The first 15 miles (or so) of this marathon are on trails and gravel logging roads through a state forest. The scenery is spectacular. This year the weather was cool and wet, but the race went off without a hitch. Volunteers were fantastic and made for a very smooth race. Registration included a one-day pass to The Wave, a new fitness facility in Whitefish. A great place to relax and shower after the race. I've only given lower stars for spectators because they are not permitted in the forest, but the volunteers were great. I will run this race again.

This is a well organized race on a beautiful (yet hilly) course. The trail portion is interesting, switching to and from dirt road to double-track to single-track trail. However, it is a hard transition from this surface and environment to pavement - though most of the pavement stretch (the last 11 miles) is engaging.

The volunteers are great, and so is the post-race venue (the WAVE). Top-notch facility and great perks - good food, hot showers, and massages. The awards are very nice too.

The weather this year could not be called nice by any stretch of the imagination - temps in the 40-50s and a steady rain. The course conditions held up and so did the organization and volunteers (who were troopers to be out in that weather). Fans along the course were sparse - almost non-existent. However, who could blame them given the conditions. Given different weather, folks in town might have rallied to help support this fundraiser for the WAVE scholarship fund.

Rainy day for a trail marathon, but the race was conducted perfectly. Bravo to all involved in conducting this marathon! The course was challenging and soggy, but for some reason that added to the fun. See ya'll next year!

I have run about 60 marathons and the Two Bear Marathon ranks at or near the top for scenery, volunteers, race management and attention to details. Was very impressed with how smoothly things went since the course is somewhat remote in spots for the first half. The volunteers and spectators were plentiful and the finisher medals and technical T-shirt were first class. Ran it injured (cracked ribs) but the beautiful scenery and supportive spectators made me glad I went ahead and ran. Whitefish is a great community and they showed they know how to stage a first class marathon.

I have to admit I live nearby so I had scouted out much of the more rugged parts prior to the race - I actually thought the hardest part was after leaving the trail and adjusting to pavement again. I would suggest trail runs with pavement at the end for training. I think the website makes the race sound too hard(no wimps). I also love the technical shirt and the medal. Would have liked more variety of food at the finish-I love brats but just didn't sound as appealing at mile 26.2 as they did at mile 16. Great organization and volunteers. Not a lot of places for spectators on first half but who cares.

A bear of a route, but it was so varied and beautiful that I stopped caring if there was another hill, or yet another hill, in front of me. I'm glad there's a limit to the number of runners because there are miles of trail. The run was impeccably organized from start to finish. Great shuttle logistics, coffee at the start as dawn lit the trees, awesomely supportive volunteers at intersections (from one trail to another - if they hadn't been there I'd be in Canada or Mexico by now), and good aid tables. Sufficient food and water; great party after (how about some cheese sticks for us vegetarians?); the best medal ever (real engraved granite, not metal-plastic alloy). All this, AND one can arrive and depart on Amtrak if one lives along the Seattle-Spokane-Whitefish-Havre-Chicago Amtrak route. No folding into a car with cramping legs. Pretty town, supportive all the way to the last runner in, registration moeny goes to a good cause, and we get use of the athletic facility (pool, sauna, showers) all afternoon. Good job, folks and bears!

If you are wanting a perfectly organized trail-road marathon in the mountains of Montana, then this is the one. The hills over the first 15 miles take more out of you than you realize. Volunteers were great fun and called participants by name as they entered the aid stations. After a few marathons where water and gel supplies were exhausted, it was great to run where everything was in ample supply... to think I awoke early so I could have my usual pot of coffee before my run only to have it provided in abundance at the start. This is a great marathon... but treat it with respect.

I loved this race. It was much more difficult than I would have guessed from the website, but it was even more beautiful than the pictures of the course. There was a 1 and 1/2-mile decline in the woods that was truly inspiring.

The staff were wonderfully helpful and encouraging. The event was well organized and the course was marked well. The signs along the course were clever and fun, and the finisher's medallion was awesome. And finally the weather was perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed this event.

This race was done right. Well organized, friendly volunteers, cool technical t's, coffee at the starting line, gels and endurolytes at aid stations, well marked and accurate course, a fun atmosphere, and best of all, incredible terrain. The course winds through the hills of Whitefish and takes you along several secluded lakes before dumping you out on a lakeside road along Whitefish Lake, which is spectacular. You finish near downtown Whitefish, which is a pretty cool town in itself, and worth traveling to. I elected to wear racing flats, which worked fine; however at times I wished I had a more substantial shoe. The second half of the marathon is on pavement, so I don't think trail shoes are necessary. Others may disagree. Overall this was a great marathon and one I'd do again.

I was a little apprehensive about the elevation gain/loss of this course. Once I started to run it, the varied terrain kept my mind so busy that I didn't even care what mile of the course I was on. The race coordinators knew exactly how to make this course easy to navigate with ample signage and personnel to help you keep on course. The aid stations provided great products, such as Hammer Gel, Heed sport drink and some of the usual foods. This was the first marathon at which I didn't carry any gels - they had them at all the right places. The volunteers.... Wow!! They were very supportive with lots of cheering as you wound your way through the otherwise quiet forest. The finish line was top-notch, with radio personalities doing the commentary as each runner reached the finish line. The "medals"... well if I ever get a better one, I will really be surprised. Great post-race food and free local microbrew beer. I live in Montana and I chose this to be my Montana Marathon. That says a lot.