Welcome to the Don’t Fence Me In yearbook! Since 2000, we’ve been gathering in the South Hills to kick up dust, chase personal bests, and celebrate the open lands that make Helena home. Whether you’re an alum who heard the first starting gun or a first-timer running for a cause, you’re part of the Happy Trails community. Here are just a handful of the dreamers who can’t get enough hills, the advocates turning miles into missions, and one charismatic megasucculent. These are the faces of our community — the legends, the leaders, and mascots who make DFMI more than just a race.
Most Likely to Add “Just One More” Climb
Joe is a dad, local business owner, and an avid trail runner who dreamed up the 50K course. Joe loves exploring the South Hills with his family and he’s passionate about open lands, wildlife management, and flowy single track. Longtime Race Director Martin Miller handed the reins over to Joe this year, and we know they’re in very good hands!
WHERE’S MARTIN?
Martin Miller co-founded DFMI to raise support for trails, running, and open space. After 25 years as the volunteer race director, he’s focused on running new races – including the DFMI 12K!
Most Likely to Turn Miles into Magic
Afia is a Community Liaison and marathoner who founded Soles for Souls in Baltimore to support families navigating pregnancy loss due to miscarriage. After her own journey with loss, she turned to sound, movement, and community to heal out loud. For her first 50K, Afia is running to break the silence and honor all forms of motherhood. We’re honored to have her team on our trails!
Most Likely to Take a Reading Break
Mike is the writer behind Running Lightly, a Substack exploring growth, transformation, and joy one step at a time. For Mike, the trails are a sanctuary for his journey in sobriety, offering a space for reflection and intentional living. Mike’s “less is more” philosophy brings a powerful, grounded perspective to our Montana dirt. He’s hoping to run the 25K this year (just two weeks after a marathon) and it will be his sixth DFMI!
Least Likely to Miss a DFMI
Greg’s history with Don’t Fence Me In goes back to the very beginning—literally. Twenty-five years ago, he crossed the finish line as the winner of the inaugural race! A pillar of the local running scene, Greg is back on the trails this year alongside his kids, Grant and Mara. We love seeing this championship legacy become a family tradition!
Sharpest Dresser
As PPLT’s Trails Coordinator, Collin knows every inch of the South Hills. On race day, he trades his tools for a cactus suit to tackle the 5K. As Mr Prickers, our beloved spokescactus, Collin is proof that trail stewardship and serious fun go hand-in-hand!
Most Likely to Catsup
Since 2011, Sal has turned the top of Eagle Scout into a high energy celebration. Her rookie volunteer shift was a bit chaotic, but she learned a few lessons – more food, more water, more cowbells! Her aid station is now a legendary intersection of costumes, cowbells, and camaraderie. Famous for her Costco-sized stashes of Oreos and infectious encouragement, Sal proves that being a “non-racer” is just as vital to the trail spirit!
Most Likely to Podium
Jamie brings an “extreme focus” to the trails. Sponsored by VJ Shoes, she has dominated the 12K for four years running. While she loves pushing her limits, Jamie’s true victory lies in helping others reach their potential. For her, success is all about effort and community! When she isn’t flying down the South Hills trails, Jamie is busy using her math skills as a statistician to help save the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, a species with fewer than 370 individuals remaining in the wild.
Most Likely to Earn an A for Effort
For Em, running is the ultimate reset. After becoming a mom, she rediscovered herself and found clarity on the trails. Teaching and running both require patience, commitment, and the ability to adapt to setbacks, plus a good dose of humor and heart. Em shares her love of running by organizing Helena’s annual Heat Meet for kids. Whether she’s tackling the 25K or the 50K, Emily runs to celebrate the beautiful balance of family, community, and health.
Best Old School Style
A supporter of open lands since her father testified for the 1964 Wilderness Act, Amie has been a DFMI fixture since 2003. She’s the visionary who suggested the 12K Hike, ensuring every trail lover has a seat at the table. Whether she’s sporting a vintage race tee or tackling the Don’t Fence Me In Trail, Amie lives for the event’s inclusive celebration.
Most Humble Hometown Hero
For Emory, the South Hills trails are a family affair and a personal proving ground. After seven years of competing in DFMI, he was last year’s 5K champion at the ripe old age of 14! Now a high school cross country athlete, Emory is stepping up to the 12K—not for the glory, but for the joy of running.
Most Likely to Defy the Doubters
Mary proves that “dead last” is just as brave as first place. After moving from Ohio to Helena in 2025, she took on the 50K with only 30 miles of training under her belt. Despite the elevation shock and the heat, Mary refused to drop. Instead, she recruited a fellow runner to rejoin the race and pushed through to the end. She didn’t just finish; she overcame the doubters, proving that the courage to stay on the course is the ultimate victory. She’s contemplating the 50K again this year.
Most Likely to Defend the Back of the Pack
For Reid and Jacob, service is a way of life. The two airmen volunteered to sweep the 50K last year so they could log volunteer hours for the grueling Crazy Mountain 100, but they discovered a genuine love for the Helena community. Whether they’re hunting on public lands or pacing the back of the pack, Reid and Jacob live by the creed that open spaces are worth defending and giving back is the best way to move forward.
Sarah Ryan is the communications & development manager at PPLT.
