Meet the Team
In 2013 The Rut Mountain Runs were launched. As the event has grown from a 400-person single-day event to a three-day festival with 4,500 runners, our team of dedicated Rut Officials has grown alongside it. We are so proud of this team not only for the experience, kindness, and work ethic they bring to each of their roles, but also for their long-term commitment to the event. Almost everyone on our team has been around for most, if not all, editions of this race, and we are so thankful to each of them for their contribution to making this event so special.
Mike Foote
Race Director / Owner / Co-founder
Mike first dreamt of the Rut in 2012 after traveling the world and experiencing other world-class trail races as an athlete with The North Face. He, along with Mike Wolfe, co-founded the event in 2013 with the desire to bring that world-class energy to the mountains of Montana. Since then, the Rut has fully taken over his life.
When he’s not at the Rut you can find him tossing and turning in bed at night having some version of the recurring dream that the race is about to start and he forgot to mark the course. He used to find time to race the VK, but now has settled into happily running the Runt Run with wife Katie (see below) and his two Rut Runts, Jack and Sam.
Mike Wolfe
Course Director / Co-founder
Mike Wolfe co-founded The Rut and designed the original courses, and he’s been shaping the event ever since. He first got hooked on mountain running at age 18 after tackling the Bridger Ridge Run, and he’s been chasing big mountain ultras ever since. Notable results include 2nd at UTMB, and Western States, as well a USATF 100 Mile Championship in 2010.
When he’s not at the Rut, you can find Mike listening to ’90s rap and eating Doritos while working at the gym he owns – The Mountain Project Gym, or out in the hills trying to keep up with his kids.
Adam Peterman
Operations and Administrative Support
Adam grew up in Missoula, Montana, where he was introduced to Mike Foote on his first day of practice for the Hellgate High School cross country team. Mike was a newly minted assistant coach and also beginning his own career as an ultrarunner. Adam went on to run for the University of Colorado and continued to pursue running post-collegiately on the trails.
His first trail race was The Rut in 2019, where he was humbled greatly, learning that track fitness isn’t the same as mountain fitness. Since then, he’s won the Western States 100 in 2022 and runs professionally for Hoka.
He joined the Rut team in 2020. During race week, you’ll find him managing the base area and hiding in his “grotto”.
Danelle Gjetmundson
Volunteer Coordinator
Danelle manages the almost 600 volunteers who help to make the Rut possible each year! Danelle has been with us since 2014, after heading up the same role at the Missoula Marathon. The marathon was Danelle’s first race after she started running in her mid-thirties. She loves watching others get into running and strive for big goals as well.
In her daily life she works for the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office at the Detention Center, something she’s been doing for 21 years. When she’s not working or organizing volunteers, Danelle enjoys traveling with her husband, Ivand, who carries the title of assistant to the volunteer coordinator.
Dana Bandy
Registration coordinator
If you have a problem with your registration, Dana will solve it. Dana, and his sidekick, Ike the dog, have been involved with the Rut since its inception in 2013.
In addition to being an integral member of our team, Dana volunteers at every running event in Missoula. Known as the “Arch Bishop”, you’ll typically find him setting up, managing, and tearing down the finishing area. In his past life, Dana ran ultras for 30 years and was a competitive cyclist for 20 years before that.
Katie Foote
Aid Station Coordinator
Katie Foote got volunteered into the Rut beginning in 2014. Partly out of her own desire, but also for the health of her marriage. The Rut is like a holiday weekend for her and her whole family. As aid station coordinator, she finds joy in providing the fuel needed to tackle the Rut for thousands of Rut runners and hundreds of volunteers. She cries every year watching people work so hard to chase their goals to the finish line. She’s run the Rut 11K, 21K, 28K, 50K, and Runt Run.
When she’s not running the Rut, you can find her working as a family practice nurse practitioner. Outside of work life, you will find Katie raising her two young Rut Runts alongside her husband Mike (see above).
Forrest Boughner
Elite Athlete Coordinator, Runt Run Race Director, Course Marker
Forrest wears many hats at the Rut – from recruiting elites, marking course, to directing the Runt Run, you may find him at any location on the mountain during race week. Forrest moved to Montana after hiking the Continental Divide Trail with his wife, Sarah, in 2013. After working at the Runner’s Edge in Missoula for several years, he started Alpine Running Guides, coaching and working with trail runners of all abilities.
When Forrest isn’t coaching or working at the Rut, you can find him running trail races all over the country, guiding bike trips with The Cycling House, and pouring over a map, scheming his next obscure adventure.
Majell Backhausen
Social Media Technician
Hailing from the faraway land of Australia, Majell joined Team Rut as our Chief Social Media Technician in 2023. Majell runs competitively for Team North Face, completing ultras such as UTMB, Marathon des Sables, and the World Championships Long Trail. Before he was a runner, he played Australian Rules Football, whatever that means.
At the Rut, you can find Majell staring at his phone for 12 hours a day, although he’s influencing you and you don’t even notice. In his words, “the Rut encapsulates and celebrates what I truly love about mountain running. The people are nice and caring and The Rut is an incredibly fun event to be a part of.”
Leah Shea
Aid Station Coordinator
Leah heads up the Aid station coordination with her sister Katie. Leah has been helping out with the Rut for several years – the friendships, electric energy of the event & solving the logistical puzzles keep her coming back! Leah loves staying active in the Missoula community. She works as the Ops Director for Ascent Sports Medicine, is on the board of Missoula Urban Development, and has a small business helping companies navigate change.
She loves getting outside in Missoula, hiking, paddleboarding, cross-country skiing, and gardening. Unfortunately, apparently none of those are one’s best cross-training options for the Rut VK – where she brags that she finished second to last!
Amber Ball
Runner Check-in Coordinator
Amber, along with Registration Director Dana Bandy, leads our runner check-in process. She’s been a part of the Rut since 2017, and the energy of the participants and the Rut family keeps her coming back.
Outside of the Rut, she is a full-time Health Service Operations Manager, travels the world attending Taylor Swift concerts, and helps out at other running races in the Missoula area. Amber loves road racing and adventures on the trails, although she claims that her trail endeavors typically result in wrong turns and too much elevation gain.
Nico Composto
LEAD ANNOUNCER
You may not have met Nico, but if you’ve been at the Rut in the past few years, you’ve heard his voice. Nico is our lead announcer all Rut weekend, announcing our finishers, sharing important Rut updates, and so much more. Born with an incredibly loud voice, Nico claims that he’s never seen any sort of wildlife on a trail run because it heard him coming from a mile away. Nico moved to Missoula in 2017 after a successful running career at Columbia University in New York City. He is a Rut 50k finisher, and has finished 5 mountain 100 mile ultras too. Nico’s day job is teaching high school history and organizing Missoula’s Montana Cup cross country team.
Jesse Coil
Medical Director
Jesse Coil is the medical director at the Rut, making sure you all stay healthy and safe while you tackle all those miles up on the mountain. He has been the medical director for Big Sky Resort for over a decade.
Jesse grew up nearby in the Gallatin Valley and never left. He enjoys spending time with his wife and dog on the local rivers and trails, and skiing in the winter.
Anastasia Wilde
Director of Runner Photography
Anastasia first came to the Rut in 2018 to see the event and take a few photos. Little did she know that she would soon become our Director of Runner Photography, organizing a team to take photos of every single Rut participant all over the mountain! Anastasia got into running in 2013 and enjoys getting out on her local trails, but you’ll more often find her behind the lens.
Anastasia is always on the go, traveling around the Western US to document trail running races. Recently she has photographed UTMB, Western States, Cocodona 250 and Moab 240, as well as the Rut! You can find the ever friendly Anastasia all over the Rut course, especially at the finish line, so make sure you smile and wave!