On September 17th the club will be having a memorial run and potluck for John Dudas’ family. It will be held at the Glen Lake/Bozeman Beach Pavilion starting at 5:30. There will be a memorial run around the lake after a presentation to Mia and her boys. We will start the potluck after the memorial run, but running out and around the Cherry Creek area will be great for those who so choose.
Others from the community are very welcome to join us that evening. So if you know someone, or groups who knew John, please invite them to come.
Join us for a special event Saturday July 12th at Missouri Headwaters State Park. There will be a fun run with the usual distances followed by a BBQ and a special guest lecture about John Coulter
Please bring your own chair for this event.
5:00 PM Fun run at the state park. The usual short, medium, and long distances will be available.
6:00 PM BBQ with refreshments for all participants and park visitors
7:00 PM – Listen to an amazing Guest Lecture around the fire pit in one of the most beautiful MT Parks right in our backyard! Missouri Headwaters State Park Speaker Series: The life of John Coulter by Duane Buchi
Each year, the Big Sky Wind Drinkers present scholarships to deserving local high school students. The 2025 scholarship process wrapped up with strong participation, thanks in part to the board’s decision to increase the award amount to $1,500 per student. We received 11 applications from students across seven schools in Gallatin Valley. This year’s committee—Kristin Harbuck, Patrick Hatfield and Mark Genito—selected three outstanding recipients:
Ella Miller, Manhattan High School
Hadley Jones, Manhattan High School
Isabella “Bella” Jones, Three Forks High School
Patrick Hatfield presented certificates to the recipients in person, including at the Manhattan High School awards assembly. Below are each recipient’s essay and photo, published with permission.
Patrick presenting to Ella and Hadley.
Ella Miller – What Running Means to Me
As my legs hit the ground in a steady rhythm, my breathing lines up with each step. The music in my airpods cancels out any other sounds, and my lungs are filled with fresh, clean air. Sunlight hits my back as the mountains pierce the horizon of the bright blue sky. Air flows into my body, and I feel as if I can finally take a true deep breath. My mind goes quiet as my muscles focus on carrying my body another mile. My brain and my soul are at peace.
The sound of laughter fills my ears as my teammates and I sink into a steady rhythm for our long run. “American Pie” by Don Mclean is on repeat while everyone sings along to the lyrics. We run under the huge trees that shade the entire street to keep cool for just a couple minutes. Travelling as a pack, we cross the street and make our way to the overpass that sits right above the highway. Even when we run in a single file line, you can still hear faint singing, laughter, and chatter. Once we get to the back roads, our group slowly widens. We take turns being in front, and the conversations never seem to end. The run ends with just as much energy as we started with, and the laughter carries into the stretch circle afterwards.
My quads start to feel heavy as I push myself to run up yet another hill. I only have one mile left. My eyes point ahead, just angled enough to see my target running a couple steps ahead of me. I relax my shoulders, gain control of my breathing, and slowly start to speed up the cadence of my steps. My mind is completely at peace, and I am focusing only on crossing the finish line. As I gain ground on my target, my body starts to feel light. In the last 400, I run past her and keep pushing. My strong legs pound into the ground and carry my body effortlessly. The lactic acid begins, but I pump my arms to ignore the pain. I sprint across the finish line and relief rushes over me, a feeling only a PR can bring.
Above, I gave three examples of times I have felt my true love for running: running alone, running with my teammates, and racing my heart out. Running is both an art and a sport. This art has helped me find peace in my own head in multiple ways. When I am running, my mind finally has a place to truly relax. Whether I am on my own, with my teammates, or even racing, I now find peace inside my head in a way I never had before. This sport has also introduced me to some of the most important people in my life. My coach and my teammates are my family, and running with them has shown me what teamwork should truly feel like. Yes, winning state championships with my teammates is an unbeatable feeling, but it was the love and hard work from my best friends that made the trophies so meaningful. My coach has shown us endless love and support, and it shows in my race performances. When you switch the mindset of running to an opportunity rather than a chore, it opens your mind in the most positive way. This sport is not about winning, it is about pushing yourself to the point where you feel accomplished. Running has taught me it is okay to be uncomfortable while I am racing because I know I can push my limits both physically and mentally. Running means loving your body, cherishing your team, and finding peace inside your own mind.
Bella Jones – What Running Means to Me
Sometimes it is easier to understand what something means to you once it is taken away. I discovered this when I tore my ACL playing basketball this past season. As I entered the spring track season, I found myself reflecting on the time I participated in running and the growth it has provided me with. Running, to me, has taught me discipline, grit, and commitment. It’s also been an escape– a way to disconnect from life’s pressures.
From as far back as I can remember, my mom has been a dedicated runner. Every morning, she would get up and head off on a run, starting small and eventually working her way up to completing the Chicago Marathon. I remember supporting her in her training from making a smoothie for her as she got home, to biking ten miles to her to give her water. My mom was my first inspiration to start running, and every time I had the chance to run a 5k with her I eagerly took it. By sixth grade, I decided to take running seriously and joined cross country and track. Little did I know the impact these sports would have on my life.
Running has become my outlet when times are hard; a way to move my body when I am overwhelmed. I have always been the type to stress over school, especially my grades, but going to practice after school gave me a break from it all. Each time I begin a run I feel like a weight is lifted off my shoulders. For those moments, I can focus on my breathing, pace, and rhythm of my footsteps as I run along feeling like any doubt is being left behind. The relief has not only given me a physical escape but also helped me to build mental resilience.
Over time, I have noticed a stronger ability to manage stress because of the mental discipline I have developed from running. Through every tough workout and every race, I learned how to stay mentally tough even when faced with the overwhelming challenges
involved. There’s nothing quite like trying to stay mentally in a race when your body wants to quit. But that is where hard work and resilience come in. Pushing through those moments– when every part of you is screaming to stop– has taught me the value of hard work and perseverance. It’s in those times that I’ve learned to dig deep, remind myself why I started, and keep going. That determination to keep pushing forward, even when things get hard, is most important to me and I have learned to apply it to everyday life.
Overall, running has taught me lessons in life that nothing else ever could. Although there has been a bump in my road, I will always cherish my middle school and high school years in track and cross country. Without the journey of running, I would not have the tools to understand my ability to persevere through a tough time mentally and physically. The challenges I’ve faced– on the track, course, and life– have given me the resilience to keep moving forward. As I look forward, I am excited to get back to running and continue pushing myself, taking my growth further than before.
Hadley Jones – What Running Means to Me
Being a multi sport athlete, I have competed on many teams. On most teams and in most sports you heavily rely on others to win or to find success. Racing on the other hand is very individual and self driven. I love running because it gives me a time to mentally escape from the stresses of high school, it is truly a form of freedom, it challenges me personally, and it allows me to meet and make new friends and connections.
When it comes to school, homework, grades, and other pressures from high school I tend to stress a lot and worry myself to a point where I cry a lot. I love high school and most everything about it but it stresses me out a lot, especially all the “senior things” you have to figure out before you graduate. Running has given me a healthy outlet for this stress. During all sports seasons I am in, if I stress myself out too much I know to take a deep breath and go for a run. Even if the run is a short fifteen minutes, that gives my brain enough time to slow down. While I am running I try to listen to my breathing and slow my heart rate down. Listening to my feet hitting the gravel or pavement in a rhythmic beating also helps slow my mind. Taking these runs no matter the length of time or distance I go, always slows my mind and re-centers me so I am ready to go back to what I was doing before freeing my mind of all the stress.
Running never was a challenge before high school. In middle school I would run for fun all the time, and at middle school track meets I thought I was super fast! Then I got to high school and everything changed. I wasn’t racing against middle schoolers anymore, but sometimes kids four years older than me. I realised I was going to have to put in a lot more work and effort if I wanted to be competitive. The workouts we did were much longer and harder than I had ever done before, I told myself I would train hard and do the best I could. My freshman year I was the alternate for our 4×400 meter relay at state and even though I did not get to run, I still felt a sense of accomplishment with my season. Even now, as a senior, some days I don’t feel like working out but I know I have to push through and continue running if I want to succeed. It takes a lot of mental toughness to power through the last rep of a workout when you are dog tired and your legs are jelly. But, I could not honestly tell you a better feeling than after you have finished a hard workout or race and you gave it your all.
Running has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people I never would have before. Indoor track and high school track have opened so many doors that I never would have had opened before. I have amazing coaches who I know have my back in any situation, and life long running buddies. When you find people who love running as much as you do, you truly have lifelong friends.
Throughout my life running has impacted me in many ways. It has given me an outlet to cope with stress, a way to challenge myself, and I have met so many wonderful people. What does running mean to me? Running means escaping the world for a short while with your best friends doing what you love.
The fun run will start at 6:30pm at Tuckerman Park parking lot, a small space on the N side of Goldenstein between Morning Sun Drive and Gardner Park Dr (7979 Goldenstein Lane). Try to carpool if possible but you may find some overflow parking in the local neighborhoods.
I have to start with Dakotah Lindwurm, who I wrote about after her surprising 3rd place finish at the February Olympics qualifying race in Florida. I had a great picture of her utter disbelief at the finish line, when she realized she was going to Paris! A relative unknown, she became the USA’s least known qualifier, but exuded such genuine amazement and thrill at getting onto the Paris Olympics team.
Dakotah knowing she’s on her way to Paris via teamusa.com.
A few words summed up her elation and determination to make us all proud. She wrote three words on her left hand: “Strong, fast, and last.” That needs interpretation! To her, this meant “I am strong,” “I am fast,” and “My speed will last.” I read that her coach had her push a sled on an uphill course, where she acknowledged her body felt like it was parallel to the ground—and she could barely walk the next day. Over time, it made her incredibly strong. Knowing the Olympic marathon course had been judged to be among the most difficult/challenging of all the Olympics, her coach knew she needed strength.
I listened to a podcast after the race, with Runner’s World’s Sarah Lorge Butler (from Aug. 11). It had to do with Dakotah recounting what it was like in the middle of the race. She stayed up with the lead pack, and at one point found herself in the actual lead, which was not her intention! But she definitely ran her own race—staying as even-paced as possible. One issue I had forgotten about while racing in Europe was that the course only had kilometer markers—no mileage markers. And of course her “pace” was using mileage numbers. So, around the mid-race area, a young boy ran onto the course to run along beside her, yelling “Go Dakotah”. She said it was so inspiring—and she put a call out to find this boy, an obvious American, about 10 years old. It lifted her spirits and after the race she put out the call to find him. But that’s when, her boyfriend (named Montana) found her and gave her an engagement ring, and she said “yes”—so finding the 10-year old boy was put on hold!
Dakotah ended up being the 1st American across the finish line, in 12th place. Someone is in definite heaven. When asked why she attended the opening ceremony on the USA river boat on the Seine river, she said that even though most of the long distance runners opted out, trying to reserve their energy (the marathon was 3 weeks away) – she was there with her family, in an airbnb and wanted to “rub elbows” with the more famous Americans and she did mention she wanted to indulge in as many croissants as possible.
Dakotah finishing 12th in Paris. Photo via Kevin Morris @kevmofoto, Citrus Magazine.
And this brings us to the 1500 meter race, which had been billed as a match-up of Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr—who both openly taunted each other leading up to the race. Jakob took the lead early in the race and kept himself in the lead—looking like he was daring everyone else to catch him. This race is usually run more conservatively, with the all-out sprint during the last straightaway. Unfortunately for Jakob, he just plain ran out of steam, and faded in the last 20-30 meters, allowing Josh Kerr to secure the silver medal and while no one saw it coming, an unheralded American, Cole Hocker, snuck up behind everyone, and captured the gold! That’s a race worth looking at! I don’t think Americans are accustomed to winning Olympic gold in these races—the Ethiopians or Kenyans have always scooped up the Olympic medals for these races. So, with Cole in 1st place (3:27:65 – Olympic record), Josh Kerr in 2nd (3:27:79 – British record), then America Yared Nuguse was 3rd (3:27:80 – personal best). A crowded 1-2-3, all within 15/100ths of a second apart. Ingebrigsten was 4th (3:28:24), which was only 59/100ths of a second off 1st place.
Final 10 seconds of Paris 1500m final – see the order of runners….Jakob still in 1st, Kerr in 2nd and closing, Cole sneaking up behind, and Nuguse a distant 4th, who will pass Jakob in a few seconds! Photo via nbcolympics.com/videos/
Then, right after the Paris Olympics, the next big international track meet was held in Lausanne, Switzerland. What? I know that place. Here comes David tooting his horn once again! I was a student at the University of Lausanne (1978-1981) and they had just completed building a world class track right next to Lake Geneva (Lac Leman in French). The public was invited to run on the track – with the latest in artificial, spongy brightly colored surface. We all felt like world class runners. European universities don’t pay for/sponsor athletic teams – that’s for the local clubs to do. But….Switzerland did have an “all-comers” yearly track meet for all Swiss university runners. I entered the 10,000 meter race which was one of the early meets ever held on this track. As I remember it, there were something like a dozen runners. I took 1st place in (around) 34:04 as my memory tells me. It was a “non-event” – no publicity, no mention in any publication—just great memories. We students had organized our own “club”—we ran together twice a week – usually about 2-3 of us. Pretty low-key, right?
Anyway, back to the just invented Ingebrigsten/Hocker rivalry…since Cole had run down Jakob the week before, it was time for Jakob to get his “revenge,” something the press loves to tout. So, Jakob had his “redemption” and beat Cole in Lausanne. This time he ran a 3:27:83 (to Cole’s 3:29) to rack-up points in what’s called the “Diamond League” after the Olympics. Each weekend, track types travel around Europe to get points, and then the “final” is in Brussels in September. The next week in Selisia, Poland, Jakob did set a new world record in the 3000 meter – a “non-Olympian” distance, but he did break Daniel Komen’s WR set in 1996 – the longest standing running record. Jakob ran a 7:17.55, 3 seconds faster than Daniel.
So, that’s about it for my Olympics wrap-up. I trust many of you were able to follow your favorite events. Now, back to training for the Colter Run, and all that the Bozeman area has to offer—non-Olympic type!
The Gallatin Gateway School Foundation is having a fun run on Aug. 24 in Gallatin Gateway. It’s the 10th anniversary the Gateway Gallop with 5k and 1 mile options for all pace-levels. For more info visit https://www.gallatingatewayschool.com/About-Us/Support-Organizations/Gallatin-Gateway-School-Foundation/index.html or email carlykundert@gmail.com
The Bobcat Trail Challenge is a unique trail race, taking place on the challenging 5km XC Ski Race Loop at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center. Compete in 20k, 10k, or 5k runs or as a 2 or 4-person team in the 20k Relay!
Register and more info: https://runsignup.com/Race/MT/Bozeman/BobcatTrailChallengeatCrosscut
A few months ago, I featured the Norwegian Ingebrigtsen Trio setting all sorts of records. In particular, the 2-mile outdoor record, which fell to Jakob Ingebrigtsen (7:54.10) in Paris. Little did I know that lurking behind the whole time was a Scottish runner named Josh Kerr. He wears the Great Britain running singlet (which reminded me that Scotland is still firmly part of the British Empire!). Anyway, Josh became known last year by winning the World Athletics Championship 1500m race in Budapest, Hungary, and ended Jakob’s winning streak. Thus was born (at least to the track fans) the rivalry of these two “middle distance” phenomenons. This article is not very complex – it is solely based on these 2 runners, and is being written only because of a picture I found of Josh arriving at the finish line with Jakob right beside him, but less than 6 inches behind! And that was the moment Josh chose to play his hand, as you’ll see: he takes the energy and time to point his finger at Jakob at that last second when he knew he’d beaten him, and thus can put in full display his bravado, or ego, or triumphant arrogance to all the flashing cameras!
Josh beats Jakob and lets everyone know it! via olympics.com
In 2021, Jakob won the 1500m at the Tokyo Olympics, and Josh came in 3rd. A similar scenario happened several times over the next few years. Then along came 2023, and Josh showed he could beat Jakob. Here we are in 2024, and the rivalry keeps ramping up. Just to spice things up, Jakob told the press that in their upcoming races, he could beat Josh with his eyes closed. Oh…that’s just what the press wants, right?
Then along came 2024, and the press couldn’t wait to add fuel to the fire between Jakob and Josh. On Feb 11th, Josh’s 1st race of the year, he set a world record for the indoor two mile at the famed Millrose Games in New York (8:00:67). It was great fun watching the video of the race – he contented himself to run behind the USA Grant Fisher, until the final lap and a half (these guys were flying – it’s a 200 meter track!). Then Josh just exploded past Grant – the 1st mile was in a “slow” 4:03, and this 2nd mile was a 3:57! In the following interview, Josh said he took the subway to the Armory (built long ago in Manhattan) and almost lost his way. This track has become a legend for track fans, since the seats are so close to the actual track – I understand the screaming is intense.
Happy Josh! via flotrack.org/articles/Josh-kerr-shatters-2-mile-world-indoor-record-at-millrose
An interesting part of Josh’s life is how he got to the University of New Mexico. He had already established several British Junior records as a teenager, and was wanting to take it to the next level. He had trouble finding a school that would “hire” him – until he secured a full athletic scholarship in Albuquerque. He ran 3 years with the UNM team – securing NCAA records along the way. Then he opted out of his senior year to join the Brooks Beasts track team, and just kept getting better. Meanwhile, Jakob did run a world record outdoor 2-mile in 2023 (7:54:10) at the Diamond Meet in Paris, May 9th – so these 2 runners are definitely on a par – fitness-wise. The big anticipation is now taking place for the Paris Olympics, where they will meet head-to-head in the 1500m (the mile “equivalent”).
Jakob’s newest WR in the 2-mile via watchathletics.com
In Josh’s build-up to the Olympics, he did run a new British record in the 1500m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, OR on May 25th – 3:45:34 (and who was 26/100ths of a second behind him? Jakob Ingebrigtsen of course). Making sure the public was fully riled up for this event, they called this race the “Mile Race of the Century”. Eeeegads.
Just for your Olympic viewing pleasure, the Round 1 of the 1500m is on Aug. 2 at 11:05 am. The men’s final 1500m is on Aug. 6 at 8:50 pm. See you there???
Each year, Big Sky Wind Drinkers present 3-4 scholarships to promising young athletes in the Gallatin Valley. Big congrats to this year’s winners: Emma Konen (Twin Bridges High), Nomi Friedman (Bozeman High), Hannah Giese (Belgrade High) and Kimball Smith (Park High). Big thanks to our scholarship committee, Kristin Harbuck, Patrick Hatfield, Mark Genito and Ethan Brown.
Each student has given us permission to publish their personal essay below – enjoy!
Nomi Friedman – Bozeman High
As my alarm goes off and I shift my eyes from side to side I can feel a deep, throbbing pain inside my head. It’s four in the morning and I’m huddled inside my sleeping bag, the only thing below me is a damp tarp and the only thing above is the stars still in the sky. I take a deep breath in hopes of halting the welling tears from pouring out. ‘Nomi. Do not be such a baby,’ I chide myself. I kick out my legs, feeling my muscles twinge as they make contact with the cold part of my sleeping bag that’s been denied any body heat. I slowly sit up, gulping in frigid air. Today is day 3 of the Headwaters Relay, a 220 mile running relay through the Gravelly Mountains. In the days prior I had logged 18 miles all at paces faster than I’d run so far that summer. My legs hurt to touch, my arches are home to two incredibly tender blisters, and my mental fortitude is being tested like never before.
I pull myself from my sleeping bag and put on my shoes so I can walk a couple hundred feet to go to the bathroom. I squat down in time to hear a crack in the branch I had placed my foot on. My foot falls to the ground and my entire body follows suit. Tears well, my head pounds, and it takes absolutely everything in me to keep my eyes open. ‘Nomi, you’re okay. You got this. Get up,’ the internal voice instructs me. I place my palms on the cold dirt and push myself back up, go to the bathroom, and head back to camp.
We fold up the tarp, shovel cinnamon apple oatmeal into our mouths, and pile into the truck, heading to the start of my leg. As we rumble down the road I can just barely see the sun poking up from behind the hillside. I watch the light trace its way through the clouds and a smile creeps across my face. I try to put into perspective what I’m doing. I get to wake up next to my best friends, run all day through the mountains, and be lulled to sleep by the hush of a quiet wind. I have a body that is strong and a mind that’s even stronger and here I am doing what I love.
That day I ran ten and a half miles and finished the relay with my team. That weekend showed me how strong I could be in the face of both an extreme mental and physical challenge. It pushed me deep into the pain cave, secluded me to just my thoughts, and allowed me to see how truly capable I am.
To me, that’s what running is all about. No other activity pushes you to your absolute limit while still allowing you to do what you love the most. Running has given me my favorite sport, my best friends, and an unbridled appreciation for being alive. I know when I show up to practice I will be greeted by the smiles of my teammates, a witty joke from Coach Casey, and just a couple anxious butterflies as I start to warm up for hard intervals.
So, when asked what running means to me, I believe it’s not the times, the races, or the splits, but rather the community, the grit, and the smiles that are direct results of the time we spend pushing ourselves to be stronger. I will forever cherish the memories I’ve made during my career as a Hawk, and I will never stop pursuing the joy I get from going out on a run.
Kimball Smith – Park High
Running holds a special place in my heart, far beyond just putting one foot in front of the other. To me, running is a way of life, a journey filled with challenges, pushing yourlimits, triumphs, self-discovery, and connecting with a community. It all began as a littlechild; in my family we have a tradition called the Smith Family Marathon. Every year since I was two years old my dad has run an independent self-supported marathon from out thefront door of our house. Our job as kids was to cheer for him as loud as we could along theway. We always had a finish line across our driveway and made him a finishers metal. AsI’ve grown older and began to run alongside him, I’ve noticed how much commitment thistradition has required for my dad. Over the years the family marathon has evolved toinclude most of the family for some distance of the run. One memory I have was when mydad and I drove 26.2 miles up a dusty dirt road in the farm hills above our ranch and ranback to the cabin. At the end of the run, I asked him why he does it. He said, “the reasoncontinue to do this tradition is to show you kids that you can do hard things.” This struckme as he is nearing 50 years old. My dad has always led by his example and has inspiredme to do hard things.
The sport of running is very individual and has taught me valuable lessons about discipline, perseverance, and goal setting. Throughout my running career, I’ve learned to embrace discomfort, to push through pain, and to never give up, no matter how challenging the path may seem. As a dedicated runner there is a feeling of pain that isunexplainable. Pushing through the unbearable pain, legs are on fire, mind is screaming“stop!” is where the lessons are learned. The best way I can explain it is as an out of body experience as if you’re looking at yourself from above. Although it may be miserable in themoment, as I look back upon all the times this pain has overwhelmed me, I am proud ofmyself for doing something hard, it makes me feel as though I can do anything I put mymind too. This mentality has encouraged me to apply these valuable lessons to manyaspects of my life. I must attribute this attitude of never giving up to my dad, coaches, and teammates that went to great lengths to help me and the team achieve the goals that we set. Running has helped me recognize that with patience, resilience, and support fromthose I surround myself with, I can overcome any hurdle that stands in my way. As I soon begin a new chapter in my life attending Utah State University pursuing a business degree, I can use these lessons to be successful. Business is never easy and takes a lot of grit,getting knocked down is bound to happen, but getting back up is guaranteed because of the lessons I’ve learned through running.
Running is more than just a physical exercise or pushing myself; it is a mental and emotional endeavor as well. When I lace up my shoes I leave behind the worries anddoubts that weigh me down. Running for me can be therapeutic, in the solitude of a longrun I find clarity and peace of mind. Thoughts flow freely, without being distracted by thenoise of the outside world. I can confront my fears, problems, failures, and doubts head-on, making myself stronger and more determined than before. Equally as important, running has connected me with a community of like-minded individuals who share my passion for the sport. Whether it’s cheering each other or pickingeach other up at the finish line, I have found camaraderie and support among fellowrunners that extends far beyond the finish line. Together, we celebrate our victories, lift each other up in times of struggle, and inspire one another to keep chasing our dreams. Belonging to a team and community has nurtured social skills such as leadership abilities, which I foresee extending well beyond the realm of running. These skills encompass pushing others around me to be the best version of themselves, taking accountability, humility, and making selfless choices.
Throughout middle school and high school athletics, I’ve experienced both triumphs and setbacks while pushing myself to excel. From sixth grade to junior year, I’ve been dedicated to Cross Country, achieving notable successes such as an undefeatedseason and winning the Mountain West Classic in seventh grade. In 2018, some teammates and I qualified for the Junior Olympics in Reno, NV. High school brought even more accomplishments, including winning the state championship as a junior. I competed in Track and Field from seventh grade through senior year, earning placements at the state level in pole-vault and the 4×400 relay. Running required a significant commitment throughout my schooling.
In essence, running is not just a hobby or a form of exercise—it is a way of life with valuable principles that I plan to continue applying throughout my adult life. It is a journeyof self-discovery, knowing the power of perseverance and mental fortitude, a source ofstrength and inspiration, and a community of belonging. Running will always be a reminder that no matter how far the road may stretch before me, if I have the courage and determination to keep moving forward, one step at a time, anything is possible.
Hannah Giese – Belgrade High
What Running Means to Me
It was the day of the time trial. I warmed up with the rest of the girls’ team, and found that I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I might be. After all, I was just a freshman. No one expected anything from me, there was no pressure to perform well. I lined up, closer to the back of the pack, at the makeshift start line. Our coach gave us the “Go!” command, and we took off. Instantly I felt like I could go faster, so I squeezed through the group in front of me and found myself directly behind a couple of seniors who were in the front. I knew I could run faster than this, but I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to pass the upperclassmen. After a few seconds, I decided to pass them and ended up finishing the time trial in first place. I was shocked! At most, I had been hoping to run in the sixth or seventh varsity position at the first meet, but here I was leading the team!
By the middle of winter freshman year, I was putting in more mileage than I thought possible, and I was loving it. Then I lost it all. I suffered a severe partial tear in my right calf due to overuse. For weeks I could barely walk, let alone run, and by the time track season rolled around (almost 3 months later) I still was unable to run. Running was something that I had always taken for granted, until it was suddenly stripped away. My mental health began to suffer severely, and I realized that running had been a form of therapy as much as it was a sport. Running was an escape, it gave me freedom. It also allowed me to push the limits of my determination and perseverance as I strove to recover in time to race at the last few meets of the season. I held a new appreciation for every run and every step in my recovery.
Over the next two years, I lost sight of running as a form of freedom. I became blinded by my goals and the pressure that I felt from everyone around me. It came from my parents, my coaches, my teammates, my teachers. But most of all, it came from myself. I was expected to continue leading the team and PRing in races, and so I did, until at the end of my junior year I earned All-State Honors at the AA State Cross Country Meet. Of course, I was thrilled. But at the same time I knew I couldn’t race another season the same way I had the last three years. I was mentally exhausted, and each race caused an immense amount of anxiety that I would let people down. For a while, I stopped running entirely. I didn’t attend winter training or participate in the next track season. I was scared to run again. Running had changed from something that lessened my anxiety and had become the main source of my anxiety. I missed the freedom that running had once brought, but I was afraid that if I started running again it would no longer bring the same freedom that it once had.
Finally, during the summer before my senior year, I decided that I didn’t want to give up on running. It had been one of the biggest parts of my life for seven years, and I didn’t want to lose it forever. I started running again, with the sole goal of developing a lifelong love for it. I went on countless trail runs, and decided to return for a final cross country season. Although I didn’t race much due to injury, I will never regret that I came back to running. I am learning to appreciate running without any pressure to PR or to set ambitious goals. To me, running is a way to escape, to find new adventures, and to discover more about myself. To me, running is freedom.
Emma Konen – Twin Bridges High
Growing up on a small ranch as the youngest of five siblings, I was constantly running. I loved the feeling of the wind against my face as I chased my brothers through the fields or as I played with the cow dogs and pigs. As I got older this love continued as sports engulfed my life, every day I was running down the basketball court or around the track, it was something that I found a passion for and put all of my efforts into until everything changed. Junior year at the State Track meet, I charged down the final stretch as the anchor of the 4x400m relay, pushing my body to its limits. As I was fighting to get a breath of air into my lungs, darkness encroached on my vision, but I willed my legs to carry me forward until I collapsed across the finish line. This episode wasn’t an isolated incident; it was just the climax of a struggle that began months earlier.
It all started in November, during basketball practice, when I noticed a disturbing feeling when doing basic conditioning, a feeling as if I breathing through a straw. Hoping for a quick fix of an inhaler, I sought help from a local doctor, only to leave with a note banning me from exercise and no answers. As a three-sport All-State athlete with hopes of competing at the college level, this was dream-crushing news. I sought help from many other doctors around the state who were also unable to give me a diagnosis and waved it off as long-term COVID-19. After returning to sports, the mental toll of being unable to compete at my full potential weighed heavily on me, but I refused to surrender to these negative thoughts that wanted me to give up on my dreams. Determined to find answers, I embarked on a journey that led me to The National Jewish Hospital in Denver, Colorado.
There, amidst rigorous physically and mentally demanding testing, I received a diagnosis that explained my problem: Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO), a rare condition that makes breathing nine to sixteen times more challenging during exertion, taking precious energy and oxygen from my lungs, muscles, and brain. After my diagnosis, while still at National Jewish, I began the meticulous process of relearning how to breathe efficiently while maintaining high levels of activity.
As I approach my Senior year of track, I am filled with gratitude for EILO. Despite the setbacks caused by EILO, I’ve embraced the challenge and signed to run collegiate track and play basketball at Montana Tech. My perspective on running has undergone a profound transformation. What was once perceived as punishment or a dreaded chore has become a source of profound appreciation. EILO has taught me not to take anything for granted, especially the simple act of breathing. Through adversity, I’ve discovered resilience and a deeper connection to my faith.
Running, to me, embodies freedom—a liberation from the burdens that weigh me down. With each stride, I feel the weight of my worries lift, leaving me empowered and invigorated. I am reminded of the verse from Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” My journey with EILO has strengthened my faith and reaffirmed my belief that I run not just by my own strength, but by the grace and faithfulness of God. I know that every time I step into my blocks, with the power of God in me, nothing can stop me, not even EILO.
