Fresh powder underfoot. Snow gently falling from bare or needled tree limbs. Sucking in the ice-cold air of a new year. This is a familiar January scene for dad and daughter duo Luke and Peyton Walters who run together every week, all year long, despite the extreme conditions that winter can offer.
In fact, January is when this whole running habit took hold.
“We go sledding a lot and I just couldn’t get up a hill. I was super tired, I was way overweight, and I just knew I needed to do something,” said Luke. Inspired by some friends, he spontaneously laced up his shoes in zero-degree weather and hit the trail at Waterworks Hill with his buddies. “I just wanted to live a healthier life. I fell in love with it,” he admitted.
A short time later, Luke entered his first 5K: Run Wild Missoula’s Run for the Luck of It race. “I wasn’t expecting much. I did it with a buddy and Peyton came down to support me and she saw me finish and, I don’t know, something just triggered in her and she just said, ‘I want to do that.’”
What was it about seeing Dad cross the finish line that sparked a desire for Peyton to run alongside him? “He has such a happy face when he runs, and it makes me feel happy when he’s happy so it’s really fun to run with him because he’s always so happy when he does it with me.” That’s a whole lot of happy, and it’s no surprise that seeing someone else’s joy sparks joy in ourselves. Exercise can be electric, especially when it’s done in the company of those we love.
At that time, Peyton was only 7 years old. Now, as an 11-year-old, she runs between 17 and 25 miles per week. In November, Peyton completed the Mount Jumbo Elk Ramble 15K with Dad beside her. She placed first in her age group with an 11-minute lead despite being the youngest runner of the day. But running at her impressive pace takes dedication and sacrifice.
“You know at first it was really tough because she wanted to do it and there’d be some times when I’d be like, ‘Well, I’m going for a run,’ and she didn’t want to go, and then we’d be having that talk about what’s important,” said Luke. “She’s so dedicated to it. The week of the race we don’t eat much junk. We eat super healthy and we try to level out her body, and for an 11-year-old that’s tough.” He explained that Peyton frequently turns down celebratory birthday cake or donuts at school, which isn’t a common sacrifice for kids her age. “She brings it home and freezes it for after a race. She’s very dedicated to what we need to do to get her accomplished which is just—it’s awesome. It’s amazing just to see her grow,” said Luke.
Peyton has come to learn that dedication and sacrifice are small prices to pay for big rewards.
"I finish a race in a really good time and it’s just so worth it to have that joy,” said Peyton. When a local race is over, Peyton, her mother Yvonne, and Luke treat themselves to Veera Donuts or they go to Cambie to celebrate. “If we’re traveling, we always try to find something special,” said Luke. “It’s really huge to celebrate that accomplishment, just that you’re out there running, you’re out there doing something that a lot of other kids aren’t doing, a lot of people aren’t doing. You’ve got to feel proud of yourself.” And in addition to Luke’s guidance, traveling is a big part of what makes this dad and daughter relationship so special.
“[Last] year we did a lot of traveling…we hit a point where we raced I think nine weekends in a row. It was a half marathon or a 5K, 10K, trail run—we were just constantly traveling, doing all these awesome races, having these awesome adventures,” said Luke. “She turned 11 early in August and she wanted to run four half marathons at the age of 10, and she accomplished that before her 11th birthday, but before she met her goal we found this race in Oregon—it’s called Bridge of the Gods—and the day before her birthday she ran that half marathon.” For Peyton, big goals mean big planning, and her dad’s encouragement goes hand-in-hand with her enthusiasm.
“I ran this race called the Jackass Half Marathon, and it was my first half marathon ever,” said Peyton. “It was a really special moment because it felt so good finishing 13 miles and it’s a really pretty race. You run from Wallace to Kellogg [Idaho], and it feels like it’s mostly downhill and I love downhill. And I love the name of it,” said Peyton, snickering.
Since Peyton joined Luke as a running partner, they’ve both come to experience the fruits of all this sport has to offer. Through the traveling and training, there is so much character-building that happens in those miles on the road or on the trail. Luke recalled a favorite memory that really showcased his daughter’s heart for what she does.
“We did the Whitefish Half Marathon. We signed up last minute and me and Peyton went up and stayed in a cabin out in the middle of nowhere. It was a really cool experience…it was a really tough run for her because she plays travel softball, too. She injured her hip the week prior so she had a hard time running it,” said Luke. But not to his surprise, Peyton persevered and produced an impressive finish despite her setback. Her passion is undeniable and her commitment looks to be long-lasting as she dreams up plans for her future. Peyton said she will likely go to college and continue her efforts in both running and softball.
As for mom and dad? They couldn’t be more proud of all she’s accomplished. “She flies down the hills. She just likes to put her arms out like an airplane. It’s just something she’s always enjoyed, and you know, through every crash and tumble she does, she still gets back up and does it,” said Luke. “She’s just been amazing,” said Yvonne, taken aback by her daughter’s passion and success.