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IN THIS ISSUE
Run Wild Missoula: Executive Director: Why I'm Thankful
Elk Ramble & Turkey Day Runs
RWM in Parade of Lights
Beginning Running WINTER Class
December BOP Social: December 7
Rattlesnake Resolution Run: January 1
New Year's Preview: Galloway 2016
Runner's Edge: Top 50 Store Again
Volunteer: Make A Difference!
Around Town
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Every Tuesday, 5:30 p..m. Run Wild Missoula Office




RUN WILD MISSOULA INFORMATION


RESULTS & PHOTOS

December  2015
Run Wild Missoula Executive Director: Why I'm Thankful
by Tony Banovich, Executive Director
 
Yes, I know that Thanksgiving has passed; but, that was just a few days ago.  And, it seems like it's still a good time to reflect a bit on all those things that I'm thankful for.
 
A family that's healthy and happy.
My 2 year old granddaughter.  (And grand baby 2.0 who is on the way this spring.)
A wife who has been by my side for 30 years.

Parents who are still around to see their grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up.
A job where I am lucky enough to interact with the running community every day.
That I'm still healthy enough to be out on the roads, tracks and trails taking part in the sport that I love.
The fortune of having been able to explore and run in locations all around the U.S. as well as places like Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Italy, France, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Tanzania, Namibia and South Africa.
An incredible set of employees, board members and volunteers at Run Wild Missoula.
All the friends that I've made over the years through running and racing.
All the new friends that I've made over the last 14 months through Run Wild Missoula.
The routes, paths and trails right out our back door here in Missoula.
Beer runs.
The almost 11,000 runners and walkers who participated in Run Wild Missoula events in 2015.
The 1,600 RWM members. 
The ability to live in a community where a fit, active and healthy lifestyle is the norm rather than the exception.
 
As I was driving back and forth to Livingston over the holiday, I was thinking about how lucky I am for all the gifts in my life.  Was also reflecting on how easy it is to get caught up in the day to day activities of "life" and not take the time to consider and value all the good things that surround us.  And that's when I realized that thinking about the good things in life was much more pleasant than worrying about all the things that were left undone, not started, waiting in the wings or out of my control
 
So, when you're on your next commute, road trip, daily run or quiet moment at home, take the time to reflect on the gifts in your life.  You'll come away from it with a much better mindset than if you had spent that time worrying about uncompleted chores, fussing about co-workers, or stewing on some perceived grievance.  Be Thankful.  Be Appreciative.  Be Happy.
 
See you on the roads, tracks and trails.
 
Tony Banovich
Executive Director, Run Wild Missoula
Race Director, Missoula Marathon
Elk Ramble & Turkey Day Runs
Elk Ramble & Turkey Day Runners Overcome The Cold
 
The Elk Ramble 15K Trail Run saw temperatures in the low 30's with a stiff east wind.  But, we still saw a  
new record of 261 runners complete the event.  This group was able to run over, across and around the north zone of the Mount Jumbo Open Space and Conservation Lands.  This area doesn't get quite the same amount of runner traffic as Mount Sentinel or the primary Rattlesnake Trails; so, it's a great opportunity for runners to get out and experience some different terrain.   
 
Thanks to race director Jessica Zephyrs, her cadre of volunteers and event sponsors Five Valley's Land Trust & Sapphire Physical Therapy.
 

In spite of the cold weather forecast, we saw over 1,000 runners and walkers register for the Turkey Family Fun Runs.  While the bitter cold on race morning saw a number of folks stay home, we still had 464 finishers in the 8K as well as a large 3K field!  We are also pleased to announce that we were able to donate a significant amount of non-perishable food and slightly over $1,000 in cash to the Missoula Food Bank - thank you all for your generosity.
 
Courtney Babcock again did an excellent job in directing this event.  And, special thanks to all of the volunteers who showed up and braved the conditions to give back to the running community.
 
RWM Parade of Lights Participation!
Walk with us in Run Wild Missoula's parade entry  in the 2015 Parade of Lights on Saturday, December 5th!
Our group will meet at 5:15 p.m. in the RWM office (downstairs at the Runner's Edge) to layer up before the parade starts. We will leave from RE at 5:30 to walk to the parade start, which begins at 6:00 pm. The parade begins in front of the Missoulian, on 4th and Higgins, at 6:00 p.m.  If you'd like to meet at the start, please email Hillary Ogg.
Register to be part of the fun here!

PLEASE WEAR:
  • reflective gear or running light gear,
  • headlamps,
  • blinky lights,
  • reflector vests,
  • handheld flashlights,
  • reflective pants,
  • heel spurs,
  • battery powered Christmas lights, etc.
Join us after the parade for hot cocoa and refreshments in the basement classroom of the Runner's Edge!

Beginning Running WINTER Class
Want to keep running this winter but need a group to run with? Join us for RWM's winter Beginning Running Class!

Class starts Saturday, December 5 at 8:30 a.m. and continues through the end of January. Class meets Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. in the basement of the Runner's Edge, 304 N. Higgins Ave., except for 12/30 and 1/27, when we will join the RWM Beer Run. No class on 12/26.

This class is designed for runners who have completed the 101 and 102 beginning running classes this fall and can comfortably run 4 or 5 miles. This is a design-your-own training class with lots of flexibility built in to account for weather, illness, and holidays.Please be prepared to run in cold, dark, and icy conditions; you may need thermal gear, traction devices, a headlamp, and reflective gear.

To sign up, log into your member profile!
Questions?  Email Hillary Ogg.
December BOP Social: December 7
By Pam Gardiner, Leader of the Back
 
December Back of the Pack Run/Walk/Social
Monday December 7
6:00 pm
 
Meet at Caffe Dolce, corner of Brooks and Beckwith
Run or walk a route designed around holiday lights.
 
Return to Caffe Dolce for food, drink, and camaraderie. 
*Run Wild Missoula members get 2 pizzas for the price of one on Monday nights.  Please bring your RWM membership card to claim the special. 
 
Thanks to Ellen Howell for hosting this festive event.
Rattlesnake Resolution Run: January 1
Rattlesnake Resolution Run - New Year's Day.
 
Five Kilometers For Five Dollars - with a 5K run, hot soup, commemorative ceramic soup bowl, live music and a great way to start the new year.  That's a heck of a value.  
 
Thanks to a partnership between Run Wild Missoula and Runner's Edge, you have no excuses not to have a fit and active start to the new year. And, thanks to our sponsors Good Food Store, Missoula Federal Credit Union, CostCare and Sapphire Physical Therapy.
 
Don't miss out - the race will be limited to 500 participants.  Register now at Rattlesnake Resolution Run 5K .  And as an added bonus for those of you looking to meet your 7 Races For A Goodie goal, this race will count towards both 2015 and 2016.
New Year's Preview: Galloway 2016
by Pam Gardiner, Leader of the Back (of the Pack)
 
Yes, Thanksgiving just passed and Christmas is barely coming into focus.  Why think about New Year's already?  Because, for the sixth time in a row, the year begins with a bang for those of us who follow Jeff Galloway's run-walk-run approach to training for distance events.
 
Jeff will be here in person the week of January 18.  We will schedule free public appearances and his popular $99 3-hour running school during that week.  Details will be announced through Run Wild Missoula channels as the time nears.
 
The Galloway marathon training program will begin the following Sunday, January 24. Once again, details will be shaping up in coming weeks and will be announced through social media and the January RWM newsletter.
 
Make note of these events on your 2016 calendar now.  If you are already a fan of Jeff's and a regular participant in the Galloway training program, talk it up among your friends.  If you have heard about the Galloway method and would like to learn more, this is the time to do so.
Runner's Edge: Top 50 Store Again!
 
We all know what a great resource we have in Missoula with the Runner's Edge.  Well, the rest of the country is also becoming aware of this great gem of the northwest.  Once again, Competitor Magazine has recognized Runner's Edge as one of the 50 Best Running Stores in America.  To see the full list and the criteria that they had to meet to be selected, get more at Competitor Magazine.  Congrats Anders, Meg, Tim, Vicky, Colleen, Forrest, Mike, Vo, Em and the rest of the RE team.
Volunteer: Make A Difference!
Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity that can help local researchers better understand Traumatic Brain Injury (TMI)?  Doctors Patel and Rau at the University of Montana Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences department are conducting a study of bio-markers in blood as they relate to TMI's.  They are looking for some healthy, fit individuals with no known prior brain injuries.  These subjects will be used to help establish a baseline data set.  Knowing the membership demographics of RWM, they have reached out to us to see if we could assist them in their recruiting of study volunteers.

To learn more about their work, check out this recent Montana PBS documentary -   http://www.montanapbs.org/ConcussionAnswersInTheBlood/  

If you are interested in participating in the study, you may contact Dr. Patel at sarjubhai.patel@umontana.edu; or, the general study email at um.tbi.study@gmail.com.
Around Town
Parade of Lights  - RWM Office, December 5, 5:15 p.m. Walk with the RWM Parade Entry.  Click here to see more.

Light The Way 5K - Linda Vista Golf Course; December 18, 6:30 p.m.  Registration Runner's Edge.
Run Wild,

 

Chris Everett, Running Wild Newsletter Editor

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