There may have been sweat, but there were no tears as Washington and Lee students raced in the first-ever Chocolate Milk Mile on Oct. 21. Thankfully, there was no vomit either, though some competitors came close.
The event, held by the university’s Chocolate Milk Society (CMS), was founded by Florian Sloan, ’26, at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. It hosts monthly get-togethers where members can enjoy chocolate milk and good company. The Chocolate Milk Mile was something brand-new for this young student organization.
The race consisted of five laps around Miller Field. After the second lap, contestants had to chug eight ounces of chocolate milk. After the fourth, they had to chug an additional sixteen ounces. Then it was one final sprint to the finish.
Why would anyone subject themselves to this kind of torture (fun)? For some, it was an opportunity to get outside in the unseasonably warm weather. Others wanted the bragging rights and trophy that came with victory. Still, others just wanted to say they had done something as strange as a “chocolate milk mile.”
Plus, the race benefited a worthy cause. CMS sold t-shirts, each proclaiming its owner a “chocolate milk cownnoisseur,” leading up to the race to benefit a relief fund for victims of hurricanes Helene and Milton.
As soon as I heard about the event, I was eager to sign up. I like running, I like chocolate milk and I love out-of-the-box ideas. The Chocolate Milk Mile hit all the marks.
Apparently, a lot of people agreed. CMS initially planned to limit the race to 10 participants, but it ended up with more than double that by the time race day rolled around.
As I joined the other participants at the Outing Club, I felt a distinct sense of nostalgia for high school track and field. The clusters of contestants stretching and boasting about what pace they were going to run brought back plenty of memories.
But the mascot in a cow costume at the starting line certainly wasn’t part of any track race I’ve ever been to before. And neither were the rows upon rows of chocolate milk cups eagerly waiting to be chugged.
As soon as the race began, I realized that the sunny weather was not my friend. It was blistering hot as we looped around the first couple laps. A few front-runners pulled ahead, while everyone else spaced out behind them.
Then came the first round of chugging. While some competitors rapidly guzzled their eight ounces, I adopted a fast sipping technique in hopes of keeping my stomach happy. Unfortunately, this was not the speediest technique — not that I was going to win anyway — but it did prevent a barfing episode.
Same went for the second chugging stop, but I could still feel a heavy weight of dairy begin to settle in the bottom of my stomach as I sprinted to the finish line. Needless to say, I was not in the mood for a glass of milk afterwards.
Clearly, this was not an event for the faint-of-heated, nor for the lactose-intolerant. But if it happens again next year, I would highly recommend participating. If you’re up for adventure, this is one way to find it.
That doesn’t just go for the Chocolate Milk Mile. One of the things that makes W&L so special is all the crazy, unusual clubs and activities. Where else can you find events like moonlight paddle-boarding with the Outing Club, club sports ranging from table tennis to ultimate frisbee, and even something called the Sock Society?
If you’ve read this far, I have a request: before this semester is over, try something completely random that you’ve never done before. It can be indoors or outdoors, with a big group of people or a few close friends. Maybe even try writing for the Ring-tum Phi! We can always use new contributors.
Apologies for the shameless recruiting pitch. But seriously, try something new. And keep an eye out for whatever the Chocolate Milk Society dreams up next.
You won’t want to miss it.
