What do you mean "Dublin Adventures?"
Believe it or not, when you cross the finish line of Pub 317's Run to the Pub Half Marathon or 10K, you are qualified to win one of four trips to Dublin, Ireland! And not just any trip, but a trip AND an entry into the DUBLIN MARATHON. Yes, you heard us right. Come run with us, and you might find yourself across the pond sipping Guinness and singing "Molly Malone" with The Dubliners before you know it. The drawing happens at the finish line after the race, and you must be present to win. Gift includes the following for one person: airfare, hotel, entry into the Dublin Marathon, and entry into the St. James Gate Guinness Factory.
You mean, people have actually GONE TO IRELAND and run in the DUBLIN MARATHON??
Indeed, we don't mess around! Check out some real stories of the folks who have won the privilege in past years:
Julie Merkel story:
The fun started at the 2016 Run to the Pub sponsored by Pub 317. I participated in the 10K with friends and family who made the day fun-filled with lots of laughter. I kept telling everyone I was going to win the trip to Dublin, and the typical response was a smirk and a giggle. Boy, was everyone surprised when my number was called and my son yelled, “MOM!!! THAT’S YOU!!” That moment, in itself, was priceless!!
Then reality set in and my first thought was “I can’t run a marathon… ” My second thought was “Why not?” So the training began. I decided right away that I would do the Galloway Run Walk Run Method because it is supposed to be easier on your knees. It seemed to work for me in training and in the race. My daughter tagged along on my adventure to Ireland, and after a long day of traveling, we landed in Dublin and I looked at my watch (which was still on East Coast time) and it said 3:17. Seriously!! It was an easy bus ride to our hotel, and luckily, even though it was early morning, we were able to check into our room. October 30, 2016, the weather could not have been more perfect for participating in an event like the Dublin marathon. 19,500 runners made this the largest Dublin marathon ever. People were buzzing around, some nervously, some very nonchalant, waiting for the start. I was chatting with a gal from Ireland while waiting to use the bathroom prior to the race and told her about the Irish influence growing up in Butte Montana. She told me that her great grandfather had gone to Butte to work in the mines. He went back to Ireland to ask his girlfriend’s if he could marry their daughter and take her back to Montana. They said if he was going to marry her, he’d have to stay in Ireland. Stories like these were abundant everywhere we visited. The race itself had such great support with people yelling “Well done” and “Brilliant!” People were handing out sweets, bananas and water, and children waiting to give high fives. Some of the best signs I saw were “If Trump can run, so can you” and “Hurry… you can still make it to church!” My daughter met me around the 24 mile marker and ran along the side with me the rest of the way. I have to admit I was over it by that point and just wanted to be done. She was great encouragement along with the remaining crowd cheering us on. I can’t express enough how kind and gracious the people were during our entire trip. I want to thank Pub 317 and the Bozeman Running Company for sponsoring the Run to the Pub half-marathon and 10K and providing opportunity for people to participate in the Dublin marathon!! I would encourage future winners to make the trip happen even if you can’t extend your stay. Also, I encourage runners to keep on running. Your age, size and/or pace don’t matter. “If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.” ― John Bingham Josh Aycock’s story:
2015 Dublin Marathon Winner 
First things first, THANK YOU PUB 317 and RUN TO THE PUB! Not only do you (and your awesome, altruistic, and I’m sure strikingly handsome/beautiful anonymous donor) put on one heck of a Saint Paddy’s Day half marathon, but you give people the chance at an experience they will remember and talk about for a lifetime.
I mean honestly, who could possibly pass up this opportunity!?! I had tons of excuses not to go...new kiddo (big shout out to my wife, Courtney, here for letting me leave her alone for a week with a 4-month old); moving to Texas three weeks after the race date (big shout out to my wife, Courtney, again here because I left her alone for a second week as I went house hunting in Texas two days after getting home from Ireland...I love you honey); and I had only run one other marathon before in my life (and with a newborn, who has the time to log the miles to run a marathon, amirite?) It would have been easy to call Tyler and make up some excuse why I couldn’t go: “I have to shave my cat,” “I broke my fourth toe and can’t run on it for approximately 18 years, doctors orders,” “I can’t remember how to walk,” anything really...but this is a freaking trip to Ireland people!! They offer it...you take it! Sidenote here: Stick around after the Run to the Pub people! You can’t win the trip unless you’re there to hear your number called. Grab yourself an extra beer at Pub 317, get yourself a bite to eat, or maybe buy some new running gear at Bozeman Running Company while you wait. Do something to occupy your time, but wait! It’s worth it. So after you brag to your friends for 7 months, chalk up 228.8 miles in training runs and travel for 18 hours, you get to Dublin and it’s race day. Fifty-two degrees...winds in excess of 15 mph...running in the rain for 4+ hours...26.2 miles...it was perfect! The course is relatively flat, the Irish people are lined up throughout the entire course to cheer you on and you just never know what you will see in the crowd (we ran next to a guy wearing a cardboard DeLorean and slick Marty McFly vest.) Go ahead and treat yourself to a couple extra days in Dublin since you’re already there. The city is small and easily walkable with a ton of history packed around every corner. Pop into the numerous pubs to hear traditional Irish and replenish all those calories you run off. There are also a ton of day trips to be had for under $75. You can see and do so much in just a week. It was definitely a trip I will treasure always. I highly encourage every Montanan, or anyone within driving distance, to participate in the Run to the Pub! You get to start shaking off winter with a well organized half marathon (with a free beer!), you get to see some of the beauty that is Montana and most importantly you get the chance to take the trip of a lifetime. Thanks again for the opportunity! Aly Ridgway
Dublin Marathon Winner 2015 
For future runners…..
This trip went just about as smoothly as I could have hoped! I landed in Dublin around ten on Friday morning and within an hour had purchased a bus ticket for less than ten Euros that would drop me off right on the perimeter of Trinity College. Following a map from a guidebook, I was able to locate my hotel and check in. It was too early to go to my room, but they kindly held my bags for a few hours as I walked around downtown Dublin, exploring Trinity College, the Book of Kells, and some of the surrounding museums. There are beautiful green spaces and museums that were free of charge, although many of them ask for a donation at the door. Prior to leaving the states, I had purchased AT&T Passport, which allowed me to text and communicate over Wi-Fi from abroad. Every other corner seemed to have a café of sorts with Wi-Fi, and this allowed me to communicate with my family and friends. I happily sat myself down in a number of these cafes, ordering a coffee and baked good or porridge and touched base with whomever I needed to. I was able to check in mid-afternoon and that is when the overnight flight began to set in. I decided to eat at the hotel, and after an early dinner, fell asleep at an absurdly early hour. The next day was filled with more tourist activity, and I was also able to walk to the running expo and get my race packet and check out all of the vendors. The walk was about half an hour from my hotel, although the way there took a smidge longer because I did not have a map that showed the entire route to the expo and had to keep ducking into cafes in order to look at a map over Wi-Fi. If I had been smart I would have printed off a map prior to coming to Dublin! The expo was great! Very well organized and a massive number of vendors and speakers. The race itself was very well orchestrated. If you are planning on meeting people after the race, it is a smart idea to pick somewhere away from the finish line, as spectators are not allowed at or immediately near the finish line. I also recommend bringing clothing to wear until the start time that you can discard right before you begin your race. There were no shelters or indoor facilities, and if the weather is cooler or wet, it would be a long time to wait around without warm clothing. The fans were great along the course! My parents and I designated a place around the half-way point that they would be cheering for me, and they were able to walk there and then back to the finish line. The Dublin Marathon was a great race and being a foreigner made no difference in my comfort level being an entrant in the race. Dublin is a wonderful city in that it was easy to walk around, and there was plenty to do that was low cost and accessible to someone without a car or bus pass. It was a great trip overall!! Thank you Pub 317! Peggy Ash's Story2014 Dublin Marathon
The conditions were close to perfect, mild for late October in Dublin the locals were saying. The air was filled with the usual pre-marathon tension and the smell of fallen leaves. All marathons are special, but there was something surreal about running through the streets of a 1,000 year old city. Friendly people lined almost the entire course as it stretched outside the city to beautiful parks, neighborhoods and countryside.
The chants of "Well done" and "Brilliant" from the spectators became even more important in the later part of the race when the hills and distance were taking their toll. The low back trouble I've been fighting for a decade or so ended my running at mile 22 and I had to walk out the rest of the course. So it wasn't the finish I'd hoped for but I was satisfied to enjoy the amazing experience and call this my last full marathon. (I think I can still manage some respectable 13.1's). The week that followed was a blur of cool weather, lush, green landscape, pubs, castles, cliffs, crazy wrong-side traffic, gift shops, too many french fries, (chips), and some of the friendliest, real people I've ever met. Thanks to Run to the Pub for a first rate bucket list trip. Sam Beebout's Story2014 Dublin Marathon
I just got back from my trip to Ireland. It was such an amazing experience. Thank you so much again to Tyler Wilkinson (race director) and Pub 317 for making this trip possible and motivating me to take on such a big challenge. Before I started training for this marathon the furthest I had run was a 10K.
I ran in the marathon last Monday and finished under 5 hours (4 hours 58 minutes), which was great since my goal time was 5 1/2 hours (and mostly just to finish!). The energy of the race was just incredible, with more than 12,000 people running. Plus it was a holiday there, so there were great crowds cheering us on the whole way. My legs have never been so heavy and tired (and on fire), but it felt amazing to finish. I've attached a couple photos of me at the marathon in my 317 gear. We didn't have any great finish line ones (they make you pay for those), so these are right before the run. Dublin is such a beautiful city, and we enjoyed our days exploring there. We also took a few days to visit the Ring of Kerry and Galway in western Ireland. "An Amazing Experience"Vicky Mix, Missoula, MT - 2013
Dear Run to the Pub,
I just wanted to thank you once again for sponsoring the Run to the Pub and it's wonderful prize! The Dublin Marathon was an amazing experience. The course runs through Dublin's historic streets and one of its beautiful parks. Since the race takes place on a holiday, the streets are lined with people cheering and offering advice and treats. I was lucky enough to meet two first time marathoners, Mark and Jim, from Ireland while we were waiting to start. Irish people are extremely friendly and have wonderful senses of humor that took my mind off the pre-race jitters. Mark and I ended up running the last half of the marathon together and finished feeling strong and happy with our races. My husband, Bruce, and daughter, Ashley, both travelled to Ireland with me and we enjoyed traveling about the countryside together. Of course, no trip to Ireland would be complete without a trip to the Guinness Storehouse. What a great place...history and drinking combined. It doesn't get much better than that! Thank you again Tyler Wilkinson and Pub 317 for this chance to have an amazing running and family adventure!!! Vicky Mix Missoula, MT Deb Greany's Story2013 Dublin (Half) Marathon
It started on 3-17-13 at the Pub 317 after finishing the Pub Run :) my running buddies and I had just finished refreshments :) We went outside and heard Missy O'Malley was announcing race numbers for prizes :) to my surprise my race number was called and I had won a trip to Ireland :) along with the trip is the chance to run the Dublin marathon. Yikes! So due to the fact I was recovering from a stress fracture on my foot :) Tyler at Bozeman Running Company allowed me to do the half marathon :) Hip-Hip-Hooray :) On 9-17-13 my running buddies and I met again at Pub 317 for some per-Ireland refreshments:) My race team (husband & mom) and I took off for Ireland on 9-19-13 :). I was set to run the Aircity Dublin Half Marathon on 9-21-13 in Phoenix Park :) Largest Park in Europe with a rock fence around it:) The race started with the Fitness Guard leading runners in cheers of Hip-Hip-Hooray for the 7,800 runners entered in the race :) Super day for a run cool fresh air bluebird day :)
I am off on my adventure running by the Polo horses warming up for the up coming match along the road by the Phoenix monument down pass the botanical gardens next to the zoo across from the Irish President's house pass the cricket match by the American Ambassador's house. Criss crossing through the park by the farm house next to the Belgium horse finally a hint of the end is close at mile 11 past the guard house spray painted on the road is NEARLY THERE :) Yikes 2 miles left uphill around a castle :( finally I could see a double deckered glass topped bus across from the finish line :) Hip-Hip-Hooray:) I made it:) Next up, a pint of Guinness to quench my thirst :) Off to the Guinness Storehouse to see how the Guinness is brewed :) Our adventures in Ireland where absolutely fabulous :) loved it :) open topped double deckered busses rides :) Gaelic football championship (super bowl of Ireland) :) castle tours:) Jameson Whiskey factory :)Yummy :) ST Patrick's Cathedral :) Trinity College :) shopping :) Pub's :) Irish foods :) fun:)fun:) It was the chance of a lifetime and a special thanks to Pub 317 and the Bozeman Running Company for a great adventure:) AllisonWe don't have a story from Allison, but she got to participate in the
2011 Dublin Marathon 
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Mary Hoagland story:
I am the kind of person who never wins things! The luck of the Irish was with me though after the 10k Run to the Pub in March. For my sister and I, it was a rough race. I had started running again after many years off and it wasn't coming back as fast as i had hoped. With a couple of 5ks in the summer before i took the winter off and seemed to loose all of my progress. This 10k was also the longest distance I had attempted. It was difficult for me to run a whole mile without taking walk breaks. With all of the excitement and wonderful people that surround RttP, we were carried through and finished the race. Instant pride!
Then the matter of sticking around for the drawing. There were so many people and we were exhausted and wanted to go home. I just remember seeing people leaving and saying "Look, our chances of going to Ireland are getting better all the time!". After drawing what seemed like a million bib numbers, no one came up to claim the first prize, my number was announced. I looked at it in disbelief for a bit before those around me yelled to go up before another number was drawn. That night I let it all sink in. on Sunday I found a marathon training plan and on Monday I had my first training run. Having that kind of motivation took away all of the doubt in my mind and I decided that I would get it done. There were plenty of times on the way that I asked myself what I was doing, but I couldn't back out now! Over the next 7.5 months I put in over 700 miles, participated in at least 10 races and gained the confidence needed to tackle the marathon. My fiance and I arrived in Dublin on Thursday, got to take in some sights of the town and become more familiar with the history of the people and the area. On Sunday morning before the marathon I realized that all of this sightseeing had come at a cost, my feet were sore! After a few minutes of freaking out, wondering if I could finish the race, it dawned on me that I was here to take it all in and have fun, not break any world records, The race started with runners packed together like sardines. There were 19,500 entries. I thought RttP was big! Soon the people spread out and the fun began. I trusted in my training and the amazing Irish spectators. Through the course we never went more than maybe 1/4 mile with out some one cheering for us. It was an amazing feeling to accomplish this goal and have the support of my friends, family, community and complete strangers. This opportunity really has changed my life in many ways. I didn't want to run alone either so I drug others into the sport as well. Thank you Tyler Wilkinson, Pub 317, Rttp and all of the volunteers and participants. This is a wonderful event and our community is better because of it. Anthony Slominski's story:
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