Summer came early to Montana’s Capital as a record of nearly 1500 participants took to the South Hills last weekend for the Prickly Pear Land Trust’s 25th annual Don’t Fence Me In run.
By 9 a.m. Saturday, Pioneer Park buzzed with runners readying to race in the 5K, 12K, 25K, or, for the first time, 50K contest, coursing through the northern rim of Jefferson County. Clusters of participants stretched, chatted, and strolled between food trucks near the starting line.
As the start time neared, spectators lined the course, cameras poised to snap photos of their loved ones running past. With a gunshot blast and a puff of smoke, the runners were off. Prickly Pear Executive Director Mary Hollow said the event marked the environmental organization’s biggest turnout yet, with nearly 200 more than last year.
