Any lingering doubt about the intersection of craft beer and running was wiped away Wednesday night in Missoula as hundreds of runners, walkers and craft beer enthusiasts packed Kettlehouse Brewing Co.’s northside location for Community U-Nite in support of Run Wild Missoula.

Runners in the Run Wild Missoula marathon training group gathered under threatening skies at 5:00 for a 4 to 8 mile run as the taper down to the July 10 Missoula Marathon reaches its midpoint.  Another strong pack of runners hit the streets at 6:00 for the monthly Run Wild Missoula beer run. Afterward, pints of Cold Smoke, Eddy Out, Double Haul and Lake Missoula flowed freely with fifty cents of each pint donated to Run Wild Missoula.

Before the event, Kettlehouse threw out a challenge, offering to increase the donation by $100 if sales hit 400 pints.  First Security Bank also stepped up and offered to match the total donation made by Kettlehouse. We’re still waiting to hear what the final tally was, but there’s little doubt the 400 pint target was easily exceeded (even with Montana’s 3 pint limit per person).  Next time you stop by Kettlehouse, let them know you appreciate their weekly Community U-Nite events.

[UPDATE: Patrons bought 450 pints, which, including the extra $100 from Kettlehouse and the match from First Security Bank, resulted in a donation of $650 for Run Wild Missoula.]

The Missoula Marathon – Montana’s Tourism Event of the Year for 2011 and voted best Overall Marathon by the readers of Runner’s World Magazine in 2010 – is almost a week away.  Here’s a look at the schedule of events:

Friday July 8, 6:00 p.m. – Run Wild Missoula Marathon Edition Beer Run (meet at the Badlander).

Saturday July 9, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Marathon Expo and Festival at Caras Park. Race packet pickup, retailers, food vendors, music, kid’s activities and tons of fun. All of this takes place mere steps away from the Clark Fork River Market, a very cool farmer’s market running from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Saturday July 9, 10:00 a.m.  – Missoula Kid’s Marathon.  Come cheer on 500 kids running the last 1.2 miles of their cumulative marathon challenge!

Saturday July 9, 5:00 p.m. – Hellgate Village 5K. A great family friendly run taking place on the banks of the Clark Fork River and finishing at the Expo at Caras Park.

Sunday July 10, 6:00 a.m. – Missoula Marathon and Half Marathon.
 

Beer runners Cody, Ross, Growler Fills’ Alan, and Scott, members of Run Wild Missoula’s Training Group.