Will I be a dental floss tycoon????

Mmmmm Montana:

My Missoula Marathon seemed to have it all, making it a first to remember.  

big blue sky

gentle green grass hills

sunlight sparkling on the rushing river waters

honey colored horses back lit by the sun waiting as we crested the hill

a zig zag finale through tree covered streets just when I was starting to change my goal from a fast finish to a last minute muster

An early start at 6AM tagged teamed with a leaf covered finish to render heat a non issue despite escalating temperatures which had caused concern for this cool house flower.  The elevation didn’t pose a problem either, allbeit the five days of trail traipsing in Glacier National Park most definitely helped with my altitude (no~ not attitude) adjustment.  Whew.  Runner’s World was right.   A pretty medal too.  The shirt is nice with reflection darts and a feminine flattering fit.  I know you want to know so just saying.

And then back to Montana

Montana was full of the unexpected.  I expected the mountains, the glaciers, the grizzlies, the rushing streams, cowboys and rolling hills.  I didn’t expect the tattooed barristas, gourmet Cajun restaurants and sweet little turn of the century Main Streets, vestiges from a past when the Railroad stopped in town.   The glitter belts, the used bookstores, organic produce markets made me curious as to who lives in these hills and when?   Whitefish was the gateway to Glacier and Livingston was the gateway to Yellowstone so in each there was a reason for a gathering of people during the summer.   Where do they go?  What do they do?

Glacier National Park is knock-you-off-your-feet pretty.  Each glacier carved out a different valley with a different colored crystalline lake at the base: similar but different.   So too are the large turn of the century hotels with National Historic Landmark status, each with their own distinct personality like the three little bears: the elegant one, the cozy one, the one with the spectacular view.  A boat ride established in the 1940’s was available on each of the lakes giving access to different points of view: on the water, in the car, on top of the mountain and of course, riding a horse.  The fancy one, (Lake McDonald) sat directly on the lake as the name suggests and had a nice restaurant with a view of the sparkling water.  The causal one (Glacier Lodge) is near to East Glacier on the other side of the park, closer to Browning and the Native American Reservation.  They have no potable water which is by itself noteworthy and the reservation is worth a trip if a bit sobering.   We snacked on so called “Indian Tacos” which were frankly hideous to a runner’s palatte, doe fried in grease with beans and cheese.  All the worst aspects of American and Mexican cuisines rolled into one fat drenched meal.   The one with the spectacular view of mountains like icebergs emerging from the vast blue lake (Many Glacier)  would be my pick.  With an array of hikes in all directions, wide hallways with slanted floors and a nicer restaurant on the way, this hotel is worth the extra miles. 

A trip to Chico Hot Springs was our reward on the day after the race.   A glass of wine on the veranda tasted just right while watching bachelorette parties giggle and bachelor parties guzzle.