Meg Brooker

Years Running: 1998 – now

Hometown: Mullica Hill, NJ

Running History: Raced competitively in high school & college to now post-collegiately. I’ve raced everything from the mile to the marathon but cross country is my first love.

How many miles to run/walk in an ideal week: 50-70

Favorite Run: I love the 11 Miles to Paradise course. It’s goregous and rolling and just the right amount of challenging for the road runner.

Favorite local route: North Hills trails going up the Orange Street Trailhead

Favorite shoe: It changes all of the time but right now I’m loving the Nike Pegasus Turbo.

Favorite piece of apparel: The Brooks Hideout Jacket because lightweight, weather resistant, and keeps you warm!

Trail or road: Love both but run on the road more.

Running accessory you can’t live without: The Nathan Hipster. You can fit just about anything in this belt when you run. The best part? You can’t even tell it’s there when it is on.

Special talent: I’m great at eating anything peanut butter chocolate

Favorite Quote: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:13

Tim Brooker

Years Running: Most my life. Had a curfew when I was young – the faster I ran the longer I could stay out.

Hometown: Duluth, MN.  Last 40 years in Sanders County, Montana

Best running memory: The first time my son beat me (Anders) – Buttercup Run in Arlee 1994. I did get my revenge 20 years later – New York Marathon!!!

Trail or road: Running is a great way to explore new country – especially the mountains.

Running Accessory you can’t live without: A running hat.

Special talent: Getting lost.

Favorite Quote: “I’d rather be in the middle of nowhere than any city on earth” – Steve McQueen

Vicky Mix

Years running: 10

Hometown:  Litchfield, MN/Missoula, MT

Running History:  I ran track in high school and took a long break and came back to get healthy, meet people and get a new job.

How many miles to run/walk in an ideal week: Anywhere from 20-40, but it depends on life and what it has to offer each week.

Favorite race: Tough question, I have been lucky enough to do some amazing races in amazing places, but the Missoula Marathon (1/2 and full) are my favorite because I get to run with family, friends and it is beautiful!  Eleven Miles to Paradise also has a soft spot in my heart!

Favorite local route:  I can’t say I have a favorite, I am an equal opportunity runner. If there is a friend, my dog or a view, I love it.

Best running memory: This is a tough one…Boston, Dublin, Moab, Grand Canyon, watching my mom finish a half marathon after lung cancer, running Missoula Half with my daughter, all of the old and new friends met while running. The list could go on forever.

Favorite shoe all time: Pearl Izumi Trail N2 (currently) and I still have my very first “real running shoe”, the Brooks Adrenaline.

Favorite current piece of apparel:  Nike Lux crops and tights. Extra spandex does wonders for me!

Trail or road: Trail. Its always an adventure!

Running Accessory you can’t live without: Colleen Smith, my sunglasses with built in cheaters so I can see my Garmin and my hands free dog leash.

Special talent:  Nothing special here, but I do give most things a good try.

Favorite Quote:  “You have to be a runner. You don’t have to be good at it or love it, but you do have to do it.”  – Anders Brooker

Erin Forde

Years Running: 12 years and counting

Hometown: Fargo, North Dakota

Running History: One day I decided to join cross country in 8th grade. I hated it because it felt so hard, but once my coach asked if I would be coming back the next year, I couldn’t say no… I continued running high school and then in college and will hopefully run the rest of my life!

How many miles to run/walk in an ideal week: 60-70

Favorite Race: How do you pick just one?! From high school to now, every race I’ve got to compete in with my family of teammates.

Favorite local route: Running to and through the Rattlesnake from my house
Best running memory: When my husband, Eric, and I ran our first half marathon
together (Missoula Half Marathon)

Favorite shoe all time: Right now, the New Balance 1080! But I can always count on the Nike Pegasus

Favorite piece of apparel: Whatever Vicky tells me I should buy because she
knows it best!!

Trail or road: Road Trails are fun too

Running accessory you can’t live without: My Garmin watch!

Special talent: I can touch my tongue to my nose

Favorite Quote: “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” – Robert H. Schuller

Sarah Knutson

Running History:  I have been running since I was on a club team called the “Road Runners” in elementary school. I continued to run more competitively for both track and cross country in high school. Presently, looking forward to challenging myself outside of my normal running and racing comfort zones.

How many miles to run/walk in an ideal week: 20-40 miles

Favorite race: Mountain to Meadow

Favorite local route: I enjoy running the trails at Blue Mountain, Water Works and Pattee Canyon here in Missoula.

Best running memory: My best running memories are training and jogging with my dad when I was younger.

Favorite shoe all time: Pearl Izumi Trail or I currently love the Nike Wildhorse

Favorite current piece of apparel:  North Face Fleece Tights

Trail or road: Trail

Running Accessory you can’t live without: Any watch

Special talent:  I can dance to country swing or two-step.

Favorite Quote:  “We can do things that are greater than ourselves. If you believe nothing exists beyond a certain boundary, then you will never test the veracity of that belief and you will never discover new possibilities….Maybe there are truly extraordinary people out there, but I’m not one of them. The most extraordinary acts are accomplished by ordinary people doing something a little extra and stepping outside their personal comfort zone.” -Juliana Buhring in This Road I Ride

JR Thomas

Years Running:  10 years

How many miles to run/walk in an ideal week: 5-30

Favorite race: Oh man, it’s either the Rut 50k or the Hootenanny 100k

Favorite local route:  Getting up on Waterworks and Jumbo

Best running memory: Running a great last lap at the Hootenanny with my buddy Nico!

Favorite shoe all time: New Balance Zante

Favorite current piece of apparel:  Brooks Cascadia Shorts  

Trail or road: Trails baby!

Running Accessory you can’t live without: My super cool orange and blue darn tough socks

Special talent:  I’m really good at singing “The Boys are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy

Favorite Quote: “ Blood, Sweat and Respect. … ” – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Jeff Mogavero

Years running: 13 or so

Hometown:  Havertown, Pennsylvania

Running history: I’ve run for as long as I can remember. In high school I really fell in love with the sport. Then one day I got excited and accidentally ran a backpacking trip. With that, I stumbled into the world of mountain ultras and couldn’t be happier!

How many miles to run/walk in an ideal week? 90-110 miles

Favorite race: I’m a sucker for the Lake Sonoma 50 miler (or maybe just the wine tasting the day after)

Favorite local route: I love the Jumbo Saddle!

Best running memory: Cruising long runs with friends

Favorite shoe all time: Strava tells me I’m on my 17^thpair of the Altra Lone Peaks, so we’ll go with that.

Favorite current piece of apparel: Darn Tough socks

Trail or road: Ridgelines

Running accessory you can’t live without: Petzl Reactik headlight. For those early morning and “it seems like a good idea to run all night” moments.

Special talent: Getting rather low on the dance floor

Favorite quote:“It’s time to let the dogs out…woof woof” – Lil’ John Thomas

Alex Tait   

Running History:  Started in middle school in 2005 when I broke the world record for fastest mile of all time.  3:31.67

How many miles to run/walk in an ideal week: 40ish

Favorite race: The Snowbowl 15K.  Got my butt kicked by this race and can’t wait to go back and have it kick my butt again!

Favorite local route: Anything up Sawmill Gulch is my go to. It feels like I’m in a running magazine shoot. It’s so pretty up there!

Best running memory: One time I did an entire run without asking myself why I do this to myself.  That was pretty neat!

Favorite shoe all time: My custom neon purple and neon red sprinting spikes from high school!

Favorite current piece of apparel: My Smartwool Smartloft 60 Jacket!  It’s the perfect blend of warmth and breathe-ability!  Plus it’s not too warm so when it’s very cold outside I have a great excuse not to go out!

Trail or road: Trail.  Always.  No one can hear my screams of pain and soft weeping that is a constant while I run.

Running Accessory you can’t live without: My running vest!  I love to feel like I’m going on some grand adventure even though I’m only putting in 6 miles today.

Special talent:  I have a beautiful ability to lose every raffle I’ve ever entered no matter how many tickets I bought.

Favorite Quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”-Wayne Gretzky” – Michael Scott” – Alex Tait

Anders Brooker

Years Running:  As long as I can remember

Hometown: Plains, MT

Miles run per week: 0-50

Favorite race: I can’t choose between Bloomsday, the John Colter Run, and Evaro Mountain Challenge. These events were an annual tradition for my dad and me growing up.

Favorite local route: Spring Gulch in the Rattlesnake

Running memory: The 3200m race at the Montana State Track Meet in 2013. I was lucky enough to coach 5 athletes that made State Track in the 3200m that spring. They all had a great day including Paige Gilchrist who won the girls race and Adam Peterman who the boys race. Adam also set an All Class State Record. We had a fun night celebrating with my wife, Meg, coaches, and friends!

Favorite Shoe of All time: This is an easy one. The Brooks Launch.

Current favorite apparel piece: SAXX underwear

Trail or road: Cross Country

Favorite accessory: The Garmin Fenix lets me know how slow I am running

Talent: Laser tag

Quote:  “Go fast and take chances”