Missoula TikTok Runner Is Fueling My Sober October Quest

It’s a difficult month to give up booze! There’s football on every screen, hunting season is cranking up, and there is baseball playoffs. In Montana, we like to grab a cold one for everything. But this year, I’m going in a new direction: a full month without alcohol. Or as Joe Rogan calls it: Sober October.

Don’t Be That Guy on Higgins

The motivation? A TikTok video that may feature a local legend. Video footage of an extremely drunk young man tearing down Higgins Street in front of the M Store downtown. He hurdles over a hedge, face-plants on the concrete, and then he bounces to his feet like something out of a Looney Tunes cartoon and just keeps running. When somebody yells, “Are you O.K.?” he responds, “Yes, I’m just drunk."

@emilydickmangeisler Legend says he's still running. #headshot #missoula #montana #drunk #athlete ♬ original sound - Emily Geisler

The clip had racked up almost 27,000 views as of posting earlier in September. And as funny as it was to watch. It’s also a wake-up call. We’ve all had those nights. A few of us even carry the scars. I am not the young man who can face plant and bounce back. It's time to take it easy.

Why I’m Trying Sober October

This is not me saying I’m swearing off beer for perpetuity. No need to be dramatic! But for a month, maybe I could see if I could make it through football season, hunting season, or any season of the year that seems to be an invitation to a tailgate, without holding a drink. Maybe I’ll save some money. Perhaps I will be better in the mornings. I guess I just want to prove that I can.

Join Me in the Challenge

So here’s the invitation: If you have it in you, join me in Sober October. Prizes for finishing? A good ol' fashioned P.O.B. (Pat on the Back).

And if you’re not ready to give up the giggle water for 31 days, at least be mindful and drink responsibly. No one wants to be the next viral clip, sliding face-first down Higgins.