By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – Oak Mountain State Park hosted an event on Saturday, March 22 perfect for running enthusiasts who also enjoy alcoholic beverages.

The Whiskey and Wine 5K, organized by The Running Birds LLC, is a 5K in which participants were able to try a different whiskey and/or wine every half-mile along the course. After completing the race, participants were able to choose a whiskey or wine bottle to take home as a souvenir.

The course for the event was a one loop, 5K course. All participants of the event were 21 and over.

Adam Partridge, who works with The Running Birds, discussed how the idea for the Whiskey and Wine 5K arose.

“I’ve raced all of my life,” Partridge said. “I’ve been racing all over the country, I’ve even gone internationally. My passion is running and my passion is traveling, for years me and my wife have been traveling… we love to go to local wineries and distilleries… it was about combining those two things together, I have a love for running and I have a love for tasting various wines and whiskeys.”

Partridge added that the event, which is in its first year, was a resounding success despite adverse weather conditions altering its timeline.

“This was our first year, and it was a sold out event,” Partridge said. “We were supposed (to have it) on March 15, but we had to cancel it because of the tornadoes that day… I’m looking forward to it growing in the future, and I think next year it will grow pretty significantly.”

The preparation for the race, according to Partridge, was extensive.

“It’s not only prepping the course, but it’s also going to wineries and distilleries and choosing what we want to feature in our race,” Partridge said. “It was an all-day event just to prepare for a couple hours to provide an event for people to come and have a good time.”

With alcohol involved, Partridge and The Running Birds ensured that the event was a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants.

“(We provide) a very small amount (of alcohol),” Partridge said. “Just enough to taste, and at the very end everybody gets a bag of pretzels… We’re not serving alcohol at the finish. The amount we are allowing them to taste is very minimal, enough for them to get a taste and know which one they want.”

Events like the Whiskey and Wine 5K, according to Partridge, re designed to breed community.

“Ultimately, our goal as a running company is to create an environment where people can get to know each other,” Partridge said. “Our whole thing is a big family operation… it’s about creating environments where people can hang out and get to know each other.”