Kelly Vroman, 2024
In 2024, I was shocked and elated to hear my name and bib number called as the 4th and final winner of the Ireland trip!
I’ve been running in the Run to the Pub since 2014, sometimes not even sticking around to see if I was a winner!! Lesson learned! I was ever so thankful that the sponsors would allow for the prize to be rolled into the following year, as my nephew was getting married at the same time as the Dublin Half in 2024. So, I threw out the invitation to friends… “Who wants to go to Ireland with me in 2025?”. I had 7 takers!! All women who are part of my Bible Study and who have been a huge part of my life and friend group, some for 25 years or more. So, for the next year and a half, we planned and dreamed and planned some more. The anticipation was half the fun! We had meetings and thoroughly enjoyed the process of planning, and looking forward to, a fun adventure. Out of this group, 3 others were game to sign up to run with me in the Half Marathon. And one of the ladies daughter, who is going to school abroad also wanted to run and join us for the trip. And now we are 9!
Now, I am not what one would call an “avid runner”. And “running” is something I only started to do in my mid 40’s. Ten years ago, I participated in the Bozeman Half Marathon and thought I had checked that box. But no… I had to win the trip… and so I accepted the challenge! Once I had finally secured my entry into the Dublin Half in February, I began my training, starting with the 2025 Run to the Pub. I had a knee bothering me after that 10k and had to work on some strength training and then resume running again fairly consistently over the summer. 3 of us signed up to do the Bozeman 10k in early September as a trial for how we might do in Dublin for the Half. For our training program we wanted to run 10 miles that day, so we were one of “those people” you see running before the race. We ran a quick 2 miles pre-race, then completed the 10k, and just for fun, ran (or walked) another 2 miles after crossing the finish line. Things that would normally be unheard of for me to do. It makes me chuckle to say things like, “Oh, today I’m just doing a short 5 mile run”, but I was DOING IT! And much to my surprise, I finished the 10k that day with a PR. I believed I was ready, and my goal… to finish the Dublin Half before they quit timing at 3hr 15min. Lofty enough for me.
Our adventure began on September 18 as we all headed to the Bozeman airport at the crack of dawn from Gardiner and traveled all day and overnight to Dublin. From the time we arrived in Dublin, we hit the ground running and kept going to beat jet lag so the racers could be ready by Sunday! We started a self-guided walking tour and saw some of the landmarks in the downtown area before checking into our luxury hostel. Mind you, we ranged in age from mid 40’s (aside from the daughter/student) to mid 60’s, not exactly the demographic for the Party Hostel we were staying in, but it made the adventure all the more. Most of us were near delirious by the time bedtime in Ireland rolled around, and the thumping of the music downstairs made sleep difficult. But that didn’t stop us from more tours of Trinity College, Cathedrals, Castles, and Pubs the next day.
And then there it was… RACE DAY!! I was hopeful for no downpours and not to be too cold. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect! Partly cloudy. High 40’s to start and no rain in the forecast… in IRELAND! (We had seen the previous two weeks getting heavy rain nearly every day. The luck of the Irish was surely upon us.) I stayed with my running partners for about a mile or two before they broke away and made a few friends along the way, running with a different person and chatting (as much as I could, but running at sea level as opposed to mile high certainly helped). The race was held in beautiful Phoenix Park. We looped and ran all over the grounds. As the miles piled on, there were fewer and fewer people around me. At mile 8 I could see and hear people hitting the 10 mile mark, where there was a DJ booth, music blaring, and encouragement for all. I couldn’t wait to get there myself. By the time I got there… no more DJ. And more and more people, obviously finished and going home in the opposite direction I was going. But I was still hopeful to meet my goal. The route, since it was all within the park, had us going back under the start line again, with still 2 miles to go, it felt a little defeating. I was growing weary. Finally, I rounded a corner and could see the finish line, and there was one of my running partners cheering me on, and another on the sidelines with encouraging words. There were no runners in sight in front or behind me. As I came closer to the finish, the announcer was having a little fun with me, “Aaannnd here comes Kelly Vroman… from the United States! If you run into any trouble, the US embassy is right here in the park!...”
Then it all became a blur, the noise of the onlookers, my friends on the sidelines, and all the emotion started to hit. I could see the clocks and it was more than 3 hours and 15 minutes, but I knew that was the clock time and not my actual time since I was in the last wave. A medic lady came to me after I crossed to see if I needed help since I was out of breath and also sobbing, but aside from being sore and tired from running the race I felt great. I crossed the finish line, maybe not before they quit timing, but it was close. I got my medal and then got a notice that I had finished, 3 hours 14 minutes 32 seconds!!! 28 seconds to spare, I made my goal and I was the last to cross the finish before they stopped timing. WAHOOO!! I was a winner!! They rolled up the flags, finish line, and started pulling the fences. I felt a little bad for the few who were still out there fighting to finish.
The race may have been over, but the day and trip definitely weren’t. After the race, we went back to shower and resumed our part as tourists. After our time in Dublin, we still had 11 more days of adventure awaiting us. To say visiting Ireland was amazing is an understatement. We travelled mostly by public transportation from Dublin, to Dingle to Bunratty, Cliffs of Moher, a quick stop in Lisdoonvarna for the matchmaker festival. Unfortunately, no matches were made. A few days in Galway and in Belfast before we made our way back to Montana. So many memories were made that will last a lifetime.
I can’t thank Pub 317 and Run to the Pub enough for this opportunity. You gave this lady a much needed gift and again I am overcome with emotion and thanks to you.
Best,
Kelly Vroman