This September 30 through October 6, I’ll be heading west for my 11th annual Iron Phi running trip, exploring the vast state of Montana. From National Parks (Yellowstone & Glacier) and college towns (Bozeman & Missoula) to scenic highways and rugged towns in between, I’ll be combining my love of running, travel, and philanthropy for an amazing week with my pal Kerrie Herren. Kerrie and I go back to our early days as Phi Delta Theta Leadership Consultants and have remained great friends since.

The Goal:

Leave ALS better than I found it by visiting 100 Montana landmarks, recognizing a donor at each stop, and raising ~$5,000 for Iron Phi, bringing my lifetime fundraising total to $50,000.

The Cause:

As always, I’m raising funds for Iron Phi, a program I helped launch through Phi Delta Theta to support those impacted by ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) while developing leadership in college men. Since 2010, more than 14,000 individuals have registered for Iron Phi, over 3,100 have become Iron Phis by raising at least $1,000 while completing an athletic challenge, and together we’ve raised more than $6.3 million.

Iron Phi partners closely with the Live Like Lou Foundation, founded by my friend and mentor Neil Alexander and his wife Suzanne following Neil’s ALS diagnosis. With the continued support of Phi Delta Theta, Live Like Lou has grown into a national leader in the fight against ALS. Together we’re supporting families, funding promising research, creating awareness, and honoring Lou Gehrig’s legacy while working every day to Leave ALS Better Than We Found It.

To celebrate the generosity of those who donate, I’ll once again be bringing back my favorite tradition—the landmark scavenger hunt. Below is the list of destinations I’ll be visiting throughout the trip. When you make a donation, you can claim one or more of the landmarks, and you’ll receive personalized thank-you photo from that location recognizing your generosity. I’ll be blogging throughout the week, so you’ll be able to follow along as I travel across Big Sky Country. Make sure to include which landmark(s) you want to support when you make your donation. Runner’s Choice stops are spontaneous locations that I’ll discover along the way.

You can make a donation by clicking any of the “Make a Donation” buttons below that will take you to my fundraising page. If you’d prefer to donate by check (made out to Iron Phi), just send me a me an email (sgood@phideltatheta.org) for my mailing address.

The Schedule

Day 1 – Bozeman

• Trout Mural – $30
• Baxter Hotel – $40
• Montana State University – $50
• Spirit the Bobcat Statue – $50
• Bobcat Stadium – $50
• Museum of the Rockies – $50
• Gallagator Trail – $40
• Peets Hill / Burke Park Overlook – $40
• Lindley Park – $30
• Crystal Bar – $35
• M Trail – $75
• MAP Brewing – $30
• Mountains Walking Brewing – $30
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25

Day 2 – Yellowstone National Park

• Paradise Valley – $40
• Roosevelt Arch – $75
• Mammoth Hot Springs – $50
• Norris Geyser Basin – $50
• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone – $100
• Artist Point – $75
• Hayden Valley – $50
• Yellowstone Lake – $50
• Old Faithful – $125
• Old Faithful Inn – $50
• Grand Prismatic Spring – $100
• Midway Geyser Basin Trail – $40
• Fountain Paint Pot Trail – $40
• West Yellowstone – $40
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25

Day 3 – Yellowstone to Helena

• Big Sky, MT – $50
• Big Sky Resort – $40
• Gallatin Canyon – $50
• Three Forks, MT – $40
• Missouri River Headwaters – $50
• Montana State Capitol – $60
• Last Chance Gulch – $40
• Cathedral of Saint Helena – $75
• Reeder’s Alley – $35
• Guardian of the Gulch – $40
• Mount Helena Trail – $50
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25

Day 4 – Missoula

• Missoula County Courthouse – $30
• The Wilma – $30
• Brennan’s Wave – $30
• Caras Park – $30
• Draught Works Brewery – $30
• Ogren Park at Allegiance Field – $30
• Grizzly Statue – $50
• Beartracks Bridge – $40
• University of Montana – $50
• The Oval – $40
• Adams Center – $40
• Washington-Grizzly Stadium – $50
• Kim Williams Trail – $40
• Mount Sentinel “M” – $75
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25

Day 5 – Missoula to Whitefish

• CSKT Bison Range – $75
• Polson, MT – $40
• Flathead Lake – $60
• Cherry Orchards – $30
• Bigfork, MT – $40
• Hungry Horse Dam – $50
• Whitefish – $50
• Whitefish Lake – $40
• Whitefish City Beach – $30
• Danny On Trail – $50
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25

Day 6 – Glacier National Park

• Apgar Village – $40
• Lake McDonald – $75
• Going-to-the-Sun Road – $125
• Avalanche Lake – $75
• Trail of the Cedars – $50
• Bird Woman Falls Overlook – $40
• Paradise Meadow – $50
• Logan Pass – $75
• Hidden Lake Overlook – $100
• Highline Trail – $75
• Jackson Glacier Overlook – $50
• Sun Point Overlook – $50
• Wild Goose Island Overlook – $50
• St. Mary Lake – $50
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25

Day 7 – Many Glacier

• Many Glacier Entrance – $75
• Many Glacier Hotel – $50
• Swiftcurrent Lake – $50
• Swiftcurrent Lake Trail – $40
• Highway 2 – $40
• Kalispell, MT – $40
• Runner’s Choice – $25
• Runner’s Choice – $25

I hope you’ll join me on another incredible adventure by supporting Iron Phi and the fight against ALS. Every donation helps fund critical ALS research, provides support for families living with the disease, and empowers college students to become leaders through service, perseverance, and philanthropy.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Sincerely,
Steve