Escaping the Everyday

Can you believe July is almost over?! This summer has been flying by, yet it’s been filled with tons of adventures so far.

We checked out some cool new spots this week and ran our first ever trail run in the beautiful Bridger Range.

So, we might as well get right into it!

Bozeman Farmers Market

The Bozeman Farmers Market is every Tuesday evening from June 18th to September 10th, from 5pm to 8pm with a variety of local vendors.

When I was researching the market, I came across something really awesome. The market actually donates some of its revenue to the maintenance and improvements of local parks. I really love how Bozeman is so community focused and most of the events put on here are for a community purpose.

We’ve heard great things about this farmers market, so we were excited to check it out but had no idea what to expect.

As soon as you walked through Lindley Park and to the entrance of the market, it was like you were transported to a place in the middle of the woods.

They had a ton of vendors that were selling products such as wood burnings, homemade and vintage clothes, jewelry, soaps, food, a variety of different art pieces and so much more!

I would highly recommend checking out the farmers market if you’re ever in town.

Also, Lindley Park does not allow dogs, but dogs were at the market so if you’re debating bringing your fur baby, you should!

As we were walking though, we spotted these really cool elk antlers for dogs. I was a little skeptical, but I did some research and found out that elk antlers have some great benefits and the bone marrow in the middle is like a treat for them. Some of the nutrients are as follows:

• Glucosamine (good for joint pain and function)
• Iron
• Manganese
• Potassium
• Zinc
• Anti-inflammatory effect

The one thing to worry about is if your dog has any dental issues, they do say it can cause issues if your dog doesn’t have strong teeth. Always ask your vet if you’re unsure of something you’re giving your dog.

Jim Bridger Trail Run

What a thrill it was running our first trail run! We participated in the 31st Annual Jim Bridger race which included both a 10 miler and 5k.

Proceeds from this event support the nonprofit Bridger Ski Foundation’s Nordic Pro Team. The team is coached by four-time Olympian Andy Newell and gives the top skiers in the country the support to pursue a professional ski career. Check out the link below if you want to learn more about the Bridger Ski Foundation and all they have to offer!

It’s pretty awesome that a community will come together to support young adults achieving their dreams!

Race days out in Montana have a different vibe compared to on the east coast. The running community is just amazing out here!

For one, I’m used to not bringing anything with me to the race start line because I didn’t want to carry my items. I couldn’t leave my belongings anywhere in case it got stolen. I noticed when we got there everyone was leaving their backpacks and bags at the start/finish line because people of the trail running community are more trusting and respectful of others.

Jake was also mentioning that other runners were extremely encouraging as he was going up the steepest part of the trail. You do get that a little bit of that at other races, but it feels 100% genuine.

I usually get race day anxiety but sitting by the start line overlooking the sunrise and mountain range brought a sense of peace in me.

Trail Stats

5k Trail Run
3.15 miles with just under 500 feet of elevation gain.

10 miler Trail run
2,600 feet of elevation gain.

Both of these races were tough, especially the 10 miler as it’s so much elevation gain! Jake was mentioning that it’s not a race where you can take it easy. The path you’re running on can get pretty narrow so it’s easier to go with the flow of the racers then having to stop to let people pass you. That is one of the reasons he finished 8 minutes faster than his two-hour goal he set for himself.

During my training runs I originally set a goal to run it under 40 minutes, but I was doing better than I anticipated with training, so I decided I wanted to get under 35 minutes, and I did it!

Jam! on Main

Jam! is a restaurant that’s been on our list for a while now and we finally got to try it! It’s a breakfast place that doesn’t take reservations because it’s always so busy. If you ever end up going to Jam!, expect to wait a bit before you get seated. The wait is 100% worth it!

Don’t miss out on our adventures in July! Jake and I are going to take on our first backpacking trip in Montana. We will also be running a very popular race next weekend.