University of MT Helena College
Run Time 59:38 + 2-minute kick
Somehow I jumped right over Helena when I wrote the Great Falls post. Something about the Helena run was forgettable, apparently. Oh yes, it was on a dirt track. Yes, dirt. So not so much forgettable as wannabe forgettable.
It is possible that this is a transitional phase. Perhaps they dug up the old track and the are preparing to lay down a new one. That would make sense for this time of year. Or perhaps this is a dirt-track state. That would make sense for this part of the country.
In addition, it was a lovely walk through a busy and rundown section of the city to get to the school from the quaint and sketchy Howard Johnson. It was sunny and windy, that dry high-altitude warmth that makes you feel like you’re exercising in an artificial test atmosphere.
It was heartening to see teams of young softball players gathering to play at the adjacent softball fields. Even in the remote outposts of Montana, families sign up their kids to play sports they don’t want to play (not all, but some). Youth athletes never fail to have the outfit and the gear nailed down. They might look like they have never touched a softball, but they are equipped like a Division 1 collegiate all-star.
I don’t mean to pick on Helena. It is just not the garden spot of the state, from my narrow view. I do prefer to run on dirt, though, so let us celebrate the Analog status of this running venue.
Don't Make It a Habit. Make It a Ritual. 