Indiana company uses beer to generate support for marathon runners

Columbus, Indiana – An Indiana restaurant and brewery has rekindled interest in and support for the well-liked Mill Race Marathon.

For the 11th edition of the festival, ZwanzigZ Pizza and Brewing unveiled two particularly themed beers on Thursday.

Kurt and Lisa Zwanzig have owned and run the restaurant on their own for the past 22 years. From the start of the running race, the pair has opted to sponsor it. The company donates snack packages that are given to the hundreds of volunteers for the event each year. In 2022, ZwanzigZ proposed themed beers to the event planning team in honor of the marathon’s tenth anniversary.

Four variants were created for the historic race.

“We support our community in many ways and our sponsorship of the Mill Race Marathon is yet another way we work to give back to our community,” said Kurt Zwanzig. “The Mill Race Marathon brings a great deal of energy to Columbus and it’s fun to be a part of that energy.”

‘2nd Wind Honey Wheat’ and ‘Run Your Ale Off!’ were custom brewed for the race and feature labeling artistically created to commemorate the fitness spectacle.

“The marathon course passes directly in front of our pizzeria. The Mill Race Marathon has become a community staple during the Fall in Columbus,” said Zwanzig.

The restaurant at 1038 Lafayette Avenue and the brewery three blocks away on 12th Street are both selling the new wheat and golden ales in four-packs or on tap.

The biggest community event in Columbus is the Mill Race Marathon. It begins in the city’s downtown early on September 23, when 2,900 competitors are expected to finish one of three lengths.

There are three options available to runners and walkers: a 5K, half marathon, or full marathon. The race’s organizers have observed what they believe to be significant increases in the number of registrations in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic. A 12% increase over 2022 is planned for the Mill Race Marathon.