Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Run Wild Missoula Seeks New Board Members
Run Wild Missoula is accepting applications for members of the Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors are volunteers who are involved in the decision-making of Run Wild Missoula and its future. Those interested should be a member of Run Wild Missoula and be able to attend board meetings on the last Friday of each month at 7:30 a.m. Previous involvement in the club and prior experience on a board is preferred but not required. If you are interested, please submit a resume and cover letter to Darr Tucknott, President of the Board of Directors, darr.tucknott@mso.umt.edu, by February 15.
Monday, November 28, 2011
2012 Galloway Marathon Training Starts January 22!
Registration will begin in November for the 2nd Annual Jeff Galloway Run/Walk/Run Marathon/Half Marathon Training Program. Over 60 RWM’ers participated in 2011 and 3 of 6 RWM Inspirational Runners of the Year were Gallowayans. Goals of the program are to prevent injury, reduce fatigue, speed recovery and have a life!...while training for a long distance event.
Participants will receive a year’s subscription to Runner’s World, a t-shirt, a very nice finishers medal and (for new participants) Galloway’s Training Programs, a comprehensive manual that answers any question one might have about training for a half or full marathon.
Pace Group Leaders will be provided (Galloway’s motto is to “leave no Gallowayan behind”), as well as seminars on running form, nutrition, proper gear, injury prevention/rehab and cross training.
Jeff Galloway will be in Missoula January 16-19 to kick off the program, promote the Missoula Marathon/Half Marathon and to conduct a 3-hour running school. He and wife Barbara will return in July to run the event again.
Cost is $99 ($125 for non-members). Co-Directors are Pam Gardiner and John Pitcairn.
Go Gallowayans!
~John Pitcairn, Runner’s Edge
Participants will receive a year’s subscription to Runner’s World, a t-shirt, a very nice finishers medal and (for new participants) Galloway’s Training Programs, a comprehensive manual that answers any question one might have about training for a half or full marathon.
Pace Group Leaders will be provided (Galloway’s motto is to “leave no Gallowayan behind”), as well as seminars on running form, nutrition, proper gear, injury prevention/rehab and cross training.
Jeff Galloway will be in Missoula January 16-19 to kick off the program, promote the Missoula Marathon/Half Marathon and to conduct a 3-hour running school. He and wife Barbara will return in July to run the event again.
Cost is $99 ($125 for non-members). Co-Directors are Pam Gardiner and John Pitcairn.
Go Gallowayans!
~John Pitcairn, Runner’s Edge
Friday, November 18, 2011
M Trail Work Day a Huge Success!
RWM and Friends of the M Trail co-sponsored a work day on the M Trail on Oct 22nd. About 25 people attended and made a full day of the event while we installed a new stair structure on the 6th switchback. We also brushed over erosive side trails, pulled knapweed and planted plugs of native wildflowers and grasses.
Our attendees were UM students, volunteers from the community (and as far away as Whitefish), local Cub Scouts and parents, and of course RWM folks looking for the hardcore cardio/upper body workout! Under the supervision of UM senior Jon Paulson, the heavy timbers and half ton of gravel carried up the hill were transformed into a sturdy and attractive non-eroding staircase. This is the most recent of about 7 total step structures that have been built on the M Trail through cooperation with UM Natural Areas Program, Friends of the M Trail, UM Student Guild of Society for Ecological Restoration and RWM.
The stair structures are necessary to slow down the rapid erosion taking place at the switchbacks under the feet of up to 1000 hikers EACH DAY. It takes a village to maintain a mountain- especially one that is so heavily loved as Mt Sentinel.
We were pretty bold about asking passersby to carry things up the trail! About 50 or more good natured hikers agreed to carry a bucket of gravel up to the 6th switchback. That’s just the kind of community we live it: everyone’s happy to lend a hand.
Pizza lunch was provided by RWM and the Pizza Pipeline. Great Harvest Bread also donated a huge bag of cinnamon bread to get us going early in the morning. The weather was beautiful, the project successful, and we expect our efforts contributed to many more decades of happy M Trail running for all! See you other there next time (April 2012).
~Marilyn Marler, UM Natural Areas Specialist
Our attendees were UM students, volunteers from the community (and as far away as Whitefish), local Cub Scouts and parents, and of course RWM folks looking for the hardcore cardio/upper body workout! Under the supervision of UM senior Jon Paulson, the heavy timbers and half ton of gravel carried up the hill were transformed into a sturdy and attractive non-eroding staircase. This is the most recent of about 7 total step structures that have been built on the M Trail through cooperation with UM Natural Areas Program, Friends of the M Trail, UM Student Guild of Society for Ecological Restoration and RWM.
The stair structures are necessary to slow down the rapid erosion taking place at the switchbacks under the feet of up to 1000 hikers EACH DAY. It takes a village to maintain a mountain- especially one that is so heavily loved as Mt Sentinel.
We were pretty bold about asking passersby to carry things up the trail! About 50 or more good natured hikers agreed to carry a bucket of gravel up to the 6th switchback. That’s just the kind of community we live it: everyone’s happy to lend a hand.
Pizza lunch was provided by RWM and the Pizza Pipeline. Great Harvest Bread also donated a huge bag of cinnamon bread to get us going early in the morning. The weather was beautiful, the project successful, and we expect our efforts contributed to many more decades of happy M Trail running for all! See you other there next time (April 2012).
~Marilyn Marler, UM Natural Areas Specialist
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Upcoming Beer Runs
Official Fall Greetings from the Chancellor of Libations.
As much as it pains me I, the Chancellor of Libations, must apologize to the legions of Beer Runners. Yes I am down on my knees begging forgiveness for selecting a meeting place that had scheduled an EMERGENCY that required a full scale evacuation and the assistance of the Missoula City Fire Department. But rest assured that in the future I will endeavor to ensure that our Beer Runs will never suffer another scheduling conflict of this nature.
Still we managed to have an unprecedented Beer Run, somewhere between 70 and 80 of us descended upon the Draught Works on a cool but beautiful fall evening. We charged off in a great mass heading into the North side neighborhoods laying siege to the streets. In spite of our best efforts at stealth running we managed to draw cheers and waves from the many adoring
residents as we wound our way to the cemeteries. I encountered a true life first when a couple girls ran along with us for a couple blocks.
If you get a chance please take a moment to thank the folks at the city cemetery for staying open a bit late to allow our hoard to enjoy our tour of the historic Missoula City Cemetery. and it was a beautiful evening to enjoy the tour with all the fall leaves.
Another highlight for me was the first hundred yards or so of the Catholic Cemetery, as we turned through the gate a deep golden orange blanket of leaves carpeted the road leading to the far corner, and I loved the crunch and swish of the leaves under my clomping feet, but a few of our fellow Beer Runners mentioned that they were more concerned about the leaves hiding potholes and tank traps.
I am a bit embarrassed to admit this but I have our next three Beer Runs planned, well I have the meeting locations selected:
November 30th we will make our second annual pilgrimage to home of the greatest fried chicken in Missoula when we descend upon Double Front Chicken for our poultry fest.
December 28th we will again head to the South side of Missoula to tour the Griswold neighborhoods, this year we will meet at Desperados on Russell.
January we will give the Draught Works a second chance to experience our presence. I can't wait to see what "emergency" they come up with this time to leave us standing on their doorstep.
Until then have a great Thanksgiving.
~Pat Cross, Chancellor of Libations
As much as it pains me I, the Chancellor of Libations, must apologize to the legions of Beer Runners. Yes I am down on my knees begging forgiveness for selecting a meeting place that had scheduled an EMERGENCY that required a full scale evacuation and the assistance of the Missoula City Fire Department. But rest assured that in the future I will endeavor to ensure that our Beer Runs will never suffer another scheduling conflict of this nature.
Still we managed to have an unprecedented Beer Run, somewhere between 70 and 80 of us descended upon the Draught Works on a cool but beautiful fall evening. We charged off in a great mass heading into the North side neighborhoods laying siege to the streets. In spite of our best efforts at stealth running we managed to draw cheers and waves from the many adoring
residents as we wound our way to the cemeteries. I encountered a true life first when a couple girls ran along with us for a couple blocks.
If you get a chance please take a moment to thank the folks at the city cemetery for staying open a bit late to allow our hoard to enjoy our tour of the historic Missoula City Cemetery. and it was a beautiful evening to enjoy the tour with all the fall leaves.
Another highlight for me was the first hundred yards or so of the Catholic Cemetery, as we turned through the gate a deep golden orange blanket of leaves carpeted the road leading to the far corner, and I loved the crunch and swish of the leaves under my clomping feet, but a few of our fellow Beer Runners mentioned that they were more concerned about the leaves hiding potholes and tank traps.
I am a bit embarrassed to admit this but I have our next three Beer Runs planned, well I have the meeting locations selected:
November 30th we will make our second annual pilgrimage to home of the greatest fried chicken in Missoula when we descend upon Double Front Chicken for our poultry fest.
December 28th we will again head to the South side of Missoula to tour the Griswold neighborhoods, this year we will meet at Desperados on Russell.
January we will give the Draught Works a second chance to experience our presence. I can't wait to see what "emergency" they come up with this time to leave us standing on their doorstep.
Until then have a great Thanksgiving.
~Pat Cross, Chancellor of Libations
Monday, November 14, 2011
View From The Back
I run because I can…..I run “for the health of it!”
The “spark” of my running inspiration came from my daughter-in-law, Maggie. She said, “I’m going to run the Missoula Marathon, you should do it, too.” I doubted myself and my ability to do it, so I just forgot about it…..so I thought! That challenge to run lay there, in the back of my mind growing into a “bucket list” desire to achieve that level of fitness. I have always strived for fitness and good health, staying active and attempting to watch my diet. That became especially true after going through surgery for cancer three years ago. It now became a consuming desire to take better care of my body, and ease my restless mind.
When the opportunity to hear Jeff Galloway speak in Missoula arose, I jumped at it! His talk so inspired me and made me KNOW I could attain this level of fitness. I COULD run a marathon! With his guidance, and the guidance from his trained group leaders the journey began!
I wavered a bit after those first training sessions. I remember our first run! We were told to “Go out, and run down Higgins Avenue to about Strand, run a block, walk a block. WHEW! I thought I would not make it back to the Runner’s Edge, there in the winter cold, snow and ice. Yikes! For nearly a week my leg muscles let me know they did not like this new endeavor; I could barely hobble up the steps into my house!
But, as days/weeks/months flew past, awesome friendships were formed, runner’s muscles developed, running routines were forged and memories of dark, icy mornings were a joy to look back on.
Six months later, the exhilarating, and awe-inspiring joy of crossing that finish line after 26.2 miles was mind boggling! It left me, well…..left me ready for the next challenge. Jeff Galloway’s program and the Run Wild Missoula BOP program have truly become wonderful additions to my life!
~Suzanne Burwick
Being an Athlete is
a state of mind
which is not bound by age,
performance or
place in the running pack.
~Jeff Galloway
The “spark” of my running inspiration came from my daughter-in-law, Maggie. She said, “I’m going to run the Missoula Marathon, you should do it, too.” I doubted myself and my ability to do it, so I just forgot about it…..so I thought! That challenge to run lay there, in the back of my mind growing into a “bucket list” desire to achieve that level of fitness. I have always strived for fitness and good health, staying active and attempting to watch my diet. That became especially true after going through surgery for cancer three years ago. It now became a consuming desire to take better care of my body, and ease my restless mind.
When the opportunity to hear Jeff Galloway speak in Missoula arose, I jumped at it! His talk so inspired me and made me KNOW I could attain this level of fitness. I COULD run a marathon! With his guidance, and the guidance from his trained group leaders the journey began!
I wavered a bit after those first training sessions. I remember our first run! We were told to “Go out, and run down Higgins Avenue to about Strand, run a block, walk a block. WHEW! I thought I would not make it back to the Runner’s Edge, there in the winter cold, snow and ice. Yikes! For nearly a week my leg muscles let me know they did not like this new endeavor; I could barely hobble up the steps into my house!
But, as days/weeks/months flew past, awesome friendships were formed, runner’s muscles developed, running routines were forged and memories of dark, icy mornings were a joy to look back on.
Six months later, the exhilarating, and awe-inspiring joy of crossing that finish line after 26.2 miles was mind boggling! It left me, well…..left me ready for the next challenge. Jeff Galloway’s program and the Run Wild Missoula BOP program have truly become wonderful additions to my life!
~Suzanne Burwick
Being an Athlete is
a state of mind
which is not bound by age,
performance or
place in the running pack.
~Jeff Galloway
Friday, October 21, 2011
2012 Missoula Marathon registration opens tonight with early registration savings!
Registration for the 2012 Missoula Marathon and Half Marathon opens tonight! From 10pm MST until midnight you can get a super-duper early bird registration deal and save an extra $15 on marathon registration or $10 on half marathon registration when compared to the regular early registration period that begins at midnight. Register between 10pm and midnight tonight and save big! The link is: http://www.missoulamarathon.org/
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Missoula Wins Runner Friendly Community Designation
Missoula is one of a handful of runner friendly communities in the nation, according to a recent 5-year designation bestowed by the Road Runners Club of America, a national distance running organization. Run Wild Missoula announced at its Annual Meeting of Members last night that Missoula has been awarded the Runner Friendly Community designation.
Missoula met the program’s criteria, which includes community infrastructure, community support, and local government support for running. Missoula has an infrastructure that can foster physical activity in a safe environment; a proven track record that organizations and businesses work together to promote running as a healthy exercise and sport; and there are positive relationships between the running community and local government.
Run Wild Missoula applied for the designation five months ago, which included creating a You Tube video (http://www.youtube.com/user/MissoulaMarathonFilm?blend=8&ob=5#p/u/0/8Jrini80VGw), filling out a lengthy application and getting letters of support from race directors, business owners and government officials.
“In 2010, after the Missoula Marathon won the award for the Best Overall Marathon in the country from Runner’s World magazine, the event doubled in size, bringing thousands of runners, walkers, and spectators to the community,” Mayor John Engen wrote in his letter of support. “A study on the economic impact of the event and found that it pumped $1.3 million into the economy.”
The goals of the Runner Friendly Community program are to shine a national spotlight on communities that standout as runner-friendly and to provide incentives and ideas for communities to work towards becoming runner friendly communities. Runner friendly communities can increase the quality of life, improve physical activity for residents as outlined in the National Physical Activity Plan, and provide for increased economic impact for the community.
While runners do not require a lot of expensive equipment, there are several ways that local communities can invest to ensure that running is safe, affordable, accessible, and enjoyable for anyone that wants to run.
Other communities that won the designation include Allen Park, MI; Carson City, NV; Decatur, IL; Knoxville, TN; Lawrence, KS; Lynchburg, VA; Reading, PA; Salem, MA; and The Woodlands, TX. Learn more about the program included detailed information about these and other Runner Friendly Communities at http://www.rrca.org/programs/runner-friendly-community/
About Run Wild Missoula: Run Wild Missoula is the non-profit running club which organizes the Missoula Marathon and a dozen other annual races, several training programs, seminars, social events and clinics. For more information visit www.runwildmissoula.org.
About the Road Runners Club of America: The mission of the RRCA is to promote the development and growth of running clubs and running events throughout the country and to support the common interests of runners of all abilities during all stages in life. Through the RRCA, we provide a national infrastructure for the development of adult and youth running clubs and events that have boomed into a robust sporting activity.
Missoula met the program’s criteria, which includes community infrastructure, community support, and local government support for running. Missoula has an infrastructure that can foster physical activity in a safe environment; a proven track record that organizations and businesses work together to promote running as a healthy exercise and sport; and there are positive relationships between the running community and local government.
Run Wild Missoula applied for the designation five months ago, which included creating a You Tube video (http://www.youtube.com/user/MissoulaMarathonFilm?blend=8&ob=5#p/u/0/8Jrini80VGw), filling out a lengthy application and getting letters of support from race directors, business owners and government officials.
“In 2010, after the Missoula Marathon won the award for the Best Overall Marathon in the country from Runner’s World magazine, the event doubled in size, bringing thousands of runners, walkers, and spectators to the community,” Mayor John Engen wrote in his letter of support. “A study on the economic impact of the event and found that it pumped $1.3 million into the economy.”
The goals of the Runner Friendly Community program are to shine a national spotlight on communities that standout as runner-friendly and to provide incentives and ideas for communities to work towards becoming runner friendly communities. Runner friendly communities can increase the quality of life, improve physical activity for residents as outlined in the National Physical Activity Plan, and provide for increased economic impact for the community.
While runners do not require a lot of expensive equipment, there are several ways that local communities can invest to ensure that running is safe, affordable, accessible, and enjoyable for anyone that wants to run.
Other communities that won the designation include Allen Park, MI; Carson City, NV; Decatur, IL; Knoxville, TN; Lawrence, KS; Lynchburg, VA; Reading, PA; Salem, MA; and The Woodlands, TX. Learn more about the program included detailed information about these and other Runner Friendly Communities at http://www.rrca.org/programs/runner-friendly-community/
About Run Wild Missoula: Run Wild Missoula is the non-profit running club which organizes the Missoula Marathon and a dozen other annual races, several training programs, seminars, social events and clinics. For more information visit www.runwildmissoula.org.
About the Road Runners Club of America: The mission of the RRCA is to promote the development and growth of running clubs and running events throughout the country and to support the common interests of runners of all abilities during all stages in life. Through the RRCA, we provide a national infrastructure for the development of adult and youth running clubs and events that have boomed into a robust sporting activity.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Bitterroot Running Group Invites Missoulians to Head South
I joined Run Wild Missoula because, after 15 years of running solitude, I wanted to find some folks to run with. Through RWM I have met many runners and made some good friends. But I haven’t been able to actually run with them very often. We talk about running and plan runs, and the volunteer work is a good thing, but it’s still work, and in any case I am no fan of committees.
The thing is, I live in Stevensville and work in Corvallis. An after-work run in Missoula just isn’t practical, and on weekends the last thing I want to do is drive to Missoula when the options for running in the Bitterroot are so much better: miles of rolling dirt roads with breathtaking views of the Bitterroots and Sapphires. And the trails?Enough to last a lifetime.
Someone, I used to think, should organize some runs in the Bitterroot. Eva Dunn-Froebig apparently had the same idea; at the very least, she is the one who asked if I was interested in being that someone who would organize a Bitterroot Running Group. I said, sure; how hard could it be? Pick a course, announce a time, see who shows up. If I feel like it, mark some turns. Or not; whenever I am in charge of a run, I figure less is more: less organization, less planning, less traffic, less worry. I get all the organizing I need as the Registration Director for the Missoula Marathon. When it’s time to run, I just want to play.
Since March, that’s what a few of us down in the Bitterroot have been doing: running the back roads and trails on Sunday mornings. Recently at Bass Creek, we found (and rescued) one injured red crossbill, found two robins’ eggs, and saw thousands of wildflowers: arrow leaf balsam root, lupine, wild hyacinth, penstemon, and other wildflowers whose names I would not know if a botanist from Florence wasn’t with us. In early April we ran through a snow storm in the Lone Rock area, and we’ve toured Sunset Bench east of Stevensville, cruised up and down Chaffin Lane in Corvallis, run on the east side of Hamilton, and discovered some lovely and lightly-traveled roads on the west side of US 93 between Stevi and Victor.
After years of heading to Missoula for RWM events, or wishing I had the time, I reckon it’s time to invite Missoulians to the Bitterroot. The dates and times for the Bitterroot runs will start appearing in the weekly email newsletter, and I welcome queries at vic.mortimer@gmail.com. The runs always start from a place where toilets are available, and you’ll get a chance to discover the shopping pleasures of the valley. Why, just in Stevensville we have Charbonneau’s Chocolate, the Morningstar Café, and, as a reminder that this is indeed the Bitterroot, an ammo outlet store. Really. We don’t joke about ammo.
So, consider joining us for our next run: Sunday, July 24, in Stevensville. We’ll meet at the southwest corner of the Super 1 just off US 93 and head south on rolling dirt back roads beside lovely meadows at the foot of the Bitterroots. The run is out and back, so distances of anywhere from 4 to 15 miles are available; I’m planning on 8 – 10 miles as I get ready for the Sweathouse Half Marathon in early September.
~ Vic Mortimer
The thing is, I live in Stevensville and work in Corvallis. An after-work run in Missoula just isn’t practical, and on weekends the last thing I want to do is drive to Missoula when the options for running in the Bitterroot are so much better: miles of rolling dirt roads with breathtaking views of the Bitterroots and Sapphires. And the trails?Enough to last a lifetime.
Someone, I used to think, should organize some runs in the Bitterroot. Eva Dunn-Froebig apparently had the same idea; at the very least, she is the one who asked if I was interested in being that someone who would organize a Bitterroot Running Group. I said, sure; how hard could it be? Pick a course, announce a time, see who shows up. If I feel like it, mark some turns. Or not; whenever I am in charge of a run, I figure less is more: less organization, less planning, less traffic, less worry. I get all the organizing I need as the Registration Director for the Missoula Marathon. When it’s time to run, I just want to play.
Since March, that’s what a few of us down in the Bitterroot have been doing: running the back roads and trails on Sunday mornings. Recently at Bass Creek, we found (and rescued) one injured red crossbill, found two robins’ eggs, and saw thousands of wildflowers: arrow leaf balsam root, lupine, wild hyacinth, penstemon, and other wildflowers whose names I would not know if a botanist from Florence wasn’t with us. In early April we ran through a snow storm in the Lone Rock area, and we’ve toured Sunset Bench east of Stevensville, cruised up and down Chaffin Lane in Corvallis, run on the east side of Hamilton, and discovered some lovely and lightly-traveled roads on the west side of US 93 between Stevi and Victor.
After years of heading to Missoula for RWM events, or wishing I had the time, I reckon it’s time to invite Missoulians to the Bitterroot. The dates and times for the Bitterroot runs will start appearing in the weekly email newsletter, and I welcome queries at vic.mortimer@gmail.com. The runs always start from a place where toilets are available, and you’ll get a chance to discover the shopping pleasures of the valley. Why, just in Stevensville we have Charbonneau’s Chocolate, the Morningstar Café, and, as a reminder that this is indeed the Bitterroot, an ammo outlet store. Really. We don’t joke about ammo.
So, consider joining us for our next run: Sunday, July 24, in Stevensville. We’ll meet at the southwest corner of the Super 1 just off US 93 and head south on rolling dirt back roads beside lovely meadows at the foot of the Bitterroots. The run is out and back, so distances of anywhere from 4 to 15 miles are available; I’m planning on 8 – 10 miles as I get ready for the Sweathouse Half Marathon in early September.
~ Vic Mortimer
Friday, July 8, 2011
Jeff and Barbara Galloway to Participate in Missoula Marathon
The Missoula Marathon is delighted to host Jeff and Barbara Galloway over Marathon weekend. Jeff will participate in the special marathon beer run from the Badlander tonight at 6pm. He will have a booth at the expo on Saturday from 8am to 3pm, joined by members of the Galloway marathon training class who are excited by the chance to share their experience. The Galloways will also run the marathon on Sunday.
As a special highlight, on Saturday Jeff will present his well-respected 3-hour Running School ($99) at the Wilma, starting at 3:00 pm. The Running School provides a unique opportunity for those who would like to spend time in personal discussion with Jeff about his trademarked run-walk-run program, race strategy and recovery, motivation, injury prevention, nutrition, and other topics drawn from a lifetime of running and coaching. Jeff is particularly passionate about introducing new runners to the sport and to helping established runners pursue their passion for a lifetime, injury-free. Visit http://www.runwildmissoula.org/index.php/ID/fbaef555/item/jeff-galloway-s-running-school/fuseaction/rwm.clubActivities.htm for more information.
Pam Gardiner, Leader of the Back, Run Wild Missoula
As a special highlight, on Saturday Jeff will present his well-respected 3-hour Running School ($99) at the Wilma, starting at 3:00 pm. The Running School provides a unique opportunity for those who would like to spend time in personal discussion with Jeff about his trademarked run-walk-run program, race strategy and recovery, motivation, injury prevention, nutrition, and other topics drawn from a lifetime of running and coaching. Jeff is particularly passionate about introducing new runners to the sport and to helping established runners pursue their passion for a lifetime, injury-free. Visit http://www.runwildmissoula.org/index.php/ID/fbaef555/item/jeff-galloway-s-running-school/fuseaction/rwm.clubActivities.htm for more information.
Pam Gardiner, Leader of the Back, Run Wild Missoula
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Missoula Kid's Marathon
It has come to our attention that more than one local media source has misreported the starting time, date and/or location of the Missoula Kid's Marathon. Here is the real scoop:The Missoula Kid's Marathon starts at 10am, Saturday, July 9 on the Riverfront Trail in front of the Boone & Crockett Club.
For more information, please visit the Missoula Kid's Marathon website.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Missoula Marathon Photos
Our official race photographer, RacePhotos.net (a division of Referee Photo), will once again be covering the course and finish line with more than 15 photographers.
There are 2 special photo offers you won't want to miss.....the best deal in all of Montana!
"DOWNLOAD ALL YOUR PHOTOS" - download a full-resolution copy of every photo that is taken of you!
This is a $69.95 value offered again at the very special price of only $25. This offer is only good through race day! You may register for this opportunity at the Race Expo in Caras Pavilion during packet pickup at the RacePhotos booth.....you can't miss them! AND, the deal gets better.....everyone registered to download all their photos will receive a FREE 5x7 print of their choice of their race photo! They've never offered this before.
PLUS
"FREE PHOTO" - the Missoula Marathon is the original home of the FREE PHOTO....be sure to have your photo taken with your shiny, new medal at our Victory Stand just past the finish line on the right hand side of Higgins Street....then make your way to Caras Pavilion to the RacePhotos booth where they will print your photo on the spot! They will have 4 printers running that are capable of a photo every 20 seconds! This is the 3rd year for this world-famous opportunity which has been over-the-top popular.
There are 2 special photo offers you won't want to miss.....the best deal in all of Montana!
"DOWNLOAD ALL YOUR PHOTOS" - download a full-resolution copy of every photo that is taken of you!
This is a $69.95 value offered again at the very special price of only $25. This offer is only good through race day! You may register for this opportunity at the Race Expo in Caras Pavilion during packet pickup at the RacePhotos booth.....you can't miss them! AND, the deal gets better.....everyone registered to download all their photos will receive a FREE 5x7 print of their choice of their race photo! They've never offered this before.
PLUS
"FREE PHOTO" - the Missoula Marathon is the original home of the FREE PHOTO....be sure to have your photo taken with your shiny, new medal at our Victory Stand just past the finish line on the right hand side of Higgins Street....then make your way to Caras Pavilion to the RacePhotos booth where they will print your photo on the spot! They will have 4 printers running that are capable of a photo every 20 seconds! This is the 3rd year for this world-famous opportunity which has been over-the-top popular.
Missoula Youth Homes – Missoula Marathon
In August I will be celebrating my 20th year at The Attention Home, the Youth Homes’ shelter for youth in Missoula. During that time over 3000 youth have come through our doors. I consider it a privilege to have worked with so many amazing kids, families and coworkers. Deciding to run the Missoula Marathon to honor them makes sense for many reasons. While the work we do brings many rewards, it can also be a challenge; exercise has been my main stress management tool. I also feel that the challenges a marathon brings mirrors in many ways the challenges I see working with kids.
Many members of Run Wild will be joining me in running the Missoula Marathon and Half Marathon in support of the Youth Homes. They use the stories of the kids to inspire them during training and during the race and raise money to support The Youth Homes. You can check out all their pages by going to: www.firstgiving.com/youthhomes and clicking on the Missoula Marathon and Half Marathon link on the right side of the page. There are some amazing and inspiring stories there.
When I started at the Youth Homes my first feelings were ones of sadness at the stories I heard, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, poverty, mental illness and the mental and psychological effect of generations of substance abuse. All of the kids were affected by these, most of them by more than one, and some of them by all. However what I quickly became more affected by is the effort and strength the kids show as they try to move forward each day.
I have completed marathons, and many other endurance events, however I have always been well prepared, had all the tools I needed to be successful, and only entered events in which I felt prepared to succeed. As an endurance athlete, however unaccomplished, I recognize the need for proper training, technique, and support. Many of the youth at the Youth Homes run the marathon that is life without many of the things needed for success. As they run the race they don’t experience cheers of encouragement and physical support. Instead, either directly or indirectly, they often hear that even if they try, they will never make it, that they are not good enough or worth the effort, and that they might as well settle for less or just give up. Sometimes the very people who should be providing the most support and encouragement instead add to the heavy burden the kids are already carrying and give them things which hamper their performance.
What is remarkable is not the challenges they face but their ability to move forward. Runners know what happens when the body is asked to do things it is not ready to do; it develops coping mechanisms. If a muscle is strained, or too weak, other parts of the body make up the difference. In the end the determined runner moves forward, but the result is poor technique, lack of effective growth, further injury, and never full potential. The kids I have worked with have managed to perform amazing tasks despite their challenges, but they deserve support.
Anyone that has been at the edge of their ability, running uphill, carrying extra weight , with no water, no food, against the wind, with miles to go, and thinking only of stopping knows the feelings that lead kids to want to just end it. When you see others effortlessly cruising by, with all the support they need, you know where the feeling to lash out or cheat and take a short cut comes from. In these situations the short term sense of well being that the use of drugs and alcohol bring is understandable.
The Attention Home serves as an aid station on the road, where encouragement and support is given. There is a belief they can do it, the expectations are high; they are shown that they are definitely worth the effort. Maybe some of the unnecessary load can be abandoned. Connections can be made to helpful resources. Many times kids leave the Attention Home with their challenges just as great, but they have had the rest and have learned the difference good support and encouragement can bring. Hopefully they will be more likely to stop at the next aid station, believe more in themselves and will know better what will help and hurt them in the long run.
The Youth Homes does a great job of supporting kids and does an equally good job of supporting runners who run in honor of the kids. This year we were given a nice hat, running shirt, and our entry fee for the race for being part of the team. If you’re not “Running 4 Kids” this year, I hope you will be inspired by the pages on www.firstgiving.com/youthhomes and join us next year.
~ Craig Kruegar, Program Director, Shirley Miller Attention Home, Youth Homes
Many members of Run Wild will be joining me in running the Missoula Marathon and Half Marathon in support of the Youth Homes. They use the stories of the kids to inspire them during training and during the race and raise money to support The Youth Homes. You can check out all their pages by going to: www.firstgiving.com/youthhomes and clicking on the Missoula Marathon and Half Marathon link on the right side of the page. There are some amazing and inspiring stories there.
When I started at the Youth Homes my first feelings were ones of sadness at the stories I heard, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, poverty, mental illness and the mental and psychological effect of generations of substance abuse. All of the kids were affected by these, most of them by more than one, and some of them by all. However what I quickly became more affected by is the effort and strength the kids show as they try to move forward each day.
I have completed marathons, and many other endurance events, however I have always been well prepared, had all the tools I needed to be successful, and only entered events in which I felt prepared to succeed. As an endurance athlete, however unaccomplished, I recognize the need for proper training, technique, and support. Many of the youth at the Youth Homes run the marathon that is life without many of the things needed for success. As they run the race they don’t experience cheers of encouragement and physical support. Instead, either directly or indirectly, they often hear that even if they try, they will never make it, that they are not good enough or worth the effort, and that they might as well settle for less or just give up. Sometimes the very people who should be providing the most support and encouragement instead add to the heavy burden the kids are already carrying and give them things which hamper their performance.
What is remarkable is not the challenges they face but their ability to move forward. Runners know what happens when the body is asked to do things it is not ready to do; it develops coping mechanisms. If a muscle is strained, or too weak, other parts of the body make up the difference. In the end the determined runner moves forward, but the result is poor technique, lack of effective growth, further injury, and never full potential. The kids I have worked with have managed to perform amazing tasks despite their challenges, but they deserve support.
Anyone that has been at the edge of their ability, running uphill, carrying extra weight , with no water, no food, against the wind, with miles to go, and thinking only of stopping knows the feelings that lead kids to want to just end it. When you see others effortlessly cruising by, with all the support they need, you know where the feeling to lash out or cheat and take a short cut comes from. In these situations the short term sense of well being that the use of drugs and alcohol bring is understandable.
The Attention Home serves as an aid station on the road, where encouragement and support is given. There is a belief they can do it, the expectations are high; they are shown that they are definitely worth the effort. Maybe some of the unnecessary load can be abandoned. Connections can be made to helpful resources. Many times kids leave the Attention Home with their challenges just as great, but they have had the rest and have learned the difference good support and encouragement can bring. Hopefully they will be more likely to stop at the next aid station, believe more in themselves and will know better what will help and hurt them in the long run.
The Youth Homes does a great job of supporting kids and does an equally good job of supporting runners who run in honor of the kids. This year we were given a nice hat, running shirt, and our entry fee for the race for being part of the team. If you’re not “Running 4 Kids” this year, I hope you will be inspired by the pages on www.firstgiving.com/youthhomes and join us next year.
~ Craig Kruegar, Program Director, Shirley Miller Attention Home, Youth Homes
A Glimpse at Who Is Training for the Missoula Marathon
Close to 450 people are registered for the running, walking and run/walk classes to train for the Missoula Marathon. That’s a lot of people to get to know. We thought it would be fun to get to know some of them and find out why they are training for the Missoula Marathon or Half Marathon.
Name: Barbara Kennedy
Age: 68
Occupation: Business Consultant - Missoula Job Service
Training Class: Walking
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? This will be my first time walking a half marathon.
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? I was motivated to do this when I joined the RWM Personnel Committee and met the other people and recognized how much they enjoyed it. My husband and I were interested in participating in something to get us out of our recliners ;-) so we decided this would be a fun and healthy activity. We've always been active with different activities, running, walking, biking, canoeing, etc. and want to stay that way!
What is your race goal? My goal is to participate and finish the 1/2 marathon, remain healthy and stay active for many more years!
Name: Daniel Hathaway
Age: 28
Profession: Teller at MFCU
Training Class: Running
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? It'll be my first Marathon.
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? I'm on the Run4Kids team and it's included as part of our sign up. I trained off and on with the class last year and it was great. I knew I'd need to really try to make every class to survive the full. It's been awesome and I've made some great new running buddies!
What is your race goal? I saw online somewhere that the average male finishing time is 4:32 so that's what I've been shooting for but, honestly I'll be happy with just being on my feet when I get to the finish line.
Name: Gina Brown
Age: 43
Training Class: Running
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? This will be my first half marathon!
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? My friend Bethany encouraged me to sign up and I really felt like it would be a great thing to do to prepare for my first half marathon! I have had the best time and have learned so much from this class! I can't wait to sign up for it again next year!
What is your race goal? I use a Garmin so my race goal for my Garmin is 2 1/2 hours, my published time will probably be closer to 3 hours because I have Type 1 diabetes which requires me to stop at the aid stations to check my blood sugar. My real goal however is not a time goal, my real goal is to run the whole thing, and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna accomplish that! Can't Wait!!!!
Name: Donna Bennett
Age: 65
Profession: Retired
Training Class: Galloway
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? First Marathon
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? Started running last year. My goal is to run forever and the Galloway program will let me do this.
What is your race goal? To finish.
~ Eva Dunn-Froebig
Name: Barbara Kennedy
Age: 68
Occupation: Business Consultant - Missoula Job Service
Training Class: Walking
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? This will be my first time walking a half marathon.
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? I was motivated to do this when I joined the RWM Personnel Committee and met the other people and recognized how much they enjoyed it. My husband and I were interested in participating in something to get us out of our recliners ;-) so we decided this would be a fun and healthy activity. We've always been active with different activities, running, walking, biking, canoeing, etc. and want to stay that way!
What is your race goal? My goal is to participate and finish the 1/2 marathon, remain healthy and stay active for many more years!
Name: Daniel Hathaway
Age: 28
Profession: Teller at MFCU
Training Class: Running
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? It'll be my first Marathon.
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? I'm on the Run4Kids team and it's included as part of our sign up. I trained off and on with the class last year and it was great. I knew I'd need to really try to make every class to survive the full. It's been awesome and I've made some great new running buddies!
What is your race goal? I saw online somewhere that the average male finishing time is 4:32 so that's what I've been shooting for but, honestly I'll be happy with just being on my feet when I get to the finish line.
Name: Gina Brown
Age: 43
Training Class: Running
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? This will be my first half marathon!
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? My friend Bethany encouraged me to sign up and I really felt like it would be a great thing to do to prepare for my first half marathon! I have had the best time and have learned so much from this class! I can't wait to sign up for it again next year!
What is your race goal? I use a Garmin so my race goal for my Garmin is 2 1/2 hours, my published time will probably be closer to 3 hours because I have Type 1 diabetes which requires me to stop at the aid stations to check my blood sugar. My real goal however is not a time goal, my real goal is to run the whole thing, and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna accomplish that! Can't Wait!!!!
Name: Donna Bennett
Age: 65
Profession: Retired
Training Class: Galloway
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? First Marathon
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? Started running last year. My goal is to run forever and the Galloway program will let me do this.
What is your race goal? To finish.
~ Eva Dunn-Froebig
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
View from the Back: Run-Walk-Running in Missoula
As the Missoula Marathon and Half approach, a hardy group of Missoulians is slowly and surely building toward those goals. Inspired by Jeff Galloway’s presentation at the Wilma in January, the Galloway training class has been meeting on Sundays and Wednesdays ever since.
Many members of the class were “fresh off the couch” when they began training on those snowy, icy, windy, dark days of winter. Some were new to running. Some had tried other marathon training programs and had fallen short of their goals. Some had a history of injury and wanted to explore Galloway’s low-mileage, low-intensity endurance training. Ages in the group ranged from 10 to well over 60 years of age. Many (though surely not all) would qualify for the Back of the Pack.
While building toward 13.1 or 26.2, the training class has used Galloway’s trademarked run-walk-run approach to distance. Trainees follow in cycles ranging from 20 seconds walk/60 seconds run to 4 minutes walk/1 minute run, depending on their current best pace at a mile’s distance. Although faster members can choose a higher run-walk ratio, Galloway insists that “there is no such thing as too slow for the long run.” He separates speed workouts from endurance training, and encourages ambitious competitors to add walk breaks on the long runs.
Since midwinter, long runs for the Galloway class have grown from 2 or 4 miles (half or full) to 13 or 26 miles three weeks before the race. As mileage increases, the recovery between long ones grows from one week to three. The basic Galloway midweek program calls for just two maintenance workouts of 15-45 minutes each. The structure of the program calls for building endurance slowly, with minimum weekly mileage and physical impact.
While most Galloway trainees in the Missoula class aim “to finish” their goal distance, a few also want to improve their time in the marathon or half. The Galloway program adds speed work to midweek and short-mileage weekends. It also calls for completing a final run of 14 or 29 miles, exceeding the target race distance to provide additional endurance in support of speed.
Jeff Galloway is a hero at the Back of the Pack. He is also a hero with competitive runners who are willing to try something different to build speed while reducing their likelihood of injury. You can “run-walk-run” wild!
Galloway will be in Missoula July 10 to run-walk-run the Missoula Marathon. He will also offer a 3-hour Running School on July 9, 3-6 pm at the Wilma. The cost is $99. You can register for the Running School at Jeff’s website. (The following link takes you directly to the order form) http://www.jeffgalloway.com/store/index.php/running-schools/running-school-class-jeff-galloway.html
~Pam Gardiner, Leader of the Back, backofpack@runwildmissoula.org
Many members of the class were “fresh off the couch” when they began training on those snowy, icy, windy, dark days of winter. Some were new to running. Some had tried other marathon training programs and had fallen short of their goals. Some had a history of injury and wanted to explore Galloway’s low-mileage, low-intensity endurance training. Ages in the group ranged from 10 to well over 60 years of age. Many (though surely not all) would qualify for the Back of the Pack.
While building toward 13.1 or 26.2, the training class has used Galloway’s trademarked run-walk-run approach to distance. Trainees follow in cycles ranging from 20 seconds walk/60 seconds run to 4 minutes walk/1 minute run, depending on their current best pace at a mile’s distance. Although faster members can choose a higher run-walk ratio, Galloway insists that “there is no such thing as too slow for the long run.” He separates speed workouts from endurance training, and encourages ambitious competitors to add walk breaks on the long runs.
Since midwinter, long runs for the Galloway class have grown from 2 or 4 miles (half or full) to 13 or 26 miles three weeks before the race. As mileage increases, the recovery between long ones grows from one week to three. The basic Galloway midweek program calls for just two maintenance workouts of 15-45 minutes each. The structure of the program calls for building endurance slowly, with minimum weekly mileage and physical impact.
While most Galloway trainees in the Missoula class aim “to finish” their goal distance, a few also want to improve their time in the marathon or half. The Galloway program adds speed work to midweek and short-mileage weekends. It also calls for completing a final run of 14 or 29 miles, exceeding the target race distance to provide additional endurance in support of speed.
Jeff Galloway is a hero at the Back of the Pack. He is also a hero with competitive runners who are willing to try something different to build speed while reducing their likelihood of injury. You can “run-walk-run” wild!
Galloway will be in Missoula July 10 to run-walk-run the Missoula Marathon. He will also offer a 3-hour Running School on July 9, 3-6 pm at the Wilma. The cost is $99. You can register for the Running School at Jeff’s website. (The following link takes you directly to the order form) http://www.jeffgalloway.com/store/index.php/running-schools/running-school-class-jeff-galloway.html
~Pam Gardiner, Leader of the Back, backofpack@runwildmissoula.org
Monday, June 27, 2011
Hellgate Village 5K
Saturday, July 9, 5 p.m., Caras Park, the site of the Missoula Marathon Expo
Download the registration form or register online now. Questions or want to volunteer? Email Race Director Carol Brooker.Want to be a part of the excitement of the Missoula Marathon, but don't want to train for and run the marathon or half marathon? Perhaps you are in town to watch a family member and want to participate in a family friendly fun run?
The Hellgate Village 5K starts and finishes at Caras Park, the site of the Missoula Marathon Expo. The course travels along the Clark Fork River on paved and gravel trails. Race proceeds benefit the Missoula Alzheimer's Support Group in honor of Anne Hayes, long time member and supporter of Run Wild Missoula.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Help needed for Missoula Marathon course cleanup
Saturday, June 25, 7:30 a.m. - meet at Peak Health & Wellness, corner of Blue Mountain Rd and Highway 93
The Missoula Marathon is in two weeks and we'd like to present the course in the best possible way to all the runners and the supporters flocking into our beautiful city, coming from all 50 states, Canada, and at least a dozen other countries from all over the world. Let's show pride in our event and our state! This is a great opportunity to give back. Please bring: yourself, your family, friends, neighbors, gloves, heavy trash bags, and a positive, can-do attitude for only an hour or two. Also, try to wear something bright for safety!
The Missoula Marathon is in two weeks and we'd like to present the course in the best possible way to all the runners and the supporters flocking into our beautiful city, coming from all 50 states, Canada, and at least a dozen other countries from all over the world. Let's show pride in our event and our state! This is a great opportunity to give back. Please bring: yourself, your family, friends, neighbors, gloves, heavy trash bags, and a positive, can-do attitude for only an hour or two. Also, try to wear something bright for safety!
A Glimpse at Who Is Training for the Missoula Marathon
Close to 450 people are registered for the running, walking and run/walk classes to train for the Missoula Marathon. That’s a lot of people to get to know. We thought it would be fun to get to know some of them and find out why they are training for the Missoula Marathon or Half Marathon.
Name: Hillary Ogg
Age: 32
Profession: Research & Business Development Specialist/Mom to 2 Boys
Training Class: Running
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? Nope - my first 1/2 was the Seattle in 2007 (so.many.hills.)
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? I've basically taken the last three years off from running with any consistency- I had my two boys (one in '08 and one in '10) - was on bedrest for the end of my last pregnancy - had foot surgery - and needed something to get me back in the game, to keep me in line and keep me honest! I wanted to get back into running without getting injured and figured this class would be great to follow for mileage, as well as any questions I had along the way. A few of my friends and I put together our own running club in '03, Girls Gone Running: Best of the West, and three of us decided to do the training class together. We have a few other friends who are training for the Missoula Half in Seattle and Billings, as well. The class has been great for our friendships (both here and long-distance) and our exercise goals.
What is your race goal? My race goal is to finish under 2 hours 10 minutes.
Do you plan to do another marathon or half marathon? I have a secret dream (not so secret anymore) of doing either the New York City Marathon or the Paris Marathon in the next few years (say, within 5 years). I figure if I'm going to do a marathon, I want it to be somewhere I want to visit - good ol' multi-tasking.
Name: Barbara Riley
Age: 58
Profession: business co-owner; fitness instructor (dance)
Training Class: Walking
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? Yes, the first.
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? Following the blog of Kimberly Dredger last year... and wanting to achieve weight loss and fitness from an activity I enjoyed but seemed to have some physical problems with when done on my own. I knew from Kimberly's experience that we would learn how to "walk" correctly and would have lots of support in reaching any goal. I also was looking for an activity my husband and I could do together anywhere, such as while traveling.
What is your race goal? To complete the half-marathon in 3.5 hours and without injury.
Do you plan to do another marathon or half marathon? Yes, already planning another half-marathon in the fall with family members in Georgia.
Name: Suzanne Tilleman
Age: 39, turning 40 in July
Profession: Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Montana
Training Class: Running
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? It is my second half marathon. I did my first in February. I am pretty new to regular running.
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? My running buddy, she is always encouraging me to run.
What is your race goal? To run the entire length.
Do you plan to do another marathon or half marathon? Yes.
~Eva Dunn-Froebig
Name: Hillary Ogg
Age: 32
Profession: Research & Business Development Specialist/Mom to 2 Boys
Training Class: Running
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? Nope - my first 1/2 was the Seattle in 2007 (so.many.hills.)
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? I've basically taken the last three years off from running with any consistency- I had my two boys (one in '08 and one in '10) - was on bedrest for the end of my last pregnancy - had foot surgery - and needed something to get me back in the game, to keep me in line and keep me honest! I wanted to get back into running without getting injured and figured this class would be great to follow for mileage, as well as any questions I had along the way. A few of my friends and I put together our own running club in '03, Girls Gone Running: Best of the West, and three of us decided to do the training class together. We have a few other friends who are training for the Missoula Half in Seattle and Billings, as well. The class has been great for our friendships (both here and long-distance) and our exercise goals.
What is your race goal? My race goal is to finish under 2 hours 10 minutes.
Do you plan to do another marathon or half marathon? I have a secret dream (not so secret anymore) of doing either the New York City Marathon or the Paris Marathon in the next few years (say, within 5 years). I figure if I'm going to do a marathon, I want it to be somewhere I want to visit - good ol' multi-tasking.
Name: Barbara Riley
Age: 58
Profession: business co-owner; fitness instructor (dance)
Training Class: Walking
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? Yes, the first.
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? Following the blog of Kimberly Dredger last year... and wanting to achieve weight loss and fitness from an activity I enjoyed but seemed to have some physical problems with when done on my own. I knew from Kimberly's experience that we would learn how to "walk" correctly and would have lots of support in reaching any goal. I also was looking for an activity my husband and I could do together anywhere, such as while traveling.
What is your race goal? To complete the half-marathon in 3.5 hours and without injury.
Do you plan to do another marathon or half marathon? Yes, already planning another half-marathon in the fall with family members in Georgia.
Name: Suzanne Tilleman
Age: 39, turning 40 in July
Profession: Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Montana
Training Class: Running
Will this be your first marathon / half marathon? It is my second half marathon. I did my first in February. I am pretty new to regular running.
What motivated you to sign up for the training class? My running buddy, she is always encouraging me to run.
What is your race goal? To run the entire length.
Do you plan to do another marathon or half marathon? Yes.
~Eva Dunn-Froebig
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Run Wild Missoula Member Profiles: Bob Taylor
Name: Bob Taylor
Age: 45
Place of birth: Missoula
Occupation: Driver for Coca Cola
What are your short-term running and long term running goals? Short-term, I just want to get back into running after not running all winter. Long-term, I want to complete the Missoula Marathon and the Pengally Double dip without injuries and continue on from there. I want to run the New York City Marathon someday.
Your favorite meal before or after a race? I try to eat normally. I do like to have spaghetti or some kind of pasta the night before, but I can make a case for just about any kind of healthy food. In the morning before the race I eat what I always eat: A small bowl of cereal, yogurt, juice and maybe toast with Nutella on it and, of course, at least three cups of coffee.
What is your favorite song and does it or any other play in your mind as you run? I don’t have a favorite. Usually the last song I hear on the radio or cd will stick in my head as I run. I’ve been to Bloomsday quite a few times over the years and the theme from Rocky near the end always choked me up.
What keeps you running on a bad run day? The running group. Lately I have relied on the scheduled group run to keep me going. There have been times in my running when I didn’t need any external motivation at all, but right now I do. No matter how I feel, or how bad the weather, I am always happy I made the decision to run with the training group.Runners are the nicest and most authentic people I know. I love that you can run up next to just about any runner and have something to talk about. There is always common ground. Almost anything goes. If you are running next to a male or female who is continually blowing snot rockets you can talk about that if you want. I had a nice conversation about that very subject at last Sunday’s run. It is difficult to be in a bad mood when you’re running. Even if I am, I find that I have usually run it out of my system by the time I complete the run.
I am addicted to: running shoes.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to Terry Stekly the newsletter begins a new series on member profiles. We hope that you will enjoy getting to know Run Wild Missoula members and we encourage you to say “hi” to them next time your paths cross.
Age: 45
Place of birth: Missoula
Occupation: Driver for Coca Cola
What are your short-term running and long term running goals? Short-term, I just want to get back into running after not running all winter. Long-term, I want to complete the Missoula Marathon and the Pengally Double dip without injuries and continue on from there. I want to run the New York City Marathon someday.
Your favorite meal before or after a race? I try to eat normally. I do like to have spaghetti or some kind of pasta the night before, but I can make a case for just about any kind of healthy food. In the morning before the race I eat what I always eat: A small bowl of cereal, yogurt, juice and maybe toast with Nutella on it and, of course, at least three cups of coffee.
What is your favorite song and does it or any other play in your mind as you run? I don’t have a favorite. Usually the last song I hear on the radio or cd will stick in my head as I run. I’ve been to Bloomsday quite a few times over the years and the theme from Rocky near the end always choked me up.
What keeps you running on a bad run day? The running group. Lately I have relied on the scheduled group run to keep me going. There have been times in my running when I didn’t need any external motivation at all, but right now I do. No matter how I feel, or how bad the weather, I am always happy I made the decision to run with the training group.Runners are the nicest and most authentic people I know. I love that you can run up next to just about any runner and have something to talk about. There is always common ground. Almost anything goes. If you are running next to a male or female who is continually blowing snot rockets you can talk about that if you want. I had a nice conversation about that very subject at last Sunday’s run. It is difficult to be in a bad mood when you’re running. Even if I am, I find that I have usually run it out of my system by the time I complete the run.
I am addicted to: running shoes.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to Terry Stekly the newsletter begins a new series on member profiles. We hope that you will enjoy getting to know Run Wild Missoula members and we encourage you to say “hi” to them next time your paths cross.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon, May 15
The annual Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) convention always combines their conference with a running event to give attendees a chance to get a little competitive running in during their trip. That was the case with the recent conference in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The conference was timed just before the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon, organized by the same people who put on the Marine Corps Marathon in October. They tout the Historic Half as a course that “covers a wide variety of scenic locations from parks, streets and neighborhoods to monuments, Civil War battlefields, museums and the Rappahannock River with entertainment all along the way.”
I had only run one half marathon and two full marathons so I was a little reluctant to sign up for the event. It was tempting to register for the 5K (my favorite distance) but I didn’t want to seem like a wuss to my fellow RRCA convention attendees. Plus, how often do Montanans get the chance to run a half marathon? We only have a few in the state and one in Missoula. Six weeks ago when I signed up for the race the longest run I had done since last summer was 9 miles. I attempted an 11 mile run a few days after registering and strained a muscle in my calf. My physical therapist gave me the “do not run” speech and told me to give it 1 ½ - 3 weeks. That set me back even further. I did manage to get a 10 mile run in two weeks before the event, making me feel a little better about being unprepared.
The three days before the race were spent traveling, networking and attending workshops on very little sleep. Plus, they fed us rich fatty food, including a lot of beef—which I never usually eat—and gave us drink tickets each night to indulge in beer or wine. I don’t have the willpower to not eat good food and use up drink tickets to taste local wine and beer. Our agenda was packed: Upon arriving Fredericksburg we had activities scheduled from 5 a.m. runs to dinners that went until 10 p.m. I didn’t want to miss out on the 5 a.m. runs on historic battlefields even though in Montana it was 3 a.m. By Sunday, I was glad that I had because I got to run through some beautiful historic sites and I got and run with some new people, many of whom are leaders in their running clubs—and I was little more prepared to once again get up at 5 a.m. for the Historic Half.
That morning, I groggily got out of bed, had my coffee, banana and bagel and took the bus to the start, which was in the parking lot of a major shopping center outside of the Expo Center. It didn’t have much character, but it could accommodate 9,000 runners. (In its fourth year it has grown from 3,000 to 9,000 runners.) The music was already pumping and their celebrity runner Drew Carey (his first half) was trying to get the participants excited.
I checked my bag, used the porta potty, took a last drink of water and headed to the 1:45-2 hour finish section, not really knowing what to expect for my finish time. Drew Carey made some final strained motivational announcements with a hint of nervousness and unknowing in his voice. The gun went off and about 45 seconds later I crossed the starting line. The first mile was spent dodging in and out of people who were blocking me in. At about the 2nd mile I had reached a rhythm and the runners had spread out a little. I moved along, feeling the humidity more than I liked. I felt pretty good for a while, but by the 10k mark I wondered how I was going to keep it up. We reached the town of Fredericksburg and ran through the historic streets. Although there were a lot of great volunteers on the course I was surprised at how little the community came out to cheer on the runners. There were some people in front of the houses cheering us on and generously handing out lemonade, licorice and gummy bears. Since I run without a watch or an MP3 player I tried to make small talk with other runners. I met mostly locals during the run, including a carefree young man who was running while bouncing a tennis ball while he maintained an 8-minute per mile pace. I asked him if he was training for something that involved bouncing a tennis ball and he said he found it a few miles back and though it would be fun to bounce it.
Just like the Marine Corps Marathon, the half is well-organized largely because of the hundreds of marines who line the course at the water stops, entertainment and cheering sections. They soften a little compared to their usual demeanor with cheers of “lookin’ strong,” “almost there,” and “nice job” in addition to a lot of high fives. At each aid station I took a cup of water, sipped it and poured the rest of it over my head. Even though it was in the 50s the humidity made my face feel hot and flushed. It reminded me of how I felt after high school track practice in upstate New York where it’s also quite humid in May. The majority of the runners wore capri running tights and some even wore long tights and long sleeves. I wore as little as possible—a tank and shorts.
After running through Fredericksburg and right by my hotel, where I was tempted to stop, we ran along the beautiful Rappahannock River. I started thinking to myself, “I’m in the homestretch, only about a 5K to go” and “I love 5Ks, this is going to be fine.” But it was not fine. The last 5K was mostly uphill. I slowed down and everyone started passing me. I thought, “I’m from Montana. We are surrounded by mountains, why can’t I run Virginia hills and why are these city eastern folk passing me?” I was disappointed in myself, but I thought of it as good training for the Pengelly Double Dip and realized that I needed to run a lot more hills when I returned to Missoula.
I was also glad I didn’t drive the course before I ran it. I started to have a vague memory of someone telling me at dinner the night before that there was a 6% incline on the course. Sometimes being ignorant is an advantage. The steep hills finally came to an end and the incline turned gradual. We ran over the I-95 overpass, which is where I remembered the 1-mile mark. “Oh good, I can run one more mile, I think,” I told myself. I caught up with the guy with the tennis ball, who had passed me on the hill. We ran together for a bit until he stopped and said he was going to wait for his brother who was running his first half marathon.
Finally, I could see the finish line. I sped up a little, but realized I still had about 500 meters left to go. I could see the people lining the finish area, then the race clock, which said 1:43. I was pleasantly surprised as I was hoping to finish around 1:50. Not wearing a watch and being ignorant worked for me again. Once I made the mistake in a 5K to ask a runner the time at the 2 mile point. When she told me I told myself I was going too fast and slowed down. If I hadn’t known I probably would have ran faster.
The finish area was lined with more Marines handing out bagels, pretzels, bananas, bottled water and other treats. I headed straight to the gear bag tent and got my bag with my long-sleeved shirt and water bottle immediately. Then I redeemed my beer ticket even though it wasn’t even 9 a.m. yet (and 7 a.m. in Montana). A beer after a race tastes great no matter what time of day. I was back at the finish area in 5 minutes to watch the other runners. Looking around I was surprised at how few people it seemed there were, but we were in a large box-store parking lot.
As I sipped my beer I watched the runners coming through the finish line. Everyone was going wild cheering for the people who were just breaking two hours. There was a lot of commotion all of a sudden and I realized Drew Carey had come through the finish line. I later found out he had finished his first half marathon in 1:57. Not bad for a first half, but I was secretly glad that I had beat him.
~ Eva Dunn-Froebig
I had only run one half marathon and two full marathons so I was a little reluctant to sign up for the event. It was tempting to register for the 5K (my favorite distance) but I didn’t want to seem like a wuss to my fellow RRCA convention attendees. Plus, how often do Montanans get the chance to run a half marathon? We only have a few in the state and one in Missoula. Six weeks ago when I signed up for the race the longest run I had done since last summer was 9 miles. I attempted an 11 mile run a few days after registering and strained a muscle in my calf. My physical therapist gave me the “do not run” speech and told me to give it 1 ½ - 3 weeks. That set me back even further. I did manage to get a 10 mile run in two weeks before the event, making me feel a little better about being unprepared.
The three days before the race were spent traveling, networking and attending workshops on very little sleep. Plus, they fed us rich fatty food, including a lot of beef—which I never usually eat—and gave us drink tickets each night to indulge in beer or wine. I don’t have the willpower to not eat good food and use up drink tickets to taste local wine and beer. Our agenda was packed: Upon arriving Fredericksburg we had activities scheduled from 5 a.m. runs to dinners that went until 10 p.m. I didn’t want to miss out on the 5 a.m. runs on historic battlefields even though in Montana it was 3 a.m. By Sunday, I was glad that I had because I got to run through some beautiful historic sites and I got and run with some new people, many of whom are leaders in their running clubs—and I was little more prepared to once again get up at 5 a.m. for the Historic Half.
That morning, I groggily got out of bed, had my coffee, banana and bagel and took the bus to the start, which was in the parking lot of a major shopping center outside of the Expo Center. It didn’t have much character, but it could accommodate 9,000 runners. (In its fourth year it has grown from 3,000 to 9,000 runners.) The music was already pumping and their celebrity runner Drew Carey (his first half) was trying to get the participants excited.
I checked my bag, used the porta potty, took a last drink of water and headed to the 1:45-2 hour finish section, not really knowing what to expect for my finish time. Drew Carey made some final strained motivational announcements with a hint of nervousness and unknowing in his voice. The gun went off and about 45 seconds later I crossed the starting line. The first mile was spent dodging in and out of people who were blocking me in. At about the 2nd mile I had reached a rhythm and the runners had spread out a little. I moved along, feeling the humidity more than I liked. I felt pretty good for a while, but by the 10k mark I wondered how I was going to keep it up. We reached the town of Fredericksburg and ran through the historic streets. Although there were a lot of great volunteers on the course I was surprised at how little the community came out to cheer on the runners. There were some people in front of the houses cheering us on and generously handing out lemonade, licorice and gummy bears. Since I run without a watch or an MP3 player I tried to make small talk with other runners. I met mostly locals during the run, including a carefree young man who was running while bouncing a tennis ball while he maintained an 8-minute per mile pace. I asked him if he was training for something that involved bouncing a tennis ball and he said he found it a few miles back and though it would be fun to bounce it.
Just like the Marine Corps Marathon, the half is well-organized largely because of the hundreds of marines who line the course at the water stops, entertainment and cheering sections. They soften a little compared to their usual demeanor with cheers of “lookin’ strong,” “almost there,” and “nice job” in addition to a lot of high fives. At each aid station I took a cup of water, sipped it and poured the rest of it over my head. Even though it was in the 50s the humidity made my face feel hot and flushed. It reminded me of how I felt after high school track practice in upstate New York where it’s also quite humid in May. The majority of the runners wore capri running tights and some even wore long tights and long sleeves. I wore as little as possible—a tank and shorts.
After running through Fredericksburg and right by my hotel, where I was tempted to stop, we ran along the beautiful Rappahannock River. I started thinking to myself, “I’m in the homestretch, only about a 5K to go” and “I love 5Ks, this is going to be fine.” But it was not fine. The last 5K was mostly uphill. I slowed down and everyone started passing me. I thought, “I’m from Montana. We are surrounded by mountains, why can’t I run Virginia hills and why are these city eastern folk passing me?” I was disappointed in myself, but I thought of it as good training for the Pengelly Double Dip and realized that I needed to run a lot more hills when I returned to Missoula.
I was also glad I didn’t drive the course before I ran it. I started to have a vague memory of someone telling me at dinner the night before that there was a 6% incline on the course. Sometimes being ignorant is an advantage. The steep hills finally came to an end and the incline turned gradual. We ran over the I-95 overpass, which is where I remembered the 1-mile mark. “Oh good, I can run one more mile, I think,” I told myself. I caught up with the guy with the tennis ball, who had passed me on the hill. We ran together for a bit until he stopped and said he was going to wait for his brother who was running his first half marathon.
Finally, I could see the finish line. I sped up a little, but realized I still had about 500 meters left to go. I could see the people lining the finish area, then the race clock, which said 1:43. I was pleasantly surprised as I was hoping to finish around 1:50. Not wearing a watch and being ignorant worked for me again. Once I made the mistake in a 5K to ask a runner the time at the 2 mile point. When she told me I told myself I was going too fast and slowed down. If I hadn’t known I probably would have ran faster.
The finish area was lined with more Marines handing out bagels, pretzels, bananas, bottled water and other treats. I headed straight to the gear bag tent and got my bag with my long-sleeved shirt and water bottle immediately. Then I redeemed my beer ticket even though it wasn’t even 9 a.m. yet (and 7 a.m. in Montana). A beer after a race tastes great no matter what time of day. I was back at the finish area in 5 minutes to watch the other runners. Looking around I was surprised at how few people it seemed there were, but we were in a large box-store parking lot.
As I sipped my beer I watched the runners coming through the finish line. Everyone was going wild cheering for the people who were just breaking two hours. There was a lot of commotion all of a sudden and I realized Drew Carey had come through the finish line. I later found out he had finished his first half marathon in 1:57. Not bad for a first half, but I was secretly glad that I had beat him.
~ Eva Dunn-Froebig
Friday, June 17, 2011
Riding the Bloomsday Bus
First , a little history. I started riding the Bloomsday bus with my sister Carol Hedges in 1989. We had no expectations for the race except it was a 12K. And we could ride the bus to Spokane and back in one day. That first year I think there were over 58,000 runners. Yes, that is the right amount of 0s. The city of Spokane is so supportive of this race. It is amazing! Businesses sign up for water stations and they are 100 feet long, sometimes on both sides of the street. There are live bands along the way playing music from hard rock to polka. A couple years Elvis sang to us. This year there was a young lady singing a sultry song in a formal dress. People line the street cheering you on, playing music and spraying hoses on the hot days. As you round the corner for the run downhill to the finish line, “Chariots of Fire” is playing loudly on the stereo. Anyhow, we were hooked. We rode the bus every year after that until ’94, that was the last bus.
We, individually without sponsors, tried to get a bus going by hanging fliers but we could never get enough people to sign up. So Carol started driving the two of us over in ’97, giving up a whole weekend and staying in a motel/hotel and then driving back tired. But we didn’t want to give up the Bloomsday experience, so every year we made the trip. In ’08, we pitched the idea of a bus to RWM and they committed to three years of bus trips. The first year there were 5 of us on a Beachliner. The second year there were 7 of us on a YMCA bus. Last year there were 20 of us on two YMCA buses. Three years were up and we hadn’t filled a Beachliner yet.
Thank you RWM for extending it one more year. On May 1, 2011, 46 people got on the BloomsdayBeachliner to Spokane. Not everyone was a runner, we had two volunteers and one supporter. Of the rest, some were serious runners, some were walkers, some were first timers and some were experienced Bloomies. Each one of them was one of a little over 56,000 people moving over the streets of Spokane listening to bands and recorded music; having their pictures taken with the vulture on Doomsday Hill; being cheered on by citizens of Spokane; and rounding the corner and down the hill to the finish line. Only finishers get the T-shirt!
As hostesses, it is our sincere hope that everyone had a positive experience riding the bus. And also that you enjoyed the Bloomsday experience, too. We heard comments like “I love this bus,” “let’s do this again next year,” and “let’s try to fill two buses next year.” I hope we fill the buses for a long time into the future.
~ Bonnie Fergerson
We, individually without sponsors, tried to get a bus going by hanging fliers but we could never get enough people to sign up. So Carol started driving the two of us over in ’97, giving up a whole weekend and staying in a motel/hotel and then driving back tired. But we didn’t want to give up the Bloomsday experience, so every year we made the trip. In ’08, we pitched the idea of a bus to RWM and they committed to three years of bus trips. The first year there were 5 of us on a Beachliner. The second year there were 7 of us on a YMCA bus. Last year there were 20 of us on two YMCA buses. Three years were up and we hadn’t filled a Beachliner yet.
Thank you RWM for extending it one more year. On May 1, 2011, 46 people got on the BloomsdayBeachliner to Spokane. Not everyone was a runner, we had two volunteers and one supporter. Of the rest, some were serious runners, some were walkers, some were first timers and some were experienced Bloomies. Each one of them was one of a little over 56,000 people moving over the streets of Spokane listening to bands and recorded music; having their pictures taken with the vulture on Doomsday Hill; being cheered on by citizens of Spokane; and rounding the corner and down the hill to the finish line. Only finishers get the T-shirt!
As hostesses, it is our sincere hope that everyone had a positive experience riding the bus. And also that you enjoyed the Bloomsday experience, too. We heard comments like “I love this bus,” “let’s do this again next year,” and “let’s try to fill two buses next year.” I hope we fill the buses for a long time into the future.
~ Bonnie Fergerson
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