Posted: Jul 9, 2012 8:59 AM by Bernie Riggs - KPAX News
Updated: Jul 9, 2012 9:01 AM
MISSOULA- Another Missoula Marathon is in the books, but with nearly 5,000 runners - half of which coming from out of state - the race left an impact on the downtown economy.
Well before the Missoula Marathon took place Sunday morning, local businesses were feeling the rush. Friday night was very busy with the Tamarack Brewing Company hosting around 250 people for the marathon's beer run, while employees from the Shack Restaurant and Big Dipper Ice Cream said Friday was probably the busiest night they've had all summer.
"We were really busy. It was actually one of our busiest nights so far...this summer. We made probably the most that night that we have all summer," Lily Wilson who works at Big Dipper said.
"It was unusually busy and Friday night they said it was overwhelmingly busy so It's been pretty good," the Shack's Amelia Shields added.
Now if Friday had the busiest evening for local businesses, Sunday may have been the busiest morning with spectators and spent runners looking for sustenance.
"There was lots of sweaty people you know - the numbers taped on and stuff like that so," Shields said.
"Definitely today we've had a lot of marathon runners. They come all sweaty and exhausted and wanting a lot of ice cream," Wilson told us.
Tamarack Brewing's General Manager Lacy Lopez wasn't around during the morning marathon rush, because she was running in it herself, but she did stop in afterwards to eat some food.
"I think downtown in general has profited from the Missoula Marathon and I think it's an amazing event that's put on... I think all of downtown Missoula is seeing a bump because of it. It's awesome, it's great," Lopez observed.
The economy in Missoula wasn't the only area feeling a boost as Run Wild Missoula's website says the Missoula Marathon helped to raise over $60,000 for local charities.
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