Shelby Houlihan raced the Beer Mile World Classic on Saturday, finishing with a time of 5:43.81. The event, which is independent from USATF or World Athletics, recognized her performance as a women’s world record and the first time a woman has broken the six-minute barrier.
According to the race organizers, it was Houlihan’s first public race since being banned for four years in 2021. Houlihan is barred from sanctioned competition (including those sponsored by USATF and World Athletics), but the Beer Mile World Classic is unaffiliated.
Houlihan was banned after testing positive for nandrolone, an anabolic-androgenic steroid, during an out-of-competition drug test on December 15, 2020. Houlihan says that the positive was a result of a tainted pork burrito from a food truck. She appealed the ruling—and lost—and still maintains her innocence.
Before the race, on the Beer Mile Podcast, race organizers Chris Robertson and Adam Shurson noted that while they decided to let Houlihan run, they did not allow her to race in the women’s championship section.
“She is not eligible for the championship race this year as the World Classic works to develop a formal policy for athletes competing under suspension,” reads a statement on the race’s website.
The winner of the women’s championship section, Elizabeth Laseter, ran 6:03 to take the win.
The World Beer Mile Classic does not have rules in place about drug testing participants or requiring them to show proof of a clean test.
“We can’t say no, someone isn’t allowed to compete based on rules that we don’t even have in place,” the hosts said on the pre-race podcast.
To complete a beer mile under the rules recognized by the Beer Mile World Classic, participants must run four laps around a 400-meter track while drinking a beer before each lap. The beers must be at least 12 ounces and have 5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).
Houlihan, 30, will be eligible to compete in sanctioned events on January 13, 2025.
Theo Kahler is the news editor at Runner’s World. He’s a former all-conference collegiate runner at Winthrop University, and he received his master’s degree in liberal arts studies from Wake Forest University, where he was a member of one of the top distance-running teams in the NCAA. Kahler has reported on the ground at major events such as the Paris Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials, New York City Marathon, and Boston Marathon. He’s run 14:20 in the 5K, 1:05:36 in the half marathon, and enjoys spotting tracks from the sky on airplanes. (Look for colorful ovals around football fields.)
