Ultras in Overalls

By Ashlyn Baird

By KAVU

January 2^nd, 2024

Exploring Montana Miles on Foot

For those of you who don’t know.... the ultimate attire for any run is a pair of the KAVU San Blas Overalls. Overalls are for running. Ever hear the saying “There are three rules when you’re in the back country?

1) Don’t get lost. 2) Look Cool 3) If you get lost, make sure you look cool.”?

Now you know.

Any who... here are the tales of the many crazy ultras in overalls:

The Colorado Trail

Pink taser versus Mama Black Bear…do we even have a chance?

Miss Jenna and I were many days and a hundred-some miles into the Colorado trail when we crossed paths with a baby bear chasing a butterfly. Mama bear…was nowhere in sight. I pulled my bear spray and Jenna pulled out her pink taser.

Maybe a malfunction in the fight or flight response?

Who knows, but we took a step back and never tested the hypothesis.

After encounters with snakes, moose, more bears, and the occasional hiker, our time on-trail came to an end, and the ultra bug had bit us right in the butt… I was hooked.

The Scummy Summer Slammer

90 miles. 3 days. Run from Bozeman to Yellowstone. This run is extra scummy. Kyla Maher and Malory Peterson from Bozeman Run Club have pulled this race together for the past 3 years and have truly organized the ultimate stage race. With a full support crew, nightly potlucks, and miles of gorgeous views this race couldn’t get better.

The Headwaters Relay

A race with built-in beer miles…count me in!

This is THE end of the summer party, which explores 230 (ish) miles of Southeastern Montana. With segments called “Long, relentless uphill” and “Quad buster”, you know you’re in for a treat.

Not only do you get a wonderful "4 feet of shade" the entire race, but you get to enjoy many solo miles in the Gravelly Mountain Range- the mountain range where "all the problematic Grizzly bears get relocated". This race is an absolute hoot, and an amazing relay experience with your crew.

Oh, and costumes and unique team names are a must.

The Crazy Mountain 100 (pacer)

Montana’s first and only 100-mile race put on by the wonderful, Megan Dehaan.

With an emphasis on "Crazy", this mountain range is no joke, and most of these trails are not accessible until race day. A 'point-to-point' with 23,000 ft. of elevation gain, there is no prouder moment than crewing a friend through this grueling 100 miles. It takes an army to make sure every single step goes in favor of a racer who has put in months, if not years, of training to travel 100 miles by foot in less that 36 hours. Absolutely nuts.

We call her “Lefty” and this woman made it look easy.

There truly is no better community than the trail running community.

We all may have a few screws loose for enjoying the "pain cave" so much, but I promise there is no better feeling than accomplishing an ultramarathon. Any ultra, from 50k to the 200+ milers, is a huge accomplishment, and I dream to keep chuggin’ along to the triple digits.