2026 Challenge Reflection #3:
Montana Women’s Run in Billings, Montana - May 2026
The Montana Women’s Run was a first for me in many ways. It was my first unplanned run that I signed up for on a whim. The first time I ran with a friend. The first time running without my hydration vest. The first race I did where I did not feel an ounce of competitivity in the air. It was the first time my feelings of fun outweighed my feelings of anxiety.
‘Race’ is a Liberal Term For This Event
The Montana Women’s Run was a 5 mile race through downtown Billings, Montana. The course was all pavement and basically flat. With my last two races, I had quickly fallen to the back of the pack, one of the slowest runners on the course. This time, however, I found my friend and myself weaving through groups of leisurely walkers in an effort to find the open road. As a slow runner, I have grown accustomed to running entirely alone after the first few miles. This race I found myself surrounded and at the middle of the pack, nearly the entire time. Don’t worry though: I still got passed by at least 4 strollers, not including those in the first mile. I’d like to note that this is not me complaining; I was just surprised by such a drastic difference in culture. It was more resemblant of the Family Fun Runs I have done than the other races I’ve done, despite being a distance between a 5K and a 10K.
Mindset Shift
From start to finish, this race had a vibe of support and good vibes and fun. Dancing dinosaurs on the downtown street corners. Inspirational signs. Music at aid stations. A final ‘Mimosa Mile’ with a table serving mimosa shots at the last mile marker. I enjoyed starting the race with a friend, despite my long standing fear of running with others. The fun atmosphere shifted my view of running in a way that has carried over into my headspace surrounding race day, going forward.
Running My Own Race
As I write this, 3 months and several races after the Montana Women’s Run, it feels silly to say “races can be fun.” Because duh. But truthfully, I did not start racing with this mindset. For me, the biggest struggle initially was committing to being at the start line, followed by crossing the finish line, knowing there were spectators cheering. This race was a turning point for me because I allowed myself to have fun and truly run my own race. I had fun. I pushed myself. I crossed the finish line. And I realized that as long as I stayed out of my head and in the moment, this was going to be a lot of fun.
My last race: River Road Half Marathon
Next race: Beaverhead Marathon
