As we move into 2016, there are some changes in the leadership at Run Wild Missoula. 

After 6 years serving on the RWM Board Of Directors, club bylaws require that Megan Tiffin step away from the board and her role as Treasurer.  Megan brought about multiple changes to the manner in which RWM conducted its business, resulting in strong fiscal controls and a solid financial position for the club.  We thank Megan for her dedicated service and will miss her participation on the board.

 

At the January board meeting, we will see the addition of three new members to the Board Of Directors.  They are: 

They will join current board members Steve Brown, Pat Cross, Suzanne Elfstrom, Torrey Holmquist, Bob Homer, Carol Lipp and Ryan Snyder.

 

You can learn more about our board members (and our staff) by clicking HERE.

 

We're also seeing some growth of the RWM staff.  In order to insure that Run Wild Missoula brings the best set of events, communications and value to our members, we have added a part-time Operations Coordinator.  Breanne Ender has accepted this position and will begin work on January 13th.  Bre comes to RWM from the Humane Society of Western Montana; and, previous to that was co-owner of Main Street Pilates. 

 

Bre joins Tony Banovich, Executive Director; Hillary Ogg, Program Coordinator; and, Dara Rouse, Bookkeeper.

By Glenn Burwick and Kristi Kusche, Galloway Program Co-Directors  

 

Little did we know, that frosty January in 2011, what was about to happen in the Run Wild Missoula community. The Missoula Marathon Race Director had just contracted with Olympian and national running guru Jeff Galloway to appear at the Missoula Marathon. A motivational visit in January was part of the deal. 

That year, Jeff's talk filled the Wilma Theater with a diverse audience that went way beyond the usual running club demographic. The young, the trim, and the competitive were there, yes. But so were those of us over a certain age. The full spectrum of body types. Non-runners, once-upon-a-time runners, wannabe runners. Slow and fast, injured and hoping to remain uninjured. We all came. 

  

Five years later, Jeff Galloway is making his sixth January visit to Montana (no small commitment for a southern boy). This time he is expanding horizons to give a talk in Helena as well as speaking to local audiences in several venues (see schedule above in this newsletter). After five years, the Run Wild Missoula demographic has evolved significantly. Many of us who attended that first event in the Wilma have used Jeff's run-walk-run method to train for and finish the Missoula Marathon or Half Marathon and have become passionate about what is now our sport too. We collectively represent that broader demographic glimpsed for the first time five years ago. What has made such a difference? Not just the one motivational Galloway talk. Not even the recurring bursts of energy and positive motivation that characterize Jeff's annual winter and summer visits. Something else has happened. 

A powerful engine of growth and diversity in the RWM community has driven the Galloway marathon-half marathon training program. Offered annually for five-going-on-six years, the program is led by a large team of dedicated Run Wild Missoula volunteers. The program begins with a three-mile run-walk-run and builds gradually to race distance before the July 10 goal events. All ages and abilities are welcome.  Trust us, there is a run-walk ratio and a pace that fits everyone's needs.

The Galloway marathon class begins January 24 and runs through July 3.  It meets every Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. It costs $99, plus a $8 processing fee. The half marathon class begins February 28 and costs $75 plus $6 processing. Run Wild Missoula membership is required to be part of these training classes.

For more information and to register, click Here for the marathon training class and click Here for the half marathon training clas s.