Julie Merkel, 2016
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