Billings, MT

Billings Senior High School

Run time: 59:46 + 2-minute kick

Two visits in two weeks to Billings. This run was not nearly as picturesque as the first. Different hotel, different part of town, different run route. The school was a mile or so from the hotel, which was downtown. The track had some wear to it, but you know, that pretty much describes all of Billings.

The hotel was the Dude Rancher Lodge, and it had some character. An actual metal key, real ceramic coffee cups in the room, a raised rafter ceiling in the floor 2 room, table and chair in place of a desk and roller chair. But the shower and bathroom sink were new, and the price was very reasonable. Two thumbs up.

I tried running stairs at the track, but the cement grandstand was crumbly, uneven, and perhaps formed by early Western settlers. I had a few near falls on the way down the first set, so I stayed on the track for the rest of the running and got on the stairs only for walking. Cement is unforgiving – I have found that out before.

This was the last night of a 2-week trip which began here in Billings, circled west across Montana, up through Alberta, over to Saskatchewan, and back down to Billings. I visited approximately 50 distributors, prospects, and end users. We added some business and hopefully laid the groundwork for adding more. The weather was sometimes great, sometimes cooler and rainy, but way better than taking on this region in January.

I walked a few blocks to get a Jimmy Johns sub, and there was an old movie theater playing vintage movies. Mrs. Doubtfire was playing that evening. The poster with coming attractions included some interesting gems: The Adventures of Robin Hood (animated), Terminator, Terms of Endearment, Strange Brew, Badlands, School of Rock, Mary Poppins (original), The Crow, Tommy, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, and Newsies.

I got a fair amount of running in on this trip, as much as I would have at home, if not more. Which is important – I do not eat healthy on the road. I do not overeat, but I eat fast food and tasty snacks. Plus, it is essential for my mental and spiritual health to run. If I am not feeling great, it means I either need to eat, poop, sleep, or run. Sometimes 2 or 3 of those.

Thank you, Montana. Can’t wait to come back. I will miss you.