Luck O' the Irish

Have you ever dreamed of traveling to Ireland? What about running the Dublin Marathon? You could just have your chance at both...at least if you're in or around Bozeman, Mont., and in a running mood on March 14. Save the partying and imbibing until after your a.m. workout: a half marathon or 10K race coined Run to the Pub.

The early-season race bound to take you around Bozeman finishes in Bogart Park, steps away from Pub 317 on Main Street. And that's when the second round of fun begins. Not only have you revved your metabolism but you've secured some extra calories for another beer, maybe even some corned beef or fish and chips. While the ale is perfect for toasting leprechauns, pots of gold and other Irish lore, you could be finding your own lucky fortune in the form of a trip to the old country. That's right, participants--regardless of finish time--have a chance to score a trip to Dublin in October to run the Dublin Marathon. The trip includes airfare, entry into the race and three nights lodging in the capital of Ireland.

And even if you spend the morning traipsing through mud and slush, or freezing your extremities to the finish line, you can always find a sweet reward among your compadres if it's just singing Danny Boy. The race starts at 10 a.m., 10:30 if you're in the 10K, so you won't miss out on the St. Patrick's Day celebration. There's an entire day of drinking left, or just head to the slopes at Big Sky and rev the engine even more. You might have to ski off the post-race party.

Know of some unique St. Patrick's Day celebrations, active or otherwise, in your area? We'd love to hear about them. Photo grabbed from Pub 317. Posted by Kate