Wilderness Marathon

My husband, Bryan, is in the process of running a marathon each month in the designated Wilderness Areas of Idaho. After growing tired of the racing scene, wanting instead to embrace the joy of running and explore new areas, Bryan decided to create and run his own marathon distance routes (26.2miles) through the Wilderness- areas that most people do not visit due to remote locations, difficult terrain and a ban on mechanized travel within the Wilderness boundaries.  Though there are 15 such sites in Idaho and only 12 months in the year, many of the smaller areas can be connected together in running, thus giving him one Wilderness Marathon per month.  To see more on his adventures, check out BoiseBillies.com/blog

In July Bryan is running the White Clouds Wilderness area and I am thrilled to come along!  Originally we hoped that I would be running more miles alongside him, or at least embracing the project as a family with a monthly camping trip.  Busy life and less favorable weather got in the way of including family time in his wilderness weekends, but this month we are making it work!

Now that I got the invite and the babysitter is lined up, I need to begin preparing for the run.  It feels similar to prepping for an ultra but the entire run is self supported and remote, giving the day an additional weightiness.  Food, water, water sterilization tools or tabs, proper clothing and shoes, bug repellent... it all feels like a lot to think about.  The trail includes some less developed trail sections that will likely include route finding and off trail conditions; for this I am learning to tall socks.  The altitude is high and dry with intense July sun, so perhaps a super thin white long sleeve and hat.  When I figure it out, I will share the details here.

In the meantime it will be a lot of planning, prepping and building excitement for the big day!