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Helena,
Montana,
United States - June
- 3 miles/5K, 6 miles/10K, 13.1 miles/Half Marathon, 26.2 miles/Marathon, Relay, Virtual Race
- Road Race
- Event Website
Paul Dailey
Butte, Montana, United StatesOverall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
The half-marathon begins in Clancy, about (you guessed it) 13 miles away from downtown Helena. As you make your way through the country roads outside Helena, you experience rolling hills and follow a river that seems straight out of a desktop background. The aid stations not only have your typical electrolytes and water, but also energy gels and packets, just in case (HYPOTHETICALLY) you forgot your entire duffel bag at home and ended up running the race in basketball shorts and your wife’s shirt. The race isn’t just named for the governor, he actually runs it with you! The biggest challenge of the race is the aptly-named “Cardiac Hill” which is a tough climb past the city hospital and into the main downtown area. However, you won’t do this alone, as you will have tons of spectators cheering you on through the climb. Once you make it to the top, you can bask in the glory of running through the historic downtown area and past the state capitol building. The downhill stretch that brings you to the finish line will tour you along historic buildings and shops that you definitely want to visit for a post-race meal! I have run this three years in a row, and the medal continues to get better each year. Overall, if you want to experience Montana, this is a fantastic race to take in the beauty of the countryside and the historical aspect of one of its oldest towns!