Buy Your Spectator Tickets

Spectating Tickets:  (Limited to 175 Spectators)

• $10 (100% of ticket profits go to Youth Homes)
• Tickets available online until 5:00PM on Feb 5th.  You can buy tickets at the door from 6:30pm – 7:00pm
• Can’t make the event, watch live on our Facebook page.

Charity:

• All profits from the event will go to Youth Homes, a Missoula-based organization which provides services and shelters for children facing abuse, neglect, emotional trauma and substance abuse problems in Western Montana.  For more information, click here.

Beer:

• Big Sky Brewing has generously donated beer for the event, which we will have on sale for $3 a can (cash only). 100% of beer profits go to Youth Homes.

How does this race work?

• The Treadmill Challenge will test who can run the farthest distance in 10 minutes on a treadmill set to a 12% grade.
• There will be 6 men, 6 women, and 3 treadmills, with two prelims and one final for each gender.
• Each heat will have three competitors.  Whoever goes the farthest in 10 minutes will win the prelim.  The winner of each prelim plus the holder of the next farthest distance will advance to the final.
• The three athletes lucky (or unlucky) enough to make the final get to do it all over again.  Winners will be crowned King & Queen of the Mill!

Schedule of Events:

• 6:30pm – Doors open at Runner’s Edge
• 6:30pm-7:00pm – Spectators have the option to buy beer and fill out prediction contest brackets
• 7:00pm – Men’s Prelim Heat #1
• 7:15pm – Men’s Prelim Heat #2
• 7:30pm – Women’s Prelim Heat #1
• 7:45pm – Women’s Prelim Heat #2
• 8:00pm – Men’s Final Heat
• 8:15pm – Women’s Final Heat
• 8:30pm – Crowning of the King and Queen of the Treadmill and announcement of the prediction contest winner

Prediction Contest:

We will have a bracket-style prediction contest the night of the event for spectators to join in on the fun. The brackets must be filled out before 7:00pm when the races start! Men’s and women’s brackets are $5 each.

Click here to view the bracket.

MEN

1. Andy Drobeck – The man, the myth, the salsa-dancing-outfit legend, Andy Drobeck. Andy returns to reclaim his title as champion of the treadmill. He’s only been beat here twice (but by studs Jim Walmsley and Adam Peterman), and has won every other Treadmill Challenge to date. If one thing is certain, Andy will continue to bring the most energy and best costumes to the race. Can he take down Adam and regain his crown as king of the treadmill?
2. Adam Peterman – Adam returns to keep his title as Treadmill Challenge Champion. The defending champ and Hellgate XC coach just moved back to town after a failed attempt at fleeing the Missoula bubble. He was a Division 1 runner at University of Colorado and more recently shattered Jim Walmsley’s FKT on the Sentinel Hill Climb, just before winning the USATF Trail Marathon Champs. Can anyone bring down this pug-loving machine?
3. Iggy Fitzgerald – It isn’t the Treadmill Challenge without some high school talent in the mix! Iggy finished an impressive 3rd place at the Montana State meet before racing his way into Footlocker XC Nationals later in the fall. He made sure to clean up and place 3rd at the Montana Cup and win the Missoula Turkey Trot as well. Iggy can rock and roll on a cross course, but what will happen on the treadmill?  His main goal is to embarrass two of his XC coaches in the challenge, Adam and Nico.
4. Monte Cole – A fresh set of pasty legs in town, Monte brings a robust background of cross country, mountain ultras, nordic skiing, and hitting the dance floor to the mix. He’s gearing up for the Red Hot 55k and has been putting in some serious mileage over the last few months. He’s fit, ready to roll, and ready to beat his roommate Jeff.
5. Nico Composto – Nico made his Treadmill Challenge debut two years ago, in a performance he describes as ‘the worst 10 minute run of my life.’ However this year he returns to the stage the most fit he’s been since earning All-American status in cross country while at Columbia University. Like Monte, he’s emerging from a huge training block in preparation for the Red Hot 55k. Nico can always dig deep into the pain cave, especially if it’s required to beat one of the XC kids he coaches, Iggy, and this year it will be mandatory.
6. Jeff Mogavero – The overly bubbly, ultra running, river surfing, Taylor Swift belting, long hair rocking nomad from Pennsylvania is here to attempt his first Treadmill Challenge.  After spectating the Challenge last year he made it a goal of his to make a big enough name for himself to be invited this year. Well 3rd at Run Rabbit Run 100 miler, 1st at the Elk Ramble, and 6th at Bandera 100K is a good way to get noticed.

WOMEN

1. Nicole Murray – Back this year to regain her crown, Nicole is consistently a favorite in this event.  Look up any Runner’s Edge event from the past 8 years and her name will be amongst the top three women. Every. Single. Time.  Or just ask any runner in town and they will say ‘I simply can not beat Nicole.’  
2. Kristina Pattison –  A previous Treadmill Challenge participant and all around badass, Kristina is constantly a threat to win this event.  Ultra runner extraordinaire and one of the hardest working ladies in Missoula, look for her to crush this challenge. For reference she casually put in a 10hr, 13,000ft day on Mt. Sentinel a couple of days ago. 
3. Leah Ling – Leah returns to the Treadmill Challenge for another attempt at claiming the crown. Despite juggling a huge workload as a physical therapy student, Leah finds the time to train and dominate ultras, like her recent 3rd place at the Bighorn 100 mile. But the question is, will Leah bring back her phenomenal milk carton costume from last year?
4. Rhea Black – A mainstay among top female athletes in town, if you don’t know who Rhea is, you haven’t been paying attention. Her daily life is making adults cry in her intense but very rewarding Momentum Gym workouts.  She practices what she preaches and is always in incredible shape. Asking her about how seriously she was taking this event she said, ‘Oh I’m here to be competitive…I’m going for it.’
5. Maryn Lowry – A former Iowa State and Univeristy of Montana runner who now coaches at the U, Maryn is one of the most positive people you will ever meet, but trust us, you don’t want to race her!  Her smile hides the fact that she will run you into the ground. This is Maryn’s first Treadmill Challenge and she won’t take it easy on anyone. As a fierce competitor, Maryn knows how to throw down at races. 
6. Elizabeth Wasserman – Perhaps Elizabeth has helped you sign up for Run Wild Missoula race or patiently answered a question about packet pick-up,  but don’t be fooled by Elizabeth’s quiet demeanor – she’s a monster when it comes to running. She’s the newest RWM employee, she’s also a wicked fierce competitor. If you need any proof, Elizabeth will be competing in the Olympic Marathon Trials at the end of this month.