The concept of a Wine Flight isn't new to many of you. Except a decade ago "wine flighting" involved tucking a forgotten box of Franzia under your shirt and bolting from the kitchen before mom returned to check the evening's pot roast.

Of course, Mainetoday.com in no way condones such behavior. We are adamantly against pot roasts.

Saturday's Wine Flight was of the legal-age variety. The 5K (a Tri-Maine event) was modeled after France's Marathon du Medoc, "combining the fun of a 5k run/walk with the joy of food and wine." Unfortunately, the event was so legal, it adhered to Maine's strict No Drinking Wine While Running Through the Streets of Downtown Portland law. (Note: actual law phrasing may differ slightly from above).

But there was plenty of local grub to sample at the three "Aid Stations" on Maine State Pier.

The race kicked off a wee after 9:30 am, after some delays at the registration counter. Runners and walkers followed a one-mile loop around the base of Munjoy Hill, then returned to the Pier for a fill up. Then a second loop and a second table o' edibles. After the third jaunt along the East End Trail, participants came back to the Pier for a tented Wine Tasting.

You are what you drink:

[Cara Slifka photo]

The belly-warming reward to a strenuous race.

If you missed Wine Flight this year, and you're finding it hard to function with the mounting regret, feel free to recreate the race in your neighborhood. Save upfront costs by using your neighbor's houses as "Aid Stations" to pause for booze and food. It could be first of many yearly Neighborhood Wine Flights. Or the reason you spend three nights at Cumberland County Jail facing breaking and entering charges, only to come home to discover you've been impeached as Block Party Committee Chair and ghastly Mrs. Hubbard from two doors down has taken over your coaching position for the kids' T-Ball team, designating three of her 12 cats as assistant coach, first base coach and head cheerleader.

Or you could maybe just wait until next year.

Check out all of Cara Slifka's 2009 Wine Flight 5K photos