Missoula Mile

Missoula Mile – Post Race Recap

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I learned a few things this weekend:

1. I don’t like sprinting.

2. I’m not very good at sprinting.

3. I don’t know how to tie my shoes.

However, I am able to cross Montana off my list of states with the Missoula Mile; but man, running sprinting a mile is hard! hahaha!!! Ok, ok, not really; but you get the idea. I’m definitely, definitely a distance runner; NOT a sprinter!

Yep, that’s me – 7 years ago!! Sorry for the horrible picture, but it’s all I have!

I was seriously not meant to be a sprinter. In high school, durning track season, I ran the mile, the 800 meters and the 4 x 400 meters. And my coach always put me either as the first or the last in that relay team. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY! We never won. If I was first, I put us way behind everyone; if I was last, it was pretty much guaranteed we would not win because I was never able to catch up to anyone. Maybe coach just wanted to give our group a few more races to participate in…a pity race! (I got a lot of pity claps at the end of the 4 x 4).

Anyway, I learned that for me, track wasn’t as fun as cross country, but I did enjoy the mile and the 800 back then. However, I’m pretty sure high school was the last time I have ran/timed just a mile….and that was, uh… 7 years ago!  7 years ago was also the last time I saw my cousin whom is the reason I was in Missoula this past weekend. 7 years ago he (with his family of course) came out for my high school graduation.

So here we are 7 years later and I’m celebrating my cousin’s graduation and running a timed mile. And it was miserable. (Not the graduation, that was fine!).

missoula mile

Yep, these cool headbands make me look like a dork!

We woke up early in the morning; earlier than we would have liked because it was the only way we would have a chance to get a ride to Downtown Missoula. We sat in a bagel shop eating breakfast and drinking coffee while we wasted time. As race time got closer, we walked the two blocks to The Runner’s Edge, Missoula’s local running shop. We picked up our packets (20 bucks and no tshirts, but we did get these cool headbands!) and people watched as we waited.

The Running Store

Turns out, the Runner’s Edge sponsors the Missoula Running Club (called Run Wild Missoula) and sunday is long run day. The shop sets up water and cliff shots for the runners as a halfway mark on the run and opens their doors for use of the restrooms/rest. We watched  A LOT of these running club members stop by. At first we were confused by people taking shots of the cliff energy stuff thinking it was a little excessive for a mile race…but we finally figured out what was going on.

First up was the Prep-Mile, allowing the young runners to race, ages 10-18. The future of running!

Next was us: the women’s mile run/walk! Not too many participants…maybe 30 tops. (This was the same with the men’s run too). With the shot of the gun from the Mayor, we were off! We crossed the busy street of Broadway and headed down Higgin’s street to the bridge and back! Pretty flat, but sprinting the whole time. It was a pretty cool morning too, so by the time I was finished my fingers were cold and my chest hurt from rapidly breathing in the cold air. A few women passed me, but I think I finished in the top 10. The girl who won ran in about 5 minutes or so!! Crazy girl!! LOL, but she was a collegiate runner for a local university! Super fast! Super awesome!

I finished in about 7:10, I believe, although the exact time might be off a little. Not too shabby, I think! But still felt horrible…full belly…cold hands…tired legs…and no feeling in my toes!!!

My Mom (the second one)

You’re probably wondering about my ability to tie my shoes, huh? I tied my stupid shoes too tight…yeah, I know, rookie mistake, but I’m thinking, “I better get these suckers tight because I’m going to be sprinting hard core!” Yeah…about that….it’s kinda hard to run when you can’t feel your toes……I bet I was running like a goof. My form had to be awful!

Anyway, my Mom ran too! I got an sweet action shot of her about to finish! After she reached the finish line, we sat on the sidewalk with water in hand and watched the men run followed by the little kids (they were kinda cute watching run…but I still don’t like children…) and then the first responders!

This part of the event was pretty cool. About 20 or so first responders including firefighters, forest rangers, smoke jumpers and EMTs ran the Mile in their full gear! The crowded made sure to give each one a round of applause as they finished. It was a great way to support the people that save our lives everyday…and hey, a few them were kinda cute ; ) but I have a thing for firefighters…shh…don’t tell.

the First Responders racing

The only disappointing part was that we DID NOT get free ice cream. Only the kids did. I was very sad, let me tell you! (If you’re wondering, Big Dipper Ice Cream was a main sponsor for the event).

I did, however, win a raffle prize! I got another new headband!!

Overall, the Missoula Mile is actually a fun little event, especially for the locals of the area. It seemed like everyone knew each other; the announcer even acknowledged some finishers by name. The proceeds went to benefit Prostate Cancer Awareness with some of the local doctors running in the race! The Missoula Mile is a fairly new event, but I can see it growing in the years to come to be something big!

Post Race – over the bridge we ran

Missoula Mile – Pre Race Review

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I’ve been gearing up. I’ve been training hard. I’ve been getting ready. Sweating buckets because today, Sunday morning, is the Missoula MILE!!!!

That’s right, I’m doing a WHOLE mile! I know what you’re all thinking…can it be done!? I think I can do it! I’ve trained long countless…..minutes for this!

In all seriousness, I am excited for this. I am knocking Montana off my list. I’m already in Missoula, Montana this weekend for my cousin’s high school graduation and the Missoula Mile happened to be the same weekend.

And, YES, a mile does count! It’s an organized race and the proceeds go to charity. It SO counts as a Racing the States race!

The Missoula Mile proceeds go to benefit Prostate Cancer Awareness. There’s not much information about this race itself online, and the internet has been my only resource for this race since it’s out of state. It just says it starts in downtown Missoula, goes to the ice cream shop and back. (I better get some free ice cream after running a whole mile!) I drove through the downtown area Saturday morning as we made our way to the graduation ceremony and it’s a cute, cozy, small downtown. (I asked my uncle and he said Missoula has about a 65,000 people). I’ve been to Missoula a few times when I was a kid since some of my family is there, but I didn’t remember the city all that well.

It is as I remember it being: pretty, lush and green. Last time I was here was 10+ years ago, and we did a small hike up to the “M” which stands for the University of Montana. This trip so far has been pretty cold and gloomy but still fairly pretty, I hope the weather is warmer this morning as I run it!

I’m actually really curious as to how well I will do at this race. I haven’t ran JUST a mile and timed it in a loooooong time. My average pace when running, say a 10k, is about 8:30, so I’m guessing I can do a mile in under 8 min. I’ll let you know! Wish me luck on this WHOLE MILE!

Quarter Life Crisis

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Today is my 25th birthday. I honestly don’t know how I feel about it. I know it’s not that old, but I really don’t like the age 25. I feel like anything under that and you’re still considered “young.” Under 25, it’s ok to not have the career you want, be married/have kids or to not be living where you want to be….but as soon as you turn 25, and you don’t have those things, you instantly become lame. That’s the only description I have for it.  Although, I have no desire to have kids or be married any time soon or maybe ever! BUT, I do have a lot going for me! lol. And running is always a constant in my life!

I think this project must be my quarter life crisis.  I got a crazy whim/idea and just went with it!  If this is what I come up with for my quarter life crisis…I can’t even imagine what I’ll do when I turn 50 *shudder*

For my B-day this year, I got to spend time with my mom on Wednesday. We went to a delicious Greek restaurant, saw The Lorax (super cute!) and ate delicious white chocolate, raspberry cheesecake!!!! mmmmm….I’m a big fan of cheesecake! She also got me BEAUTIFUL (real) diamond earrings! My friend at work brought me a TON of easter candy…my favorite candy holiday. My boss brought me a cake! It’s like these people think I like sugar or something!?! My actually b-day day isn’t that exciting because I work at night, but I did a little bit of exercising this morning (I have a physical fitness test for a job I REALLY want) and I think I’m going to treat myself to sushi later before work. But this weekend I plan on celebrating at the bars with friends…. but enough about that stuff….

People think I like sugar……ok ok… I LOVE sugar…….no no, I’m ADDICTED to sugar…..here’s my birthday treats, so far!

I honestly don’t know where I was going with this post, but here’s the things I’d like to get accomplished before my next bday:

1. Knock out a bunch of states for Racing the States

2. Do a full marathon

3. Start training for a triathlon…maybe start with a sprint triathlon.

4. Take the GRE!!

5. Apply to grad schools/get in/go OR find a career that actually uses my major

6. Stay fit..at my current weight…with wiggle room….I’d like to stay around what I weigh, but I’d also like to gain more muscle tone..so that might actually weigh more but look smaller.

7. MOVE! either states or just out of the place I live now!

8. Keep up with this blog.

I think all of these things are doable. I’ll just have to check back in a year to this post to see if I accomplished them!

UPDATES!!!!

My first Racing The States race is in 9 days!!!! The Horsetooth Half is approaching! With my runs the last couple of days, I do feel confident again that I can do it.

I registered for the Bolder Boulder yesterday…supposed to be America’s Best 10k…I’ve done it the last two years…and it is pretty fun! It’s on May 28th.

OH YEAH! My favorite news! I’m doing the Rugged Maniac with a good friend May 19th!!! I’m soooo excited for this! The only race/obstacle course I’ve done was the Tough Mudder (which I’m wearing my Tough Mudder shirt right now! hahaha) and that was 10 miles..so I should have this in the bag!

Other states: The Run for the Zoo in New Mexico is coming up in less than a month! I’m getting geared up for that. I’m doing the 10k though. And I found my Montana race!! I’ll be doing the Missoula Mile.  I know, I know, it’s only a mile..but I happened to already have to be in Missoula that weekend…so I thought It was perfect!