EBS STAFF
The 22nd annual Madison River Run, aka the Water to Whiskey 5-kilometer fun run kicks off the Madison Marathon season on Saturday, June 3. The race starts at 10 a.m. on top of the Madison River (exactly halfway across the bridge over the river) and finishes at Willie’s Distillery in downtown Ennis around noon. As soon as the last runner crosses the finish line, Willie’s fifth annual Spring Pig Pickin’ festivities will begin and continue through 6 p.m. with live music by Madison Range, Fool’s Gold and www.Twang.
For many years, the Madison River Run has been a local fun run that generally attracted 50 to 60 runners from Madison County and the rest of Southwest Montana. It’s still all that—and then some.
In recent years, the Greater Yellowstone Adventure Series has partnered with Willie’s Distillery, a small batch distillery, for this event. Willie’s Distillery is owned and operated by Willie and Robin Blazer who take Montana grains and turn them into world class spirits. Their company motto—world class spirits for world class individuals—is one many aficionados would agree they live up to.
What you might not know is that Willie’s also donates their spent grains to local pig farms as feed, and in turn, receives pigs to roast and serve up for free during the annual Spring Pig Pickin’ event.
The Water to Whiskey fun run offers a chance to do a 5K, take part in a pig roast, and toast to the day with Montana-made spirits by Willie’s Distillery. This is a family-friendly event as is the race.
Willie’s Distillery is located at 312 E. Main St. in Ennis. For more information about the Madison River Run and other races in the Greater Yellowstone Adventure Series visit themadisonmarathon.com. Visit williesdistillery.com for more information about their fifth annual pig roast.
