[outdoors]
MOUNTAIN HIGH
N
ow that we’re in the bleak and muddy part of winter, July seems all too far away. But lately I’ve noticed a new gleam of determined desperation in the eyes of runners on the river trail; for them, the sort who want to be able to run 26.2 miles without collapsing, July might seem all too soon. I’m referring to the annual Missoula Marathon, scheduled for July 11–13. This week, a series of events hosted by Olympian runner Jeff Galloway marks the countdown to race day, starting with a registration party at Big Sky Brewery on Jan. 29. The cost to register for the marathon goes up from $75 to $90 on Feb. 1, so thrifty runners will want to take note. What kind of work goes into preparing for a marathon? A lot of running, obviously, but also developing an understanding of your diet, hydration needs,
how to pace yourself and your body’s capacity to carry on with depleted energy stores. Professional runners advise that you should be averaging about 40 miles a week for five to six weeks prior. You’ll also want a decent pair of shoes. Prepare for extreme chafing (Google abounds with gnarly pictures of bleeding nipples). This isn’t a casual thing to take on: after all, the first-ever marathoner who ran 26.2 miles died. Is it all worth it? Come July, we’ll find out. —Kate Whittle
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The Missoula Marathon Registration Party is at Big Sky Brewery Mon, Jan. 29 from 6-8 PM. No cost to attend. See our listings below for more Marathon-related events, or visit missoulamarathon.org.
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4000 Mullan Road • Missoula • 406 543 0060 mullanreserveapartments.com photo by Cathrine L. Walters
THURSDAY JANUARY 16 You resolved to do more cross-country skiing this year, so get after it with the Cross-Country Skiing in the Bitterroots informational evening. Experts will chat about the groomed trail systems at Chief Joseph Pass and Lake Como, plus off-trail excursions.Trail Head, 221 E. Front St. 7 PM.
FRIDAY JANUARY 17 It must be avalanche season or somethin’, ‘cause there’s a four-day Level 1 Avalanche Class with AAA-certified instructor Dudley Improta out at Yurtski, in Lolo National Forest. Visit yurtski.com or call 406-721-1779 for information and sign-up. Just in time to rescue your January doldrums, the Seeley Lake Winterfest is here, with two weekends of events, including concerts, snow sculptures, a cross-country ski race, biathlon, parade, snowmobile poker run and more. Fri., Jan. 17–Sun., Jan. 19 and Fri., Jan. 24–Sun., Jan. 26. Visit seeley lakeevents.org/schedule.html to learn more.
SATURDAY JANUARY 18 Make like Katniss Everdeen and check out the bowhunter education class that starts today. Online/field combo courses are available. Check out http fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter/bowhunter Ed.html to learn more. Them waters might be chilly, but you can b.s. about trout anyway when the Rock Creek Fisherman’s Mercantile hosts a weekly Fly Tyer’s Roundtable. Y’all can drink coffee, learn new patterns and use tools and materials for free. Rock Creek Fisherman’s Mercantile, 73 Rock Creek Road in Clinton. 10 AM. Call 825-6440 or email rcmerc@blackfoot.net for more details.
SUNDAY JANUARY 19 Make like Finnish village-raider Herkko RosvoRonkainen at the Pacific Northwest National Wife Carrying Contest, just make sure you’re bringing home your own lady. The competition is part of the annual winter carnival at Lookout Pass Ski Area and
includes prizes. (Pro tip: Estonian champions wives’ ride upside-down, holding onto the husband’s waist.)
TUESDAY JANUARY 21 You’ve conquered the Missoula Marathon once, now aim higher with Olympian Jeff Galloway’s “Improving Your Missoula Marathon Time” workshop at the Runner’s Edge, 304 N. Higgins Ave. 5:30-6 PM. Free. With six months to train, this’ll be a snap, so check out the “Missoula Marathon or Half: You Can Do It” workshop with Olympian Jeff Galloway at the Doubletree Hotel. 7 PM. Free.
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22 As part of the Missoula Marathon gear-up, Good Food Store hosts the Fat Burning for Runners workshop from noon-1 PM. The answer probably doesn’t involve ice cream, sadly. Free. The Three-Hour Running School with Jeff Galloway is probably not a good time to work on your spitball, but you can get stoked for the Missoula Marathon. Doubletree Hotel, 100 Madison St. 5:308:30 PM. $99/$49 for Galloway Training Program participants. Visit runwildmissoula.org. Get the crew together for the Missoula Alpine Ski Race League, wherein four-person teams (including at least one woman) face off in head-to-head races. Hosted by Snowbowl Wednesday evenings from Jan. 22–March 5 at 7 PM, with final race and party on March 7. Lots of prizes and Big Sky brew gear for the winners. $395 per team. To learn more, contact Jay Rutherford at jay.rutherford@gmail.com. You’ll bee super smart after the Becoming a Beekeeper workshop with the members of Big Sky Beekeepers, which covers topics including materials needed, hive design and insect behavior. Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St. 7-8 PM. $4 suggested donation/free for MNHC members. calendar@missoulanews.com
missoulanews.com • January 16–January 23, 2014 [33]