Locals bring Missoula Marathon to life

MISSOULA – Distance runners from across Montana and from several states poured into Missoula for the city’s annual marathon in the heart of western Montana.

Sanders County residents were well represented at the event. Several different individuals from the county participated in voluntary and organizational capacities during the multiple day racing event.

Additionally, the Sanders County community had several runners competing in the marathon itself on Sunday, July 13.

Anders Brooker, a native of Plains, organized the event serving as the race director for this year’s marathon.

“It’s really cool to think we have a guy from this town putting this kind of event on,” Denise Montgomery of Plains said.

Montgomery was also in Missoula over the course of the marathon weekend, with her son Riley.

D. Montgomery noted it was the family’s first time volunteering at the marathon.

“The organization and level of commitment for the people who put on the marathon is tremendous,” Montgomery said.

Both Denise and Riley volunteered during the final day of the marathon, handing out medals to runners who had finished the marathon.

Riley was also on hand the day before, volunteering at an inspiration booth with Sanders County Commissioner Carol Brooker.

The inspiration booth served as a spot where family members could make inspirational signs for their loved ones participating in the arduous race.

Tony Banovich from the Clark Fork Running Club was also on hand to lend his assistance to the marathon.

Banovich helped with much of the announcing duties at both the start and finish lines of the full marathon on Sunday.

In addition, Banovich did announcements for the 5K and kid’s marathon races, which occurred before the running of the full marathon.

“It was a spectacular event. The community really gets behind the marathon,” Banovich said.

The full marathon began early on Sunday morning with runners departing from Frenchtown at 6 a.m.

The runners spent the majority of the day in the area outside of Missoula, completing the last six miles of the 26 plus mile event within the city limits of Missoula.

Banovich noted how well the organizers and volunteers performed to make this year’s marathon a success.

“The Missoula Marathon is probably the best done running event in Montana,” Banovich said.

Randal DeFalco of Plains was one of the runners in the event, competing in the distance race on Sunday.

DeFalco, who has run the marathon in years past, competed in the event shortly after taking first place in the Trail Rail Run 50K in Mineral County during the middle of June.

“I hadn’t planned on running in the marathon but I felt good after the 50K and had no injuries, so I decided to,” DeFalco said.

As was the case with many of the volunteers at the race DeFalco paid high respects to the event.

DeFalco said the support in the final stages of the race was critical during the event’s final stretch.

“The support along the way there is always great. Missoula always has positive and uplifting people at the marathon,” DeFalco said.

Among others Sanders County residents John Haines, Susan Chianelli and Brittany Katzer also competed in the marathon run.

Although the event is based in Missoula, it’s evident that there is major support for the event within Sanders County.