Missoula Montana is only a three hour car ride from Spokane, which is probably why I’ve done the Missoula half marathon so many times, seven years to be exact. This year by far was the BEST YEAR EVER! I believe this is because they moved the race date from the second weekend of July to the last weekend of June. Just those few weeks made such a difference in temperature and air quality. Normally we are running in 90+ or 100+ degrees, inhaling smoking air from the surrounding fires that have become the norm during our summers here in the Pacific Northwest. This year, it never even reach 80 degrees and it was actually a little chilly at the start lines. Best decision by race organizers in creating perfect running conditions.
On to the races. I started participating in the Big 3 Challenge several years ago. This challenge includes:
· 3 mile beer run on Friday, no charge and free beer at the end
· 5K on Saturday
· Half or Full Marathon on Sunday, again free beer at the end
After you finish the Sunday race, you head to Caras Park for a little extra bling for doing all three. More on that later.
We arrived in Missoula around 2:00pm on Friday and checked into our hotel. I recommend staying at the Holiday Inn on Pattee Street. It’s one of the nicer hotels in this quaint college town. It is also conveniently located to ALL race activities.
We walked to the race Expo which is held at Caras Park, right next to our hotel. Normally a pleasant experience. However, this year seemed to be a little disorganized and super over crowed. Not sure if this was because we arrived right when it opened, they were understaffed or if more people registered than usual. Whatever the reason, we picked up our bids and shirts and left. We didn’t feel like pushing through the masses to visit the vendors.
First race of the challenge is a 3 mile beer run on Friday at 6:00pm.
Since moving the races to June the weather was better than any of the other years I’ve run this race. Just to compare, last year it was 101 degrees for the Beer Run, this year it was around 75 degrees. The race starts and end at Caras Park Pavilion and runs briefly along the Clark Fork River to and around the campus of the University of Montana stopping only for a photo op with their mascot the grizzly bear.
This is not a timed race, but we all knew who crossed the finish line first MY SON. He was being interviewed by the local news channel when I finally finished. Even though this race is free you are awarded a free beer from Big Sky Brewing Company to anyone 21 or older. Tasty and refreshing as always. 
The 5K on Saturday doesn’t start until 8:00am so you’re not doing the walk of the zombie to the start line. I like a later start time for the 5K, you feel more rested and since its only 3.1 miles you’re not losing a chunk of your day running. The race starts on Higgins Avenue just north of the Higgins Street Bridge. The first mile runs through neighborhoods, then along the Clark Fork River to McCormick Park. After mile 2 you run on the Kim Williams natural trail, over the Madison Street Bridge then finishing just below the Higgins street bridge at the Missoula Marathon Expo. Not a lot of hoopla at the finish line, but the medals are always nice.
My final race of the weekend was the Half Marathon on Sunday. Start time was 6am, however bus transportation ran from 4:15-5:15am. So I was up at 3:30 for my usual pre-race routine and out the door by 4:30am in order to be at the Adams Center on the University of Montana campus where buses take you to either the Full or Half start lines. I hooked up with some other runners for the short (but dark) walk along the Riverwalk trail to the campus. Once on the bus, it was about a 15 minute ride to the half marathon start at the Alpine Physical Therapy /PEAK Health & Wellness. The first couple of miles were at a slight decline – always welcome! The course winds through the beautiful Montana countryside, photo ops at every turn. Every year this man hauls his grand piano out to the road and dressed in his tux plays during the entire race. So classy.
One pleasant addition was located at mile 10.3, the Blaine Street Adult aid stations, offering complimentary cocktail samples. Yes please, I’ll take the Mimosa – and I did.
Crossing the Higgins Street Bridge for the final stretch before crossing the finish line is all downhill YEAH!
The half marathon race medal was awesome as usual and the food after the race was also great: a free beer, pasta salad, watermelon, bananas, bagels, cookies and nuts. If you participated in the Big 3 Challenge you get to pick up your “extra” bling right after the race located at the site of the expo. This year was this really cute refrigerator magnet. All said and done you walk away with 2 really nice shirts, 2 medals and magnet, and oh yea 2 cans of FREE BEER!
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