Friday, January 29, 2010

Run Wild Missoula Announces 2010 Membership Benefits

If you haven't already done so, now is the time to renew your Run Wild Missoula membership. Make the most of your membership during the calendar year by renewing today at http://www.runwildmissoula.org/rwm/benefits.html.

This year, Run Wild Missoula introduces membership cards. The cards will be ready for pick up at Runner's Edge, 325 N. Higgins Ave., on February 9. Use yours to receive discounts at select businesses (see list below).

Run Wild Missoula Membership Benefits
* Weekly Training Runs (Saturday Group Runs at 8 a.m., Tuesday Track at 5:30 p.m. and Thursday Tempo Runs at 5:30 p.m.)
* The Joy of Knowing that you Support and Promote a Healthy Activity for you and Others
* Monthly Newsletter
* Reduced Entry Fees for Club Races and Training Programs (including the Missoula Marathon)
* Discounts at local businesses (see below for list)
* 1200 Mile Club
* Social Events
* Subscription to Road Runners Club of America's quarterly magazine, Club Running

Show your membership card (ready for pick up at Runner's Edge, 325 N. Higgins Ave. on February 9) to receive discounts at the following businesses:

*Alpine Physical Therapy, 5000 Blue Mountain Rd. and 2825 Stockyard Road. Suite I-3, $20 off 1 ½ hour runner's clinic evaluation (regular price of $199) and free injury consultation after any RWM race
*El Diablo, 1429 S. Higgins Ave., On Tuesdays and Saturdays only, buy one burrito or taco, get one 1/2 off
*Montana School of Massage, 1629 South Ave., purchase 9 massages and get the 10th one free (Regular price of $40/hr.). Family members can share punch card (fastest runner or highest mileage runner gets the free massage).
*Runner's Edge, 325 N. Higgins Ave., 10% discount
*Jen Vanderberg Massage, 529-1958, $10 off 1-hour massage (Regular price of $65/hr.)

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Missoula Kids Marathon

The Missoula Kids Marathon has changed their run from Sunday, July 11th, which is the same day as the Missoula Marathon, to Saturday, July 10th, the day of the Missoula Marathon Runner’s Expo. The change was made in order to better accommodate families who would like to participate. “Parents who run the Missoula Marathon or Half Marathon can have a difficult time making sure their children can complete the Kids Marathon when they’re all running on the same day,” explained Co-Race Director Kathy Devlin. “We are trying to make it easier for the whole family to be involved in this event.”

The start and finish of the Missoula Kids Marathon will be at Caras Park in order to facilitate the drop off and pick up of runners. The race will begin at 11:00 am with pre-race stretching and music with Paul Reneau.

Registration forms and logs will be available for pick-up in March at area schools, the Missoula YMCA, Currents, PEAK Health and Wellness, and The Runner’s Edge. They are also available online at missoulamarathon.org.

Kids can start logging miles on April 1st.

The Missoula Kids Marathon is a Run Wild Missoula event. Run Wild Missoula is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For more information go to www.missoulamarathon.org.

Run, Have Fun, Be Healthy

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

How Many People Can Fit into the Missoula Marathon, or Do You Still Have Time to Register?

Since the announcement that the Missoula Marathon was voted Best Overall Marathon by the readers of Runner’s World, we have been bombarded with questions of whether the marathon still has room for more runners. The short answer is “you betcha.”

When the Missoula Marathon Committee first met nearly four years ago, it had five members with a simple goal of hosting a marathon in our lovely city. Back then we did not concern ourselves with such sticky questions as a cap on participants or strict registration deadlines. But with the Runner’s World designation, these issues have come to the forefront. Quite frankly, we do not know the precise impact the Runner’s World award will have on the marathon, but Bart Yasso told us that in his experience races can attract three to five times more runners when they get this kind of exposure. We can tell you that our registration numbers are up already, and we are anxiously awaiting the spring application glut.
But we are here to reassure you that there will be room for you in the Missoula Marathon, whatever growth we experience.

Fortunately, none of us think small in the first place, so from the beginning we did our best to develop a course that fits a lot of bodies, have starting areas that accommodate a lot of Sweet Pea toilets, and a finish area that welcomes large masses of athletes and the contingency of family and friends that accompany those athletes.

So when we heard of this award we made some important phone calls to make sure the Missoula Marathon stays a favorite among its runners:

1. Beer... you already read that blog about this. But if you haven’t, we are happy to tell you that we have persuaded Big Sky Brewery to provide us with its awesomely delicious Moose Drool beer for the after-race party.

2. Hotels. Yep, our own Missoula Convention and Visitor's Bureau Executive Director assured us that if we can fit all the people into our little burg who want to see the Rolling Stones when they rocked us a couple of years ago, we can certainly accommodate all of you athletes and your friends and family with rooms in Missoula and the surrounding area..

3. Sweet Pea Toilets. Since our event is at the height of the summer, otherwise known as construction season in any community with long winters, it occurred to us to check the toilet vendor. Don’t worry. We have lots and lots of toilets at the start and finish line… and a plenty along the route for good measure.

4. Good Food Store post-race athlete food. Layne Rolston, Communications Director at the Good Food Store and an accomplished runner himself, attended the Yasso announcement and he has assured us that you will continue to have the best post-race food an athlete can wish to have at the end of a long race – Good Food Store yummies.

5. Flights into Missoula. Well, you're on your own there. The airline industry doesn't consider us a major destination. Definitely not a hub. Definitely the Rock and Roll Marathon industry won't be looking at Missoula for their next addition to the chain. However, when you do fly into Missoula you'll be in a small, friendly airport that doesn't require a subway to get to the baggage claim. And you can get downtown in 15 minutes. We promise.

6. Finally, we have already arranged to have as many buses as we need to transport you to the starting lines in Frenchtown and Blue Mountain Road. On time.

In summary, The Missoula Marathon is thrilled that runners have named us best overall marathon in the country. And we are here to assure you that we intend to live up to (or exceed) the expectations you runners have for us. So, This is our way of saying, Bring it On. There is no cap on the number of runners, and there is no to register in a panic. We will let you run; and we will take care of you. In short, we're ready for you. Come to Missoula and Run, Play and Stay.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Moose Drool is Safe for the Missoula Marathon!

The first phone call after the recent announcement of the Missoula Marathon's Best Overall award from Runner's World Magazine, was to sponsor Big Sky Brewing. Big Sky Brewing is the local brewery famous for Moose Drool, among other varieties (go to www.bigskybrew.com to see all that they offer). Big Sky Brewing has been a sponsor of the Missoula Marathon starting back at the beginning, when there weren't as many registrants and therefore not that much beer drinking.

We recognize the importance of a great glass of beer after a long race in the middle of a Montana summer. Big Sky Brewing combines with The Badlander bar to make sure that everyone from the first half marathon runner to the last marathon finisher has the opportunity to receive that all-important free beer. So with the announcement of the award we thought, "What if we run out of beer?"

Big Sky Brewing immediately responded with -- enthusiasm and more beer. So no worries. The Moose Drool is safe. Not to be exclusionary, The Badlander will gladly sell additional beer to any (adult) athlete, family or friend enjoying a summer day in Montana while relaxing in Caras Pavilion.

Thank you Big Sky Brewing for being part of the Missoula Marathon.