Suz's Relay fundraiser for THE MATTHEWS HOUSE

Beer Now, Run Later: From Behind the Scenes to the Start Line 

I was not a runner. I've worked in the running world—through run.Windsor, now Miles Beyond.. alongside Mandy Mullen—but I was always the one saying, “I’m not a runner.” I showed up, helped organize, cheered people on… but never truly believed that title belonged to me. Then something shifted in 2025. I started with a 5K. Then a 10k. Then longer distances. Then a backyard event that I ended running more than I ever had, 28 miles. Training for a very hard race - a mountain 60k that I did not finish but I made it halfway and that was a moment I will never forget.

Running didn’t just change my body—it changed how I saw myself. It gave me confidence, grit, and a way to move through life when things felt heavy. It became therapy, community, and proof that I could do hard things—even when I didn’t think I could. But for the past three years, my connection to the Wild West Relay wasn’t about running at all. I was behind the scenes. I worked the relay as the Race Director’s Assistant—sleeping in cars, working exchanges through the night, coordinating volunteers, opening exchanges, managing porta-potties (yes, really), sweeping the course, and watching runners push through exhaustion, joy, frustration, and triumph. I saw the magic happen when people showed up for each other. I saw teams bond at 3 a.m. under headlamps and stars. I saw what this race really is. And every year, I thought: Someday, I want to do this—not just work it. This year, that “someday” is now. I’m building a team. Twelve of us. Running from Fort Collins to Steamboat Springs. Are we insane? Absolutely.

Our team name? BEER NOW, RUN LATER. And let’s be real—this team isn’t just about running. It’s about camaraderie, laughter, and a shared love of good beer and good people. It's about learning to give yourself grace and let go of perfection. Beer Now, Run Later is the perfect balance of taking the miles seriously but not taking ourselves too seriously. It’s sweaty high-fives and hugs at exchanges, ridiculous inside jokes at 2 a.m., cheering louder than our legs want to move, and cracking a well-earned VERBOTEN NORTH beer after a long leg while waiting for the next runner to crush theirs. It’s twelve humans showing up for each other—on the road, in the van, in the dark, and in the moments when exhaustion hits but the vibes stay high. This is the kind of team that reminds you why you run in the first place: community, connection, and a whole lot of fun along the way.

But this isn’t just about miles or bragging rights. We are running to raise funds for The Matthews House, an organization that supports at-risk youth and families right here in our community. Kids who need stability, mentorship, and people willing to show up for them—just like the running community has shown up for me. This relay represents a full-circle moment in my life. From saying “I’m not a runner,” to becoming one. From watching from the sidelines, to standing on the start line. From supporting others, to asking for support—for something bigger than myself.

Running has taken me places I never imagined—physically, mentally, and emotionally. And now it’s taking me into this race with purpose, heart, and an incredible team beside me.

Thank you for supporting Beer Now, Run Later. Thank you for supporting The Matthews House. And thank you for believing—in runners, in community, and in what’s possible when we show up for each other.