Alpine’s Megan Fisher Goes the Distance in This Year’s Missoula Half Marathon

Alpine Physical Therapist Megan Fisher went the extra 13.1 miles to represent Missoula and Alpine PT at the annual Missoula Marathon. Along with providing her expert help for runners at the Expo on Saturday, Megan ran the half marathon on Sunday. Her involvement was chronicled in Saturday's Missoulian and is titled: Excitement High as Missoula Marathon Weekend Gets Underway. Click here for the entire article. 

​Special thanks to Megan for providing additional information below.

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The Missoula Marathon, half marathon, and 5k draw participants from far and wide.  Of the nearly 5,000 runners who participated this year in all the events, all 50 States and numerous countries from around the world were represented.

I am pleased to say that I was among the ½ marathoners, proudly representing Missoula, Montana, and Alpine Physical Therapy. Notably, I became the first person with a prosthetic leg ever in the event!

For years I had seen the Missoula Marathoners and ½ Marathoners run, jog, and walk by my house, been impressed by their strength and determination, and wondered if I had what it took to be in their shoes.

Usually I saw the runners as I rolled out for a training ride during my tenure on Team USA’s Paracycling Team.  Over the nine years I raced on the National Team, I won ten World Championship titles and had the great honor of representing Team USA at the London 2012 Games where I earned Gold and Silver medals, as well as at the Rio 2016 Games where I earned Silver and Bronze medals.  Cycling has been good to me, but now that I’m retired from the National Team I wanted to challenge the limits of my body.

I run with a running prosthesis—a blade that acts somewhat like a spring,—due to a horrible accident 16 years ago that resulted in numerous injuries including the loss of my left leg.  I wish I could say that my prosthesis provides a physiological advantage, but it doesn’t. 

Regardless, running is hard for everyone. Thirteen point one miles is a long way to go!  Race day energy, the support of my pacer, and the encouragement of fellow runners propelled me to running the whole way faster than I thought I ever could.  I finished in 2:25:28. Maybe next year I can shave some time off?

I’m already looking forward to next year!