Racing back in time

ST. IGNATIUS — Temperatures rose to scorching levels later in the day, but at 7 a.m. Saturday it was still chilly in the shade, perfect weather for the annual Buffalo Run.

A total of 98 runners traversed the four courses, with the youngest in a stroller and the oldest clocking a half marathon time under three hours.

The event is put on by St. Luke Community Hospital in conjunction with other sponsors and proceeds of the event go to the St. Ignatius Chamber of Commerce.

Race organizers debated over how many years the race has been run, but unanimously agreed there have been at least 30 Buffalo Run races.

Local track and field star, Paden Alexander took first in the men’s half marathon, breaking the previous record for the race. Time recorders thought Alexander was running the seven-mile course, until his number was recorded coming in at 1 hour, 19 minutes, 48 seconds.

“I’m pretty sure that’s the fastest ever,” TK Schwaderer, who has been tabulating records for the event since they began recording race times, said.

Alexander didn’t just beat the record, he crushed it, coming in a whopping 17 minutes earlier than any other recorded time.  While this alone is a stunning feat, Alexander said this was the first half marathon he has ever run.  

Last year, Alexander won the four-mile race, which was a typical length for the champion of the one- and two-mile races in the state competition.  Alexander will run next year for the University of Montana.  While he had no plans to run a marathon in the next four years, he said he might attempt one after college.

“It seems like I’m better at longer distances,” Alexander said.

Alexander may be accustomed to winning, but Carrie Johnson said she is not.

Johnson, 31 of Bigfork, took first in the women’s half marathon with a time of 1 hour, 44 minutes, 58 seconds.  Johnson is not a distance running newbie. She said she has run since high school, but has only been racing since last winter.

She got the push to start racing from her aunt, who regularly runs in races.  She said prior to last winter she never thought about competitive running.

“I don’t need to run a race. I run for myself,” she said.

While she wasn’t in the race to win it, she was happy with her time. Like many distance runners, Johnson said she enjoys running more now that she is older, which is why she thinks she did so well.  It used to feel forced, but now it is a release to get out and pound out the miles.

Johnson, like many of Saturday’s racers, was just out there to run.