Member Spotlight: Julie McCloskey

I grew up in the Hudson Valley, NY but have been living out West in various spots for the past 10 years. I most recently moved from Vancouver, BC where I was studying Holistic Nutrition. After graduation, I had an extremely strong gut feeling that I MUST live in Montana. The components of this desire were: easier access to trails/mountains, a more tight knit running community, and, on a broader level, to be part of a more authentic community (no offense, big cities).  It was between Bozeman and Missoula, and let’s just say, I’m super happy with my choice. The community, life priorities, and trail access here is unparalleled.

 

I had such a blast co-leading my first trail class with Josh – – big shout-out to our awesome group!

I knew I wanted to be involved with RWM during my second ever morning in town. I signed up for the Single Dip the night prior and as I crossed the finish line Tony announced how I was brand new to town. I remember being introduced to you (Ashley) right after the race by Amber, and distinctly remember sitting on the grass and listening to Tony announce the rest of the race(s). I was blown away by how warm, personal, and light-hearted his announcing was, and I told him exactly that when I introduced myself later on. Experiencing the energy that RWM and the entire running community radiates not only during my first race, but continuously throughout the year, is one of the things that I find makes Missoula impossible to leave. I couldn’t have scripted a friendlier welcome.

My career choice stems from an intense desire to live a long, healthy, and (very) active life. Wild and Well is my Holistic Nutrition Coaching business in which I see clients one on one to help them achieve their health goals. Practicing holistically, we don’t only talk about what to eat, but also about how you’re eating, hydration, stress, sleep, exercise, community etc. It’s a thorough, whole body approach that looks to get to the root of your symptoms. I work with a lot of endurance athletes (especially runners and long distance hikers), but also with people who are looking to get healthier and gain clarity on hot topics like whether or not eating a whole egg will actually damage them beyond repair. My goal for Wild and Well is to not only educate, but to empower people in making choices that support their overall health for the long-term. Mostly, I help people feel like their vibrant selves again, and it’s the most fulfilling and inspiring work I could have ever created for myself.

 

This year I stepped it up from mostly bars to a more whole food, homemade option. My go-to has been a white tortilla with almond butter, banana, maple syrup, cinnamon, sea salt, and a different (sometimes rotating) special ingredient. Some special ingredients that made the cut this year were (in no particular ranking): granola, pretzels, peanut m&ms, pumpkin butter, and raspberry chocolate shavings. If it’s more of a full on running adventure (think: jostling) and less of a hike/run adventure, I skip the special ingredient and keep the contents in the wrap as simple as possible. I’m ALL about optimal digestion while running (and always) so I save the fun stuff for when the hike:run ratio favors the hiking.