothat weekend and I got to look
(04:04):
in on the website and seeing theconnection between foothills
and everything in that raceweekend, I can't.
I was like we are, we run andthen we eat and drink to
celebrate our accomplishments.
You know, sometimes it's coffee, like this morning, Sometimes
it's delicious craft beer.
(04:25):
Bill, are you having coffeeright there?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
This is beer.
No, it's actually coffee.
It's still a little too early.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
I almost spit out my coffee.
It's too early, are you sure?
I mean because Well.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
I mean it's never too early, but I stayed up late,
too late last night gettingChristmas stuff together.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
And so today it's too early.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Of course you know craft half day.
You know start drinking earlyand often.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, because you have to replenish the calories
that you run right.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
In a premier event.
Now, nikki, can you?
Just the last time you werehere, we introduced you and we
haven't introduced Bill yet.
Here, we introduced you and wehaven't introduced Bill yet.
So let me just dial it back anotch, because I'm so excited to
get to the running, the eatingand the drinking and the
destination that you have.
Nikki, who are you?
Speaker 3 (05:13):
My name is Nikki Popovich.
I actually enjoy running, Ienjoy drinking beer, I enjoy
drinking coffee as well, but myprimary job, other than
caretaker and mother with myfamily, is marketing and brand
development for Junction 311Endurance Sports.
And I'm very happy to bejoining you, and last time we
(05:35):
were together we talked aboutBig Beach.
Yes, and this time it is anhonor to talk about Kraft Half.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
I am so excited when you said that to me.
Yes, it's perfect, bill,introduce yourself to the Run
Case and Nation.
If you would Tell us who youare, and we already know you're
drinking coffee, but Sure yeah,I'm Bill Manley.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I'm the Director of Sales and Marketing at Foothills
Brewing in Winston-Salem and,along with Junction 311, we're
the sponsors of the Kraft Half.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Speaking of the craft half.
So your brewery is inWinston-Salem, that's North
Carolina.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
And can you start off by telling us, like how long
has this event been in existence?
What's the history behind it?
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Yeah, that's a good question.
Actually, I'm not sure when thefirst craft half was.
I've been with Foothills abouttwo and a half years.
Okay, I don't think I was onthe job more than two weeks when
I first met Nikki to say we gotto talk about the craft half
and I was like what's the crafthalf?
And so learning by doing it.
What's it been, nikki?
It's seven years 2016.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
2016?
Yeah, eight years.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Eight years, 2016?
.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Yeah, eight years, yeah, eight years.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
So you're coming up on a big one Like 10, right, so
it'll be nine in 2025.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Yeah, math, I can't do math.
That math is my sister'sexpertise and specialty, my
older sister, she and I don'tknow what happened.
I'm the young one, I lost allthe math.
But it's going to be in Aprilof 2025.
And you said so.
It's eight years.
And, nikki, can you talk alittle bit about the history of
(07:10):
the event?
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Well, one of the most special parts of it and it's
actually an honor that peopledon't think it's our race they
think it's Foothills, and so thebiggest pride piece is that
we're okay with that and we wantto continue to do an amazing
(07:32):
job because we don't want todisrespect anything that they
are about.
So foothills is a staple inwins in salem and in the beer
community, the beer world, andpart of the history of the race
and inviting the other breweriesis that they wanted to give
people that were smaller theopportunity to showcase
themselves.
So it was a platform to allowparticipants and spectators to
(07:54):
meet smaller breweries and tosample who and what they are.
So our job is just to do what wedo and produce the race and
foothills is the one that bringsthe fun and showcases everyone
else, of course, bringing thefun.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
okay, the running is the first of the fun and then
you get to the beverage laterwith the medal and the
celebration and you get to beintroduced to other breweries.
So it sounds like Foothill'spaying it forward to some
smaller breweries who are tryingto get off the ground too, and
that's always been the traditionFor the running.
(08:35):
Can you just what's the courselike?
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Okay, if you've never been to Winston-Salem, there
are hills, so we don't hide fromit.
Amy, you just accepted it, Iknow.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
We've had this discussion before.
I'm a Florida girl.
We're like I don't know 11 feetabove sea level, so we have to
train.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
The thing is, the hill for you is no different
than it is for the person besideyou, so you just got to get
over it.
You're at the finish.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Okay, so you have let me dial it back.
You have a 5K, which may not beas hilly as a half, because a
half is longer, right, yeah, yes, yeah, does the 5K follow the
same course as the half?
What is that all about?
It does Okay.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
The half is an out and back.
We start in downtownWinston-Salem and one of the
coolest parts is 4th Street.
Where Foothills is located isthe longest city block in
Winston.
So we close that block for theparty and then the run takes you
out and we go on some greenwaysand then you come back for the
party.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Oh, okay, okay, and so the start is where you end up
, and so you get to see whereyou're going to arrive, back at
the party to have the beer, allthe beer that Winston-Salem has
to offer, including foothills.
But so is there, and of coursethere's a challenge.
You can do what the 5k?
(10:07):
And then there's a what a fastone mile.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
There is.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yes, there is Okay so you can do both races.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
So for someone like you coming from out of town,
maybe you don't want, maybe youwant to get your bang for your
buck right, so you can do bothof them if you want and then for
a lot of people that are localto here we, the race is a part
of a race series, and so byparticipating in both, you can
(10:36):
get double the points and doublethe races oh, somebody who is
bling driven.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
I imagine there's a bonus medal involved in that too
, and there's a party andthere's a party.
Okay, so for those of us whomight be back of the Packers,
then the 5k and one milechallenge might be the way to go
, but the half has got like athree hour time limit.
Is that what I read on thewebsite?
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Yes, it's typically three to three and a half hours.
Yes, and we like our walkers,we like our fun runners.
Yay, always use the sidewalksas well.
The city of Winston is verystrict about keeping the roads
safe, but because so much of itis on a greenway and then you
(11:26):
can transition to the sidewalk,we're pretty flexible.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
That's good to know because back at the Packers they
look at that 13.1 miles andthinking, yeah, OK, I could
really earn the beer and earnthe party, but I don't know
about that time limit.
So that's good to know that.
It seems very reminiscent ofthe Jeff Galloway half marathon
that we used to do in Atlanta,where you can transition to the
sidewalks and it seems very runWalker friendly type of race
(11:54):
weekend.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
So we leave the start lineup and finish lineup as
well.
We can track who's still outthere and we always have the
sleeper behind and we're inconstant contact, so we make
sure that everybody still getsthe finished time and the same
quality experience.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
My back of the Packer heart is full now.
That is it.
That is it People RuncationNation.
You have to do it.
You have to do it when we comeinto.
Oh, look at the bling too.
We're very bling driven, isthis?
It's a bottle opener.
I was going to say it's abottle opener, not that you have
(12:31):
to use that at the after partyBill, I imagine.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
No, that's a save for later.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
That's a save for later.
And look at that.
That's great.
You got the hops on the metal.
Is that what I'm seeing Foranybody who's listening audio
wise?
But yeah, and we'll have thepicture of the metal in the
episode artwork.
So you get the metal.
You get some kind of afterparty which we need to know
about more, about Bill, and youget a I imagine there's a shirt
(13:01):
involved, so yeah which we'regoing to see.
Look at this.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Oh, this was last year's.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
And it looks like it's a maroon color background
within that metal.
Can you tease us, though, whatthe color might be, or you don't
know?
No, okay, all right, fine, youjust have to come do the race,
people.
You have to come RuncationNation.
You have to come do the race.
So we've seen the swag.
Can you talk about the afterparty Bill?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Yeah, I mean, that's what we're here for, right.
We've got music, we've got beer, we've got excitement, we've
got all sorts of stuff and Ithink that's a big piece.
So every runner that comes getsthey're run number, obviously,
and each on those they havelittle tickets and you can get a
pint of Foothills beer and apint of a beer from any of the
guest breweries that are there,and we usually have about a
(13:51):
dozen breweries in addition toFoothills.
So there's lots of beer, lotsof community.
Yeah, it's pretty fun, and then, if you feel like two is not
enough, you can get some moretickets and keep the party going
.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
So two are included in the race entry fee and then
you can go beyond that and Iimagine this long block that you
close off for the party is likea wet zone, if you will, so you
can walk around and there arebooths set up to indulge, since
our tagline is accomplish first,then explore and indulge in the
(14:22):
breweries.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Yes, yeah, that's exactly right, yep.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Okay, and I, of course.
I've seen on your websitethey're up to 12 breweries and
involved in that.
But now do we want to teaseanybody else aside from
Foothills?
That's coming or not yet?
Speaker 1 (14:39):
A lot of breweries in in the area that all have real
active run clubs and are part ofthe running community and so we
always have some perennialfavorites that are local, that
have really great run clubs.
So I think so far this year wehave Wise man Brewing and
Filling Fish and Four Saints outof Asheboro, North Carolina,
that are already signed up.
But the call just went out lastweek and so usually it takes a
(15:01):
little while for everybody toget signed up and everything.
I mean we usually have a prettygood cross section of a lot of
different breweries from allover the area and everybody
brings cool beers and a lot oftimes they'll bring their run
clubs and get all dressed up andeverybody has a really good
time.
It's just a great party.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Costumes are welcome on the run and in the after
party it sounds yes and Iimagine food will be available.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
We do have food, yep, and we had some food sponsors
last year, and then Foothillsprovides some food, and then
we're right in front of our puband restaurant in downtown
Winston too, and many folks willfinish up and go on into the
pub and have some lunch.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I have to say that some of the best half marathons
I've ever finished and gone toan after party.
There there was your team.
Bill sent a picture of a burgerand oh, mouthwatering burger
that I would just.
There's nothing like a beer anda burger after a run.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Yeah, if you need some motivation, that's a pretty
good motivator.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Oh, so in checking out and I will link to the menu
the brewery and it sounds likewe can just like.
The running and sampling ofsome quality craft beer seem to
always go hand in hand.
If we're coming you've talkedabout locals and things around
(16:23):
there If we're coming from outof town, which clearly if we're
coming from Florida, whatairport do we need to fly into?
Speaker 3 (16:35):
First of all, so I PTI, yeah, piedmont, triad
International.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
OK.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
It is the easiest airport you have ever gone to in
your entire life.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
We like that.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Parking is right there, Ubers are right there.
It's very close to Winston,High Point and Greensboro.
Okay so it's super easy Thenright on the block of where
Foothills is.
One of our sponsor hotels isMarriott and it's right next
door so you literally could rollout of bed to the start line.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Does that mean we can roll out of bed or like just
roll on over from the airport tothe expo?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
So we do two packet pickups, we do one.
We tend to steer away fromexpos.
We think a lot of people aregetting over.
That depends.
If you're new to thatexperience, maybe you enjoy it,
but a lot of people, everybody'strying to sell you something,
so you just blow by it unlessyou need it, like unless your
luggage has you've forgottensomething in your luggage, and
(17:39):
that kind of thing, right, yeahyou do two pickups.
One is that foothills tastingroom, so that is where they do
all their beer production andalso where Run Club takes place.
So you can pull up to PacketPickup and carb load with food
and beer.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Oh yes.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Three days prior, and then we do another pickup at
Fleet Feet so you can get gear,shoes, gels, whatever you need
feet, so you can get gear, shoes, gels, whatever you need.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
So you can have a tasting and get all your gear or
all your expo, your race pickup, your bib and that kind of
thing.
Or you can go to Fleet Feet ifyou've forgotten something, or
you need nutrition or anythinglike that.
That's perfect.
That's perfect, absolutelyperfect.
Same day packet pickup or no.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
We try to steer away from that.
Just for ease of execution.
We do allow it.
So if you're coming from out oftown and your flight gets in
late, yeah, but we really askpeople that are local to step up
their game.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Get it.
Get it so you can focus on theenjoyment of the event.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
And so I don't have to get there at four.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
I can get there at five.
Oh wait, okay, so all of theevents in this they take place
on Saturday of the race weekend.
And what did I?
It was April, april 5th, okay,and what time do all the events
start?
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Okay, so the late packet pickup and those things
start at 7.
The races start at 9.
Okay, and then the party andthe block is closed until noon.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Ah, so all of the races they start at 9.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
We do the 5K a little bit after the one mile after
that.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Okay, okay, yeah, but the longest one is yeah First
(19:49):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
But the longest one is yeah, and you could just roll
out of bed at the Marriott andjust saunter on down and cross
the start and get to the beer,and so the finish line is the
same as the start line.
Is there any finish linetradition or any new kind of
thing that happens that's comingup this year?
Mainly so, bill is always anadvocate for making sure we get
a beer in the hand of the firstplace finishers, which is hard
because they're fast.
Yes, that's so true, and we arelucky to have some really great
partners and sponsors, so weusually have some mascots from
some local groups, like theWinston-Salem Dash, and we also
(20:12):
have the Winston-Salem OpenSilly mascots are there.
They hide if the kids are afraid, aw.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Aw, okay, you try to get a beer in the hand of the
first place finishers Definitelythe mid and the backpackers are
coming up for that Bill.
What is this beer that weshould have from Foothills?
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Yeah, we usually do a specific beer, a craft half
beer, every year and you canonly get it at the craft half.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Yeah, oh, is that a canned version that we?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
might be able to take .
Speaker 2 (20:43):
It is.
It's a tall boy.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
It's a tall boy, right, that's a 19.2, so you get
a little bit extra.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Extra, Extra for the effort, especially if you do two
events right.
I'm thinking a 5k the one.
Yes, you got to do it, you gotto do it.
So what's your flagship beer,Bill.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Our flagship beer is Hoppy MIPA and it's been around
for a long time.
This coming year is a big yearfor Foothills in general.
It's our 20th anniversary ofbreweries, so we were one of the
first breweries inWinston-Salem and a very early
brewing company to start inNorth Carolina and now North
Carolina has got a ton ofbreweries, hundreds and hundreds
.
But yeah, it's nice to be oneof the OGs that's still around
(21:23):
and I think that's one of theimportant parts about doing this
race and having the communitybuilt and having the other
breweries around and it's just,we've been around a long time
and I think it's important tobuild that community.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
For sure, for sure.
So you are.
Are you at always?
Is it an IPA forward brewery?
Speaker 1 (21:42):
Yeah, we are.
Yeah, probably two thirds ofall the beer we make is some
form of an IPA, although we havea bunch of different other
beers that are super popular.
We make a big imperial stoutcalled sexual chocolate and then
a barrel aged version of thatalso.
It's really famous.
We have people that come andwait in line to get it every
year and it's a big party thatgoes around that I saw that in
(22:05):
the photos that you all sentover, I was like this is so
hysterical.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Maybe not the one that I'll start with at the
finish line, because it lookedlike it might be a little bit
higher in ABV than, say, some ofyour.
It's a lot higher in ABV.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
But if you're worried about muscle cramping, that's
the one to do.
That's a full body relaxer.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Oh, that's good to know.
Yes, yes, okay, okay, otherthan I don't want to talk about
are there other sites or placesto eat and drink around that
finish after the running.
The eating and the drinking isdone at the event proper.
(22:46):
If we're making it into a trueruncation and we relax in the
days after, are there places weshould go, things we should do?
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Yeah, so we're right downtown Winston-Salem.
So you know, obviously 4thStreet and Foothills has a
couple of locations on 4thStreet there, but we're right in
the central business district.
So there's tons of bars andrestaurants and lots of places
people can go, cool galleriesand shops and all sorts of stuff
.
That's all within walkingdistance because we're right in
the thick of it here inWinston-Salem.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Oh yes.
So is there anything else thatthe Runcation Nation needs to
know?
Let's see, we've talked aboutthe after party.
We've talked about how to getthere.
Should we Uber car rental?
What is your feeling about that, the two of you?
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Honestly, if you're coming from the airport Ubering,
especially if you stay at theMarriott and then after the race
, everything is right aroundFoothills.
Foothills really createddowntown.
It followed Downtown, followedFoothills yes, but if you did
get a car, obviously there's aton of parking right around
there and that would allow youto explore a little wider
(23:53):
outside of the downtown.
It would really be up to you.
If you're going to imbibe onthe cocktails, I would say just
Uber.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Everything's super close, that's good to know, yeah
, that Uber and Lyft are readilyavailable around there, readily
available around there.
And the way that you say that,the way that you say that
Foothills created that downtown,it is very, it's very
reminiscent of here in CapeCoral.
I have to shout out Nice GuysPizza.
(24:20):
They are, if you ever come tothe Cape Coral area either one
of you.
You should go there becausethey created our downtown
afterlife and everything builtup around them they have now.
They wouldn't be competitors.
They would bring in your beerbill.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
If you, just if you distribute it if you distribute
it, and they have.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
They love to make the craft cocktail game really
strong, but they are downtown,built up around them.
Which beer in your stableshould they bring to Nice?
Guys Pizza?
If they, if you do distributeand do you distribute?
Speaker 1 (24:54):
You know we actually don't distribute to Florida.
We're really only in North andSouth Carolina, unfortunately,
but yeah we just got to go tothe.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah, say that again, nikki.
I'm so sorry you got a packetSuitcase.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Yes, this is why I, nikki, I'm so sorry you got to
pack it.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
You need to get your suitcase.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Yes, this is why I need an extra suitcase.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Yes, okay, but or to drive, you could actually drive
and then yeah, and then you loadup the trunk, you got
everything, and take cans, andtake cans, yes.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Yes, so we've talked about transportation, we've
talked about where to stay thatMarriott that's right next to
everything about the raceweekend.
Are there any other tips ortricks that you feel would be
good for the Runcation Nation toknow when traveling to this
event?
Speaker 3 (25:44):
recommend going to look at visit winston-salem the
website and just seeing what isaround, because there really is
so much there to do and muchlike anything.
If you just show up, you don'treally know.
So you can get your full fillwith the race and you can get
your every meal brunch,breakfast, lunch, beverages at
(26:04):
foothills but you can alsoexplore around.
There's a local it's called OldSalem, like a Moravian
community, that you could govisit.
There's a lot of colleges thatare in the area, so Wake Forest
is right there.
Yes, there's Rinalda Villageand the Rinalda House that you
can go tour.
(26:25):
So there's a lot of history,there's a lot of great food,
there's a lot of great drinks.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
It sounds like the perfect runcation destination.
So I think that we have theentry for the, for the half was
about that, but there are eventsthat are less if you're looking
(26:54):
at budgeting the race entriesor you want to do the multiples
right.
So, yeah, so I think there'ssomething for everybody there.
Do you both run?
I'm not a runner.
unfortunately, you run, you runand you're not a runner.
(27:15):
Okay, so here's the question.
Here is the post-interviewquestion I have.
We've talked about the event.
Here's what I want to know.
So if you were to run any race,nikki, if you were to have any,
to sit down with anyone over aa foothills beer let's just say
it like that who would it be andwhy?
(27:36):
So who would you run that racewith?
Who would you drink that beerwith?
Is what I want to know.
I want to tailor it to what youdo.
If you're not a runner, thenyou know who would be the
companion to sit down and have abeer to celebrate that 20th
anniversary of the brewery.
And then, who would you runwith?
(27:57):
Now, who knows their answerright off.
I don't.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
I want to give you, you're thinking, you're thinking
.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
It's.
Let's play the Jeopardy theme.
Yeah, yeah, if I had it on theboard I would play it.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
I know for sure.
I have a group of friends andwe call ourselves the Golden
Girls and they are my ride ordie.
Two of them I work with, one ofthem is just a friend and our
favorite thing to do.
So obviously I'm out of a lot,out of a lot of races, but when
I'm not working them, we like totravel and run them together,
(28:30):
and they would be.
So there's four of us.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Yes, do you want to shout them out on the show, is
it yeah?
Speaker 3 (28:38):
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
It's like how I feel about Dana having, even though
he's injured right now.
To have him at the finish wouldnormally have him on the race
course would be great, but ashe's healing, to have him at the
finish, waiting with theFoothills beer would be just a
plus.
Yes, bill, who might you sitdown with over a beer?
Speaker 1 (29:04):
So I'm going to take a different way with this
because I don't think I couldlimit to one single person.
So I mean the whole reason Iwant to be in the beer business
and the thing that I think isthe coolest about the beer
business is like beer is one ofthose things that like brings
everybody together.
That's the whole point of it.
And it's supposed to be one ofthose things that kind of
(29:25):
enhances your time and makesthose connections stronger.
And so doing a thing like goingto the craft half and I say this
every year- it's a lot of workto put it together and there's a
lot of kind of stress leadingup to it and in the morning, in
the dark, when you're setting upeverything and you're just like
, oh gosh, why are we doing this?
And then you get there andthere's just thousands of people
(29:47):
crowding on the roads, allsmiling and happy in the
sunshine, holding beers.
It's like the best feeling everbecause you feel like it's a
job well done and you're doingthe thing that we, as brewers,
set out to do, and it's justlike we're providing fun.
We're providing this free workfor people to come together and
have a good time and make theirmemories, and that's the thing
(30:10):
that I love about all of this.
And if I had to stop in, whenthe dust settles after the race
and you can stand in the roadand everything's shut down and
you're still drinking a beerwith everybody around you
smiling and laughing and havinga great time like that, that
that's the best part about itand I think it's so satisfying,
so rewarding.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Oh yeah, I'm pretty sure that Bill just picked me,
yeah, and I think it's sosatisfying, so rewarding.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Oh yes, I'm pretty sure that Bill just picked me.
Yes, and Nikki, I think.
After the race ended last yearwe did have a beer.
We were standing in the road aseverything was being broken
down, having a beer juststanding in the street.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
It would be great to see your faces after a
successful what?
Ninth year of the craft half.
It would be great to capturethat picture, like the sun's
going down and you're takingeverything down and you're just
toasting in the perfect sunlightat sundown for an amazing event
(31:03):
that everybody must see.
Really, really, what you havedescribed is the perfect
runcation and I hope that peoplewill bid on this item, or just
how many people normally come tothis event.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
So every year it sells out, and every year we
increase the number ofregistrations.
So eventually we'll hit a capthat we can't change.
But a lot of times we set thecap based on volume in terms of
communications with foothills toproduce the beer to have the
staff.
We serve everybody food.
We have to order the medals.
(31:41):
You have to order the shirts.
So last year we were over 1500.
This year we'll increase itagain and but it's still.
We have people raise day.
Why can't I sign up?
And it's ahead of time?
Come on, you can do it.
So typically there's for everyrunner there's usually at least
(32:01):
one guest, yes, and then theblock party is open to the
public.
So all the funds raised fromselling beer tickets goes to
charity.
Um, and a big shout out tofoothills because they um bring
the bulk of the beer.
All the runners get one beerticket from them and then they
(32:22):
get one from one of the guests,and so they really have to step
up their game and provide a lotof beer, a lot of food, a lot of
staff, a lot of energy.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Yes, you said that it goes to charity.
What have you selected?
The charity at this time?
Speaker 3 (32:38):
Yes, we have two charities that we work with.
One is Twin City Track Club, soit's a nonprofit locally and
they do a lot for the runningcommunity.
And then the other has to dowith clean water, because the
number one ingredient in beer iswater, so you have to have
clean water.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
Yeah, wonderful, I didn't even know it was because
we love to run for charity.
Clearly, we are running thisyear for both the Donna
Foundation and for MoffittCancer Center, as Dana's mother
went through, was diagnosed withit and passed away in 2016.
(33:13):
And my dad is currentlyundergoing chemo for
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
So to know that you supportcommunity organizations and it's
just awesome.
Another reason why people inthe Runcation Nation runners,
run, walkers wherever you areshould consider coming to this.
(33:36):
And you have time to plan.
It's December people, my runnerfriends, you have four months to
train for those hills.
You have four months to have arace plan.
You have an affordable raceregistration.
You have a wonderful afterparty and a medal that can
(33:57):
double as an opener a bottleopener for later.
Come on, it's awesome thatmembers of the Runcation Nation
will join us, either by biddingon the race entry linktreecom
slash runeatdrinkpodcast that'swhere you can see all the items
(34:18):
up for bid or, if you miss itand someone outbids you, then
you can go to crafthalfcom fordetails on the race weekend and
to register, and we'll havelinks to both the brewery and
the crafthalfcom, as well asanything that we've talked about
(34:38):
in today's show.
Nikki and Bill, I cannot thankyou enough for coming on the
show and showcasing runcationfor us, and we cannot wait to
accomplish, explore and indulgewith you in April of 2025.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
Thanks for having us.
We'll be glad to see everybodyout there.
I can't wait for it.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
Cheers.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
Cheers to you.
Hi everyone, it's Mevka Flesgahi, the Boston
Marathon, New York City Marathonchampion and Olympic silver
medalist and you are listeningto the Run Eat Drink podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to the Run Eat Drink podcast.
We feature destination racesfrom across the country and
after the race, we take you on atour of the best local food and
beverage to celebrate.
So, whether you are an eliterunner or a back of the packer
like us, you'll know the bestplaces to accomplish, explore
and indulge on your nextruncation.
(00:35):
Hey, welcome to episode 300.
It's finally here.
We made it.
It's episode 300 and we can'tthank all of you enough
Runcation Nation for yoursupport, for listening to this
(00:57):
podcast for 300 plus episodes.
We have little ones in the feedthat are quick bites and little
messages from hurricanes andwhatnot, and we just don't know
how to thank you enough forhelping us build a wonderful
community and for coming alongon this crazy ride for the last
(01:18):
300 episodes.
This episode is going to featureone of our auction items from
this auction that we have goingon online for Moffitt Cancer
Center, which ends tonight.
We are supporting MoffittCancer Center and all the way up
through tonight they will match, match.
(01:47):
It's a two times match forMoffitt Cancer Center and, as
most of my father has receivedlife-changing and life-saving
treatments from Moffitt CancerCenter and we're so grateful to
them.
One of the auction itemshappens to be a race entry, so
if we have any 50 staters tryingto get a half marathon in there
, we have Nikki Popovich on ourshow and also a very special
(02:12):
guest from a brewery on thisepisode to give us a little bit
of a chat about entry to thecraft half in Winston-Salem,
north Carolina.
Without further ado, we aregoing to celebrate this New
Year's Eve episode with a lovelychat from amazing people.
(02:35):
Here's Nikki and a very specialguest and we hope you enjoy,
have a happy new year and youall can still bid on items up
through tonight and we hope thatyou do.
And thanks for 300 amazingepisodes.
Runcation Nation Enjoy Happy newyear.
(02:57):
It's the Run Eat Drink podcastand this week we are
highlighting what I think is theperfect event for us, and today
joining me we have Nikki andBill.
Nikki Popovich, your branddevelopment for Junction 311,
endurance Events, and peoplewill know your face from
(03:19):
previous episodes and when youhear her voice, you will hear
her and recall her from BigBeach Marathon weekend and
talking about what we can't waitto do in January of 2025.
But today we have a brand newguest joining her Bill Manley,
who's Director of Sales andMarketing for Foothills Brewing.
You all welcome and goodmorning on this fine Sunday
(03:41):
morning.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
We're so excited.
Good morning, Nikki.
And so thank you for coming onback and thank you for bringing
Bill with you.
I really appreciate you allcoordinating this, the craft
half.
When you sent me a messageabout that and you were willing
to donate a free race entry tothat weekend and I got to look
(04:04):
in on the website and seeing theconnection between foothills
and everything in that raceweekend, I can't.
I was like we are, we run andthen we eat and drink to
celebrate our accomplishments.
You know, sometimes it's coffee, like this morning, Sometimes
it's delicious craft beer.
(04:25):
Bill, are you having coffeeright there?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
This is beer.
No, it's actually coffee.
It's still a little too early.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
I almost spit out my coffee.
It's too early, are you sure?
I mean because Well.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
I mean it's never too early, but I stayed up late,
too late last night gettingChristmas stuff together.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
And so today it's too early.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Of course you know craft half day.
You know start drinking earlyand often.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, because you have to replenish the calories
that you run right.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
In a premier event.
Now, nikki, can you?
Just the last time you werehere, we introduced you and we
haven't introduced Bill yet.
Here, we introduced you and wehaven't introduced Bill yet.
So let me just dial it back anotch, because I'm so excited to
get to the running, the eatingand the drinking and the
destination that you have.
Nikki, who are you?
Speaker 3 (05:13):
My name is Nikki Popovich.
I actually enjoy running, Ienjoy drinking beer, I enjoy
drinking coffee as well, but myprimary job, other than
caretaker and mother with myfamily, is marketing and brand
development for Junction 311Endurance Sports.
And I'm very happy to bejoining you, and last time we
(05:35):
were together we talked aboutBig Beach.
Yes, and this time it is anhonor to talk about Kraft Half.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
I am so excited when you said that to me.
Yes, it's perfect, bill,introduce yourself to the Run
Case and Nation.
If you would Tell us who youare, and we already know you're
drinking coffee, but Sure yeah,I'm Bill Manley.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I'm the Director of Sales and Marketing at Foothills
Brewing in Winston-Salem and,along with Junction 311, we're
the sponsors of the Kraft Half.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Speaking of the craft half.
So your brewery is inWinston-Salem, that's North
Carolina.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
And can you start off by telling us, like how long
has this event been in existence?
What's the history behind it?
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Yeah, that's a good question.
Actually, I'm not sure when thefirst craft half was.
I've been with Foothills abouttwo and a half years.
Okay, I don't think I was onthe job more than two weeks when
I first met Nikki to say we gotto talk about the craft half
and I was like what's the crafthalf?
And so learning by doing it.
What's it been, nikki?
It's seven years 2016.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
2016?
Yeah, eight years.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Eight years, 2016?
.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Yeah, eight years, yeah, eight years.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
So you're coming up on a big one Like 10, right, so
it'll be nine in 2025.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Yeah, math, I can't do math.
That math is my sister'sexpertise and specialty, my
older sister, she and I don'tknow what happened.
I'm the young one, I lost allthe math.
But it's going to be in Aprilof 2025.
And you said so.
It's eight years.
And, nikki, can you talk alittle bit about the history of
(07:10):
the event?
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Well, one of the most special parts of it and it's
actually an honor that peopledon't think it's our race they
think it's Foothills, and so thebiggest pride piece is that
we're okay with that and we wantto continue to do an amazing
(07:32):
job because we don't want todisrespect anything that they
are about.
So foothills is a staple inwins in salem and in the beer
community, the beer world, andpart of the history of the race
and inviting the other breweriesis that they wanted to give
people that were smaller theopportunity to showcase
themselves.
So it was a platform to allowparticipants and spectators to
(07:54):
meet smaller breweries and tosample who and what they are.
So our job is just to do what wedo and produce the race and
foothills is the one that bringsthe fun and showcases everyone
else, of course, bringing thefun.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
okay, the running is the first of the fun and then
you get to the beverage laterwith the medal and the
celebration and you get to beintroduced to other breweries.
So it sounds like Foothill'spaying it forward to some
smaller breweries who are tryingto get off the ground too, and
that's always been the traditionFor the running.
(08:35):
Can you just what's the courselike?
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Okay, if you've never been to Winston-Salem, there
are hills, so we don't hide fromit.
Amy, you just accepted it, Iknow.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
We've had this discussion before.
I'm a Florida girl.
We're like I don't know 11 feetabove sea level, so we have to
train.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
The thing is, the hill for you is no different
than it is for the person besideyou, so you just got to get
over it.
You're at the finish.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Okay, so you have let me dial it back.
You have a 5K, which may not beas hilly as a half, because a
half is longer, right, yeah, yes, yeah, does the 5K follow the
same course as the half?
What is that all about?
It does Okay.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
The half is an out and back.
We start in downtownWinston-Salem and one of the
coolest parts is 4th Street.
Where Foothills is located isthe longest city block in
Winston.
So we close that block for theparty and then the run takes you
out and we go on some greenwaysand then you come back for the
party.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Oh, okay, okay, and so the start is where you end up
, and so you get to see whereyou're going to arrive, back at
the party to have the beer, allthe beer that Winston-Salem has
to offer, including foothills.
But so is there, and of coursethere's a challenge.
You can do what the 5k?
(10:07):
And then there's a what a fastone mile.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
There is.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yes, there is Okay so you can do both races.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
So for someone like you coming from out of town,
maybe you don't want, maybe youwant to get your bang for your
buck right, so you can do bothof them if you want and then for
a lot of people that are localto here we, the race is a part
of a race series, and so byparticipating in both, you can
(10:36):
get double the points and doublethe races oh, somebody who is
bling driven.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
I imagine there's a bonus medal involved in that too
, and there's a party andthere's a party.
Okay, so for those of us whomight be back of the Packers,
then the 5k and one milechallenge might be the way to go
, but the half has got like athree hour time limit.
Is that what I read on thewebsite?
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Yes, it's typically three to three and a half hours.
Yes, and we like our walkers,we like our fun runners.
Yay, always use the sidewalksas well.
The city of Winston is verystrict about keeping the roads
safe, but because so much of itis on a greenway and then you
(11:26):
can transition to the sidewalk,we're pretty flexible.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
That's good to know because back at the Packers they
look at that 13.1 miles andthinking, yeah, OK, I could
really earn the beer and earnthe party, but I don't know
about that time limit.
So that's good to know that.
It seems very reminiscent ofthe Jeff Galloway half marathon
that we used to do in Atlanta,where you can transition to the
sidewalks and it seems very runWalker friendly type of race
(11:54):
weekend.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
So we leave the start lineup and finish lineup as
well.
We can track who's still outthere and we always have the
sleeper behind and we're inconstant contact, so we make
sure that everybody still getsthe finished time and the same
quality experience.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
My back of the Packer heart is full now.
That is it.
That is it People RuncationNation.
You have to do it.
You have to do it when we comeinto.
Oh, look at the bling too.
We're very bling driven, isthis?
It's a bottle opener.
I was going to say it's abottle opener, not that you have
(12:31):
to use that at the after partyBill, I imagine.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
No, that's a save for later.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
That's a save for later.
And look at that.
That's great.
You got the hops on the metal.
Is that what I'm seeing Foranybody who's listening audio
wise?
But yeah, and we'll have thepicture of the metal in the
episode artwork.
So you get the metal.
You get some kind of afterparty which we need to know
about more, about Bill, and youget a I imagine there's a shirt
(13:01):
involved, so yeah which we'regoing to see.
Look at this.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Oh, this was last year's.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
And it looks like it's a maroon color background
within that metal.
Can you tease us, though, whatthe color might be, or you don't
know?
No, okay, all right, fine, youjust have to come do the race,
people.
You have to come RuncationNation.
You have to come do the race.
So we've seen the swag.
Can you talk about the afterparty Bill?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Yeah, I mean, that's what we're here for, right.
We've got music, we've got beer, we've got excitement, we've
got all sorts of stuff and Ithink that's a big piece.
So every runner that comes getsthey're run number, obviously,
and each on those they havelittle tickets and you can get a
pint of Foothills beer and apint of a beer from any of the
guest breweries that are there,and we usually have about a
(13:51):
dozen breweries in addition toFoothills.
So there's lots of beer, lotsof community.
Yeah, it's pretty fun, and then, if you feel like two is not
enough, you can get some moretickets and keep the party going
.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
So two are included in the race entry fee and then
you can go beyond that and Iimagine this long block that you
close off for the party is likea wet zone, if you will, so you
can walk around and there arebooths set up to indulge, since
our tagline is accomplish first,then explore and indulge in the
(14:22):
breweries.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Yes, yeah, that's exactly right, yep.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Okay, and I, of course.
I've seen on your websitethey're up to 12 breweries and
involved in that.
But now do we want to teaseanybody else aside from
Foothills?
That's coming or not yet?
Speaker 1 (14:39):
A lot of breweries in in the area that all have real
active run clubs and are part ofthe running community and so we
always have some perennialfavorites that are local, that
have really great run clubs.
So I think so far this year wehave Wise man Brewing and
Filling Fish and Four Saints outof Asheboro, North Carolina,
that are already signed up.
But the call just went out lastweek and so usually it takes a
(15:01):
little while for everybody toget signed up and everything.
I mean we usually have a prettygood cross section of a lot of
different breweries from allover the area and everybody
brings cool beers and a lot oftimes they'll bring their run
clubs and get all dressed up andeverybody has a really good
time.
It's just a great party.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Costumes are welcome on the run and in the after
party it sounds yes and Iimagine food will be available.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
We do have food, yep, and we had some food sponsors
last year, and then Foothillsprovides some food, and then
we're right in front of our puband restaurant in downtown
Winston too, and many folks willfinish up and go on into the
pub and have some lunch.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I have to say that some of the best half marathons
I've ever finished and gone toan after party.
There there was your team.
Bill sent a picture of a burgerand oh, mouthwatering burger
that I would just.
There's nothing like a beer anda burger after a run.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
Yeah, if you need some motivation, that's a pretty
good motivator.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Oh, so in checking out and I will link to the menu
the brewery and it sounds likewe can just like.
The running and sampling ofsome quality craft beer seem to
always go hand in hand.
If we're coming you've talkedabout locals and things around
(16:23):
there If we're coming from outof town, which clearly if we're
coming from Florida, whatairport do we need to fly into?
Speaker 3 (16:35):
First of all, so I PTI, yeah, piedmont, triad
International.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
OK.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
It is the easiest airport you have ever gone to in
your entire life.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
We like that.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Parking is right there, Ubers are right there.
It's very close to Winston,High Point and Greensboro.
Okay so it's super easy Thenright on the block of where
Foothills is.
One of our sponsor hotels isMarriott and it's right next
door so you literally could rollout of bed to the start line.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Does that mean we can roll out of bed or like just
roll on over from the airport tothe expo?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
So we do two packet pickups, we do one.
We tend to steer away fromexpos.
We think a lot of people aregetting over.
That depends.
If you're new to thatexperience, maybe you enjoy it,
but a lot of people, everybody'strying to sell you something,
so you just blow by it unlessyou need it, like unless your
luggage has you've forgottensomething in your luggage, and
(17:39):
that kind of thing, right, yeahyou do two pickups.
One is that foothills tastingroom, so that is where they do
all their beer production andalso where Run Club takes place.
So you can pull up to PacketPickup and carb load with food
and beer.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Oh yes.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Three days prior, and then we do another pickup at
Fleet Feet so you can get gear,shoes, gels, whatever you need
feet, so you can get gear, shoes, gels, whatever you need.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
So you can have a tasting and get all your gear or
all your expo, your race pickup, your bib and that kind of
thing.
Or you can go to Fleet Feet ifyou've forgotten something, or
you need nutrition or anythinglike that.
That's perfect.
That's perfect, absolutelyperfect.
Same day packet pickup or no.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
We try to steer away from that.
Just for ease of execution.
We do allow it.
So if you're coming from out oftown and your flight gets in
late, yeah, but we really askpeople that are local to step up
their game.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Get it.
Get it so you can focus on theenjoyment of the event.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
And so I don't have to get there at four.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
I can get there at five.
Oh wait, okay, so all of theevents in this they take place
on Saturday of the race weekend.
And what did I?
It was April, april 5th, okay,and what time do all the events
start?
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Okay, so the late packet pickup and those things
start at 7.
The races start at 9.
Okay, and then the party andthe block is closed until noon.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Ah, so all of the races they start at 9.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
We do the 5K a little bit after the one mile after
that.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Okay, okay, yeah, but the longest one is yeah First
(19:49):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
But the longest one is yeah, and you could just roll
out of bed at the Marriott andjust saunter on down and cross
the start and get to the beer,and so the finish line is the
same as the start line.
Is there any finish linetradition or any new kind of
thing that happens that's comingup this year?
Mainly so, bill is always anadvocate for making sure we get
a beer in the hand of the firstplace finishers, which is hard
because they're fast.
Yes, that's so true, and we arelucky to have some really great
partners and sponsors, so weusually have some mascots from
some local groups, like theWinston-Salem Dash, and we also
(20:12):
have the Winston-Salem OpenSilly mascots are there.
They hide if the kids are afraid, aw.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Aw, okay, you try to get a beer in the hand of the
first place finishers Definitelythe mid and the backpackers are
coming up for that Bill.
What is this beer that weshould have from Foothills?
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Yeah, we usually do a specific beer, a craft half
beer, every year and you canonly get it at the craft half.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Yeah, oh, is that a canned version that we?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
might be able to take .
Speaker 2 (20:43):
It is.
It's a tall boy.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
It's a tall boy, right, that's a 19.2, so you get
a little bit extra.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Extra, Extra for the effort, especially if you do two
events right.
I'm thinking a 5k the one.
Yes, you got to do it, you gotto do it.
So what's your flagship beer,Bill.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Our flagship beer is Hoppy MIPA and it's been around
for a long time.
This coming year is a big yearfor Foothills in general.
It's our 20th anniversary ofbreweries, so we were one of the
first breweries inWinston-Salem and a very early
brewing company to start inNorth Carolina and now North
Carolina has got a ton ofbreweries, hundreds and hundreds
.
But yeah, it's nice to be oneof the OGs that's still around
(21:23):
and I think that's one of theimportant parts about doing this
race and having the communitybuilt and having the other
breweries around and it's just,we've been around a long time
and I think it's important tobuild that community.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
For sure, for sure.
So you are.
Are you at always?
Is it an IPA forward brewery?
Speaker 1 (21:42):
Yeah, we are.
Yeah, probably two thirds ofall the beer we make is some
form of an IPA, although we havea bunch of different other
beers that are super popular.
We make a big imperial stoutcalled sexual chocolate and then
a barrel aged version of thatalso.
It's really famous.
We have people that come andwait in line to get it every
year and it's a big party thatgoes around that I saw that in
(22:05):
the photos that you all sentover, I was like this is so
hysterical.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Maybe not the one that I'll start with at the
finish line, because it lookedlike it might be a little bit
higher in ABV than, say, some ofyour.
It's a lot higher in ABV.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
But if you're worried about muscle cramping, that's
the one to do.
That's a full body relaxer.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Oh, that's good to know.
Yes, yes, okay, okay, otherthan I don't want to talk about
are there other sites or placesto eat and drink around that
finish after the running.
The eating and the drinking isdone at the event proper.
(22:46):
If we're making it into a trueruncation and we relax in the
days after, are there places weshould go, things we should do?
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Yeah, so we're right downtown Winston-Salem.
So you know, obviously 4thStreet and Foothills has a
couple of locations on 4thStreet there, but we're right in
the central business district.
So there's tons of bars andrestaurants and lots of places
people can go, cool galleriesand shops and all sorts of stuff
.
That's all within walkingdistance because we're right in
the thick of it here inWinston-Salem.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Oh yes.
So is there anything else thatthe Runcation Nation needs to
know?
Let's see, we've talked aboutthe after party.
We've talked about how to getthere.
Should we Uber car rental?
What is your feeling about that, the two of you?
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Honestly, if you're coming from the airport Ubering,
especially if you stay at theMarriott and then after the race
, everything is right aroundFoothills.
Foothills really createddowntown.
It followed Downtown, followedFoothills yes, but if you did
get a car, obviously there's aton of parking right around
there and that would allow youto explore a little wider
(23:53):
outside of the downtown.
It would really be up to you.
If you're going to imbibe onthe cocktails, I would say just
Uber.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Everything's super close, that's good to know, yeah
, that Uber and Lyft are readilyavailable around there, readily
available around there.
And the way that you say that,the way that you say that
Foothills created that downtown,it is very, it's very
reminiscent of here in CapeCoral.
I have to shout out Nice GuysPizza.
(24:20):
They are, if you ever come tothe Cape Coral area either one
of you.
You should go there becausethey created our downtown
afterlife and everything builtup around them they have now.
They wouldn't be competitors.
They would bring in your beerbill.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
If you, just if you distribute it if you distribute
it, and they have.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
They love to make the craft cocktail game really
strong, but they are downtown,built up around them.
Which beer in your stableshould they bring to Nice?
Guys Pizza?
If they, if you do distributeand do you distribute?
Speaker 1 (24:54):
You know we actually don't distribute to Florida.
We're really only in North andSouth Carolina, unfortunately,
but yeah we just got to go tothe.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah, say that again, nikki.
I'm so sorry you got a packetSuitcase.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Yes, this is why I, nikki, I'm so sorry you got to
pack it.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
You need to get your suitcase.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Yes, this is why I need an extra suitcase.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Yes, okay, but or to drive, you could actually drive
and then yeah, and then you loadup the trunk, you got
everything, and take cans, andtake cans, yes.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Yes, so we've talked about transportation, we've
talked about where to stay thatMarriott that's right next to
everything about the raceweekend.
Are there any other tips ortricks that you feel would be
good for the Runcation Nation toknow when traveling to this
event?
Speaker 3 (25:44):
recommend going to look at visit winston-salem the
website and just seeing what isaround, because there really is
so much there to do and muchlike anything.
If you just show up, you don'treally know.
So you can get your full fillwith the race and you can get
your every meal brunch,breakfast, lunch, beverages at
(26:04):
foothills but you can alsoexplore around.
There's a local it's called OldSalem, like a Moravian
community, that you could govisit.
There's a lot of colleges thatare in the area, so Wake Forest
is right there.
Yes, there's Rinalda Villageand the Rinalda House that you
can go tour.
(26:25):
So there's a lot of history,there's a lot of great food,
there's a lot of great drinks.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
It sounds like the perfect runcation destination.
So I think that we have theentry for the, for the half was
about that, but there are eventsthat are less if you're looking
(26:54):
at budgeting the race entriesor you want to do the multiples
right.
So, yeah, so I think there'ssomething for everybody there.
Do you both run?
I'm not a runner.
unfortunately, you run, you runand you're not a runner.
(27:15):
Okay, so here's the question.
Here is the post-interviewquestion I have.
We've talked about the event.
Here's what I want to know.
So if you were to run any race,nikki, if you were to have any,
to sit down with anyone over aa foothills beer let's just say
it like that who would it be andwhy?
(27:36):
So who would you run that racewith?
Who would you drink that beerwith?
Is what I want to know.
I want to tailor it to what youdo.
If you're not a runner, thenyou know who would be the
companion to sit down and have abeer to celebrate that 20th
anniversary of the brewery.
And then, who would you runwith?
(27:57):
Now, who knows their answerright off.
I don't.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
I want to give you, you're thinking, you're thinking
.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
It's.
Let's play the Jeopardy theme.
Yeah, yeah, if I had it on theboard I would play it.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
I know for sure.
I have a group of friends andwe call ourselves the Golden
Girls and they are my ride ordie.
Two of them I work with, one ofthem is just a friend and our
favorite thing to do.
So obviously I'm out of a lot,out of a lot of races, but when
I'm not working them, we like totravel and run them together,
(28:30):
and they would be.
So there's four of us.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
Yes, do you want to shout them out on the show, is
it yeah?
Speaker 3 (28:38):
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
It's like how I feel about Dana having, even though
he's injured right now.
To have him at the finish wouldnormally have him on the race
course would be great, but ashe's healing, to have him at the
finish, waiting with theFoothills beer would be just a
plus.
Yes, bill, who might you sitdown with over a beer?
Speaker 1 (29:04):
So I'm going to take a different way with this
because I don't think I couldlimit to one single person.
So I mean the whole reason Iwant to be in the beer business
and the thing that I think isthe coolest about the beer
business is like beer is one ofthose things that like brings
everybody together.
That's the whole point of it.
And it's supposed to be one ofthose things that kind of
(29:25):
enhances your time and makesthose connections stronger.
And so doing a thing like goingto the craft half and I say this
every year- it's a lot of workto put it together and there's a
lot of kind of stress leadingup to it and in the morning, in
the dark, when you're setting upeverything and you're just like
, oh gosh, why are we doing this?
And then you get there andthere's just thousands of people
(29:47):
crowding on the roads, allsmiling and happy in the
sunshine, holding beers.
It's like the best feeling everbecause you feel like it's a
job well done and you're doingthe thing that we, as brewers,
set out to do, and it's justlike we're providing fun.
We're providing this free workfor people to come together and
have a good time and make theirmemories, and that's the thing
(30:10):
that I love about all of this.
And if I had to stop in, whenthe dust settles after the race
and you can stand in the roadand everything's shut down and
you're still drinking a beerwith everybody around you
smiling and laughing and havinga great time like that, that
that's the best part about itand I think it's so satisfying,
so rewarding.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Oh yeah, I'm pretty sure that Bill just picked me,
yeah, and I think it's sosatisfying, so rewarding.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Oh yes, I'm pretty sure that Bill just picked me.
Yes, and Nikki, I think.
After the race ended last yearwe did have a beer.
We were standing in the road aseverything was being broken
down, having a beer juststanding in the street.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
It would be great to see your faces after a
successful what?
Ninth year of the craft half.
It would be great to capturethat picture, like the sun's
going down and you're takingeverything down and you're just
toasting in the perfect sunlightat sundown for an amazing event
(31:03):
that everybody must see.
Really, really, what you havedescribed is the perfect
runcation and I hope that peoplewill bid on this item, or just
how many people normally come tothis event.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
So every year it sells out, and every year we
increase the number ofregistrations.
So eventually we'll hit a capthat we can't change.
But a lot of times we set thecap based on volume in terms of
communications with foothills toproduce the beer to have the
staff.
We serve everybody food.
We have to order the medals.
(31:41):
You have to order the shirts.
So last year we were over 1500.
This year we'll increase itagain and but it's still.
We have people raise day.
Why can't I sign up?
And it's ahead of time?
Come on, you can do it.
So typically there's for everyrunner there's usually at least
(32:01):
one guest, yes, and then theblock party is open to the
public.
So all the funds raised fromselling beer tickets goes to
charity.
Um, and a big shout out tofoothills because they um bring
the bulk of the beer.
All the runners get one beerticket from them and then they
(32:22):
get one from one of the guests,and so they really have to step
up their game and provide a lotof beer, a lot of food, a lot of
staff, a lot of energy.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
Yes, you said that it goes to charity.
What have you selected?
The charity at this time?
Speaker 3 (32:38):
Yes, we have two charities that we work with.
One is Twin City Track Club, soit's a nonprofit locally and
they do a lot for the runningcommunity.
And then the other has to dowith clean water, because the
number one ingredient in beer iswater, so you have to have
clean water.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
Yeah, wonderful, I didn't even know it was because
we love to run for charity.
Clearly, we are running thisyear for both the Donna
Foundation and for MoffittCancer Center, as Dana's mother
went through, was diagnosed withit and passed away in 2016.
(33:13):
And my dad is currentlyundergoing chemo for
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
So to know that you supportcommunity organizations and it's
just awesome.
Another reason why people inthe Runcation Nation runners,
run, walkers wherever you areshould consider coming to this.
(33:36):
And you have time to plan.
It's December people, my runnerfriends, you have four months to
train for those hills.
You have four months to have arace plan.
You have an affordable raceregistration.
You have a wonderful afterparty and a medal that can
(33:57):
double as an opener a bottleopener for later.
Come on, it's awesome thatmembers of the Runcation Nation
will join us, either by biddingon the race entry linktreecom
slash runeatdrinkpodcast that'swhere you can see all the items
(34:18):
up for bid or, if you miss itand someone outbids you, then
you can go to crafthalfcom fordetails on the race weekend and
to register, and we'll havelinks to both the brewery and
the crafthalfcom, as well asanything that we've talked about
(34:38):
in today's show.
Nikki and Bill, I cannot thankyou enough for coming on the
show and showcasing runcationfor us, and we cannot wait to
accomplish, explore and indulgewith you in April of 2025.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
Thanks for having us.
We'll be glad to see everybodyout there.
I can't wait for it.
Speaker 2 (35:04):
Cheers.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
Cheers to you.
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