Real Drinking Games
Cinco De Mayo kicked off the summer drinking season and now we've got Memorial Day and the Fourth of July just around the corner. What better way to relieve the summer heat than with a nice cold brew? Suds are once again pouring in the Dodger Stadium bleachers. Weekend warriors are preparing their roadtrips to Bay to Breakers, where sobriety is as optional as the clothing. Yes sports fans, it's time to get your drink on. But what about participants?
Los Angeles may have more recreational athletes than any other city in America. We get up before the sun to kayak, trail run, SCUBA, and of course do more traditional things like golf, shoot hoops, or play organized soccer. With such an active lifestyle, happy hour and all-night binges often don't fit into the schedule. The only way to party is to party on the run ... literally. Groups like the Hash House Harriers bring a healthy thirst to their weekly workouts that can only be quenched by their favorite golden brew. Volleyball tournaments like Lushness kick off by downing a few beers. But the pinnacle of athletic drinking events? The Hermosa Ironman finishes with a six-pack chug after a mile each of running and paddling a surf board.
With plenty of debauchery on the horizon, LAist can't stress enough that sports, booze, and the California sun can be a dangerous cocktail. Especially in the wake of Josh Hancock's death, we should all be aware of the problems that caused teams like the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals to ban booze in the clubhouse. Always have a designated driver -- otherwise your cellmate will look nothing like Paris Hilton. Remember that workouts and heat make you tired and increase the effects of alcohol. Under such conditions, it's easy to go over the legal limit on fewer drinks that you might be used to. Also, be sure to hydrate well. Both alcohol and exercise cause you to loose electrolytes, so water alone is not enough. In fact, just drinking water can be deadly. If you plan on participating in any of these events, use a sports drink or other fuel high in thing like sodium, potassium, and calcium. Be safe, and don't forget the first unwritten rule of every sport.
AP photo by Jonathan Hayward.