The view from the Montana Meltdown loop at Gallatin County Regional Park
Race directing has always seemed like a great blend of my talents and passions: Running a lot, producing, and making things happen.
As a producer of many short films and two indie features, I still can't quite tell you what a producer does. Because we do all of it. Anything and everything. Or as a friend put it once, "If no one else wants to, your ass is going to Costco." I've gone to Costco, swept floors, cleaned bathrooms, cooked pots of rice, and taken out more bags of garbage than I can count.
Me working, sitting on a table on set
What people don't see when they watch a movie -- or run a race -- are all the tiny details that must be decided and handled "off screen" for it to be a success. Where will people go to the bathroom? What will they eat? Is it going to be hot? Cold? How do we help everyone do their best given these conditions?
I get so much joy out of helping others achieve their goals. Whether that is making a movie or finishing their first ultra.
Which is why race directing has always felt like the next logical step for me to take. I would be able to "produce" an event that gives others a chance to unlock new mileage or set a PR. When Jeff first suggested we direct a race together, I jumped at the idea. Together, we could create something very special.
We spent several months discussing what we could do, drawing up dream routes, talking to the forest service, researching permits. In the end, we decided it made the most sense for us to start with a manageable goal: a 24 hour fixed time event in our hometown of Bozeman. This allows us to create a great inaugural year of a race and establish ourselves as race directors while still only needed to maintain one aid station. Much easier than the dozen or so needed for a longer trail race!
With this in mind, we got permits, insurance, and are now off to the races (pun intended) for our first event: Montana Meltdown. The race has different divisions for a 24 hour, 12 hour or 4 hour run. I can't wait to be "on set" at the start/finish line and cheer runners on as they accomplish big goals.
Registration is live on Ultrasignup! https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=117574
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