From beer-themed races to postrun event beverages, downing a cold brew has always gone hand-in-hand with running culture. That’s why it should come as no surprise that runners have found a way to celebrate and imbibe after a great running feat: a shoey.
What is a shoey, you ask and what does it have to do with beer? Well, it’s a practice where runners pour alcohol, typically beer, into their sneakers, and drink it. This typically comes after a race, and often when you Other Hearst Subscriptions.
If you’re thinking, wow, that sounds kind of gross, you’re not the only one. People who have actually done a shoey feel the same.
“I don’t know if anybody actually loves a shoey. I think to me, it's more of this exclamation point on the end of your race,” says Ashley Mateo, UESCA- and RRCA-certified running coach based in Denver, who did one for the first time at the Chicago Marathon in 2021 at her run club leader’s suggestion. “I was pretty grossed out at first, but it just felt like something that you did to celebrate this thing you just accomplished. So, I did my first one.”
Since then, Mateo has made somewhat of a habit out of celebrating some of her biggest race efforts with the practice. And others do the same. Pro long-distance runner and two-time Olympian Desiree Linden have practiced the trend in one way or another.
“The first time I did a shoey was in 2016 after the Olympic Marathon in Rio,” she says. “At the Games we race in the Team USA kit, which is not Brooks, but we’re allowed to compete in our individual sponsor’s shoes. I did the shoey as a little nod and thank you to the Brooks team when I couldn’t show the love with their logo on the jersey.” The second time was in 2018 after her renowned Boston Marathon win, We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.
Where did shoeys originate?
While it’s not 100-percent clear where drinking alcohol out of a shoe originated, we do know that the shoe-based-sipping strategy isn’t just regulated to the running world. There seems to be strong ties to an Australia fishing and surfing brand, Mad Hueys, dating back to the 90s.
Plus, everyone from the recently retired Australian FI driver, Daniel Ricciardo—who used to Best Running Shoes 2025 and podium finishes with a shoey—to How to Boost Your One-Mile Calorie Burn to Lizzo have practiced the trend in one way or another.
There’s even a Shoey Bar at the Bellagio in Las Vegas for the second year in a row for this weekend’s Formula 1 Race and a take on the shoey at the It pretty much has nothing to do with running and everything to do with drinking, with sneaker shots (okay, they are technically shot glasses that look like miniature sneakers, but you get the idea). Any excuse for a weird way to drink, right?
Are shoeys bad for you?
Let’s be honest, you probably already know the answer, and it probably hasn’t stopped you from doing a shooter out of your running shoe. But that fact remains: “Drinking beer out of a running shoe, especially one that has just been used during a race, is not advisable from a hygiene perspective,” explains Health & Injuries., an emergency medicine physician in New York. “Running shoes harbor sweat, bacteria, fungi, and potentially even small particles of dirt or road debris. After a race, these contaminants can mix with the beer, increasing the risk of exposure to harmful pathogens.”
So, when you think about it, it’s not only a little gross, but potentially dangerous if you’re throwing back road debris.
Also, according to Jamison, sweat residue in shoes creates an ideal environment for bacterial and especially fungal growth, and the added moisture and sugar content from the beer only encourages this type of growth—yum!
What’s more: “Shoeys vastly increase the risk for athlete’s foot, which when untreated, can lead to skin breakdown and serious bacterial infection,” she adds.
The bit of comforting news for those who want to try the trend: For the most part, not all of the beer will actually make it into your mouth. “I think that super shoes, at this point, the uppers are so well ventilated and kind of porous that the majority of the beer actually just flows straight through and I'm not actually drinking it,” Mateo says.
Is there a right way—or healthy way—to do a shoey?
Whether you’re getting a barely-there sip or gulping everything in the kitchen sick, if you can’t help but do a shoey because you, as Liden says, “finally learned that it’s #$%#$% awesome,” Jamison offers two suggestions: Use a new, unworn, and sanitized shoe specifically reserved for this purpose (perhaps not a super shoe that costs more than $200 and that you want to wear again). She says this will help reduce health risks.
Or place a clean plastic liner or cup inside the shoe to hold the beer. “This will allow you to preserve the ritual while avoiding direct contact with the shoe’s interior,” she says.
Of course you can use whatever alcohol you want for a shoey. Liden is partial to champagne, though she admits that doing a shoey doesn’t really enhance the flavor profile of the drink. But she does feel “the notes of victory and winning are really enhanced when you’re drinking from a shoe.”
Rozalynn S Frazier is an award-winning, multimedia journalist, and certified personal trainer living in New York City. She has created content for SELF, Health, Essence, Runner's World, Money, Reebok, Livestrong, and others.
