Marathon Details - Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT)

North America Marathons > USA > MT > Bozeman > Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT)

Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) & Half Marathon, Relay, 5K, Kid's Run

Bozeman, MT USA

June 5, 2011

http://www.lewisandclarkmarathon.com

More Info:	News
Results:	2011 \| 2010 \| 2008 \| 2007 \| 2006 \| 2005 \| 2004 \| 2003 \| 2002 \| 2001 \| 2000 Top 3 Finishers by Year

Contact

Name:	Tony Brendgard
Address:	Lewis & Clark Marathon 448 E. Main Street 1A Bozeman, MT 59715
Phone Number:	4065871135
Email:	Email the organizers



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Reviews

Course 4.2

Organization 4.6

Spectators 2.6

Write a review

Number of comments: 9

C. B. from Missoula, MT (6/13/2011) "you have my time wrong" (about: 2011) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I was pushing as hard as I could to cross the line before 5:00, I didn't make it but just barely - there's no way I crossed the line at 5:13, something is amiss here. I don't care a whole lot, but kind of. Loved the route until it came into town, then it was just hot and sunny. Maybe ask the residents along the way to turn on their sprinklers for the runners? I know water is precious but it would have made a big difference in not overheating.
Ken Pearce from Alameda, California (6/10/2011) "Great way to see Montana!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 If you enjoy courses with variety, beautiful scenery, and time to spend alone with your thoughts, this is it. A small but fun race, it offers breath-taking views of everything Montana has to offer. The course takes you on rural roads, neighborhood roads, gravel, and dirt. The altitude certainly had an effect on this flatlander but mountain scenery made up for it. Good organization and volunteers from the running store that hosted. Since there were less than 100 marathoners, I literally ran for a couple of miles without seeing anyone but that is ok. If you are a first timer that might cause some angst accompanied by the daunting hill on mile eleven. If you are a fifty stater, this is a good one to knock out Montana. Bozeman is a cool little town with small town atmosphere. After the race, my buddy and I went to dinner at Ted Turner's steak house and the race director's sister waited on us - nice!
C. M. from Pensacola, FL (6/8/2010) "So scenic! Breathtaking - pun intended!" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 For a flat-lander for the panhandle of Florida, this was a tough race, but perhaps one of the most scenic. Altitude will definitely play a hefty role if you are not used to it, as will the hills. But don't let this keep you away. I gave a five-star rating to everything, because though it only has a small number of runners, the race was run flawlessly. No spectators except volunteers, but they were worth 5 stars! They had two volunteers at street crossings holding "stop" and "slow" signs, which made for a safe crossing. The course varies from pavement to gravel, to crushed-gravel bike/jogging paths, to narrow single-track. Local runners are fortunate to have so many trails within the city! I envy you! A real treat was having some of the best pizza I have ever tasted following the run. As a back-of-the-packer, a bottle of water is all that is usually left when I finish. The only suggestion I could make was to have a few more course markings out on the paths. There were times when I was confused as to which way to go. Good job to all!
Tim Pearson from Lethbridge, Alberta (6/8/2010) "Small race with magnificent scenery" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I thoroughly enjoyed running the 2010 Lewis and Clark Marathon. The overcast skies, light breezes and cool temperatures made for perfect running conditions. The new date (previously a fall race) hasn't hurt this marathon at all. The scenery was simply spectacular from the snow-capped mountains in the distance to the babbling streams to the beautiful forests. At mile 11, another runner and I even had to stop for a brown bear blocking the road. It bolted into the woods right away leaving the way safe and clear for us to continue. Wow! The course itself is challenging. If you're not used to altitude, you'll notice yourself breathing a little more quickly thanks to the 5000+ foot elevation of the course, but then again it might just be the spectacular scenery taking your breath away. The 2 large hills in the first half of the course definitely make this a challenging marathon, and to make it even more difficult, the undulating smaller hills in the second half really draw on your reserves. I also noticed a sudden mileage increase of about 0.3 miles on my Garmin in the second half of the course. Several other full and half marathoners commented on the same anomaly with their GPS mileage. This may be something the organizers should look into in terms of course measurement. Although this is a challenging course, you can definitely qualify for Boston here, provided you've put in the proper training mileage and some hill work. Unless it's your first marathon, you probably won't PB on this course, but don't let that stop you from coming out for this one. It's beautiful. The finish on the track at the university was a nice way to celebrate the completion of the race. Spectators were few and far between on the course. The many volunteers were helpful, well organized and very cheerful. They really made a difference. The inclusion of a marathon relay also added a festive atmosphere to the event. I would suggest organizers add a more clear differentiation to their bibs though; I thought I was chasing (and lost track of) a fellow age grouper in the marathon only to learn that he had dropped off at a relay leg switch point. The race shirt was of good quality, but it wasn't a Brooks technical shirt as had been advertised. The distinctive finishers' medal was also a nice piece of hardware to add to the collection although it disappointingly did not have the year marked on it. This is to be expected though in small races with such reasonable entry fees as the Lewis and Clark. The finishing area was upbeat with lots of pizza, lemonade, cookies, fruit, bagels and licorice. A couple of massage therapists were on hand giving free post-race massages. They were really good, and gave each person the time and attention needed. Surprisingly, there wasn't even much of a line. Organizers provided cash awards to the top 3 men and women finishers, plus a cash award to the top male and female masters winners. Very nice touch for a small race. Bozeman is a very nice town with lots of shopping, restaurants and sightseeing, which makes this event all the more worthwhile. I highly recommend staying at the event's host hotel. The rate was really good, and they were very friendly and helpful to the runners - even allowing us to have a "very late" check-out time with no extra charge. For runners leaving on a Sunday after the race, this is a very thoughtful consideration. Overall, I would highly recommend running the Lewis and Clark. Wonderful race!
Jeff Hill from Glen Ellyn, IL (9/29/2007) "Challenging but beautiful" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I have to second many of the previous runners comments. This was my 49th state and I have to say that I have not run a marathon course that offered more beautiful scenery. In summary: Pros: 1) One of the most inexpensive entry fees I've paid yet. 2) No bands on the course. ;-) 3) Technical long-sleeve t-shirts (Brooks) provided to all entrants. 4) Well-organized in every aspect-from start to finish. 5) Non-stop flights to Bozeman from Chicago. 6) Variety of running surfaces with very few cars. 7) Free pizza and friendly volunteers. 8) They do not ban personal music on the course. Challenges: 1) The altitude (for us flat-landers). 2) Hilly course (both downhill and uphill). This is not the course to get your Boston qualifying time or PR on. Overall, if you're looking for a scenic marathon with not a lot of hype, I heartily recommend it. It's also close to Yellowstone and Grand Teton (at a delightfully uncrowded time of year), so it's a GREAT 4-5 day getaway.
M. H. from Tremont, IL (9/25/2007) "Challenging and interesting marathon" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 They did say it was challenging and they were right. I came from IL and was not ready for the altitude difference. The marathon was run well. The pre-race pasta was very good and topped off by a talk by Nikki Kimball (top women's ultra-phenom). The race was well organized, people on the course were great, and the course was a real challenge (oh yeah, I already said that). I will say that a few more aid stations are needed, especially early on. All in all, the race directors did a great job and put on a great race for a small number of marathoners.
Vaughn baraby-martin from Helena Montana (9/27/2005) "Great hybrid trail/road marathon/half marathon" (about: 2005) 1 previous marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I actually ran the half marathon and enjoyed the challenge that this race provided. Very tough course. The race officals stated to not expect a PR in this race and they were right. Some of the front runners were stopped by a freight train but I lucked out and crossed right after the last train car passed the crossing. This course has it all; hardpacked dirt, single track trail with some mud, blacktop and a large number of uphill battles to keep you on your toes! Crowd support is very sparse but most of this race is wilderness so that explains it. I highly recommend it for a very challenging trail/road marathon and half. -Vaughn
J. T. from Central Mass (9/30/2004) "So this is why they call it Big Sky..." (about: 2004) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Having completed more than 50 marathons, this ranks right up there with the best of the small marathons I've run. Logistically, the race coordinators thought of everything and put together a wonderful event. Volunteers were in abundance and eager to assist. The first half of the course is quite challenging; some pretty good climbs. For those traveling from the east, don't forget Bozeman is 5000'+ so there is some adjustment to running at altitude. The scenery is spectacular...Yellowstone and the Grand Teton's are just a short drive from Bozeman. For those fellow 50-staters out there, the L&C Marathon is a great way to check off Montana.
My Left Knee Hurts from Sedalia, Colorado (9/27/2004) "September in Montana - Just do it" (about: 2004) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran the 1/2 marathon event in an effort to build to a full marathon later in winter. I found out about the Lewis and Clark run through this website and had never run an official event of any distance - ever. This turned out to be the perfect choice as the coordination & hospitality was informative and super-friendly (the event coordinator's mom returned me and another runner to the Holiday Inn host hotel after the race). The course was really great, beginning in the foothills near heritage campsites from the Lewis & Clark expedition. It combined typical western ranch road surface, asphalt and single/double track trails through parks, open space and neighborhoods, culminating at the Montana State University stadium. The weather was simply delightful - 45* and sunny at the start; 60* at the finish... crystal clear skies with views of foothills and mountains all along the way. Aspen changing to gold in their prime. Mostly Montanans running this race - talented and friendly regardless of age group. The specatators sprinkled along the route were very supportive. Many thanks to the volunteers for keeping the many aid stations ready to roll.

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C. B. from Missoula, MT (6/13/2011) "you have my time wrong" (about: 2011) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I was pushing as hard as I could to cross the line before 5:00, I didn't make it but just barely - there's no way I crossed the line at 5:13, something is amiss here. I don't care a whole lot, but kind of. Loved the route until it came into town, then it was just hot and sunny. Maybe ask the residents along the way to turn on their sprinklers for the runners? I know water is precious but it would have made a big difference in not overheating.
Ken Pearce from Alameda, California (6/10/2011) "Great way to see Montana!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 If you enjoy courses with variety, beautiful scenery, and time to spend alone with your thoughts, this is it. A small but fun race, it offers breath-taking views of everything Montana has to offer. The course takes you on rural roads, neighborhood roads, gravel, and dirt. The altitude certainly had an effect on this flatlander but mountain scenery made up for it. Good organization and volunteers from the running store that hosted. Since there were less than 100 marathoners, I literally ran for a couple of miles without seeing anyone but that is ok. If you are a first timer that might cause some angst accompanied by the daunting hill on mile eleven. If you are a fifty stater, this is a good one to knock out Montana. Bozeman is a cool little town with small town atmosphere. After the race, my buddy and I went to dinner at Ted Turner's steak house and the race director's sister waited on us - nice!
C. M. from Pensacola, FL (6/8/2010) "So scenic! Breathtaking - pun intended!" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 For a flat-lander for the panhandle of Florida, this was a tough race, but perhaps one of the most scenic. Altitude will definitely play a hefty role if you are not used to it, as will the hills. But don't let this keep you away. I gave a five-star rating to everything, because though it only has a small number of runners, the race was run flawlessly. No spectators except volunteers, but they were worth 5 stars! They had two volunteers at street crossings holding "stop" and "slow" signs, which made for a safe crossing. The course varies from pavement to gravel, to crushed-gravel bike/jogging paths, to narrow single-track. Local runners are fortunate to have so many trails within the city! I envy you! A real treat was having some of the best pizza I have ever tasted following the run. As a back-of-the-packer, a bottle of water is all that is usually left when I finish. The only suggestion I could make was to have a few more course markings out on the paths. There were times when I was confused as to which way to go. Good job to all!
Tim Pearson from Lethbridge, Alberta (6/8/2010) "Small race with magnificent scenery" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I thoroughly enjoyed running the 2010 Lewis and Clark Marathon. The overcast skies, light breezes and cool temperatures made for perfect running conditions. The new date (previously a fall race) hasn't hurt this marathon at all. The scenery was simply spectacular from the snow-capped mountains in the distance to the babbling streams to the beautiful forests. At mile 11, another runner and I even had to stop for a brown bear blocking the road. It bolted into the woods right away leaving the way safe and clear for us to continue. Wow! The course itself is challenging. If you're not used to altitude, you'll notice yourself breathing a little more quickly thanks to the 5000+ foot elevation of the course, but then again it might just be the spectacular scenery taking your breath away. The 2 large hills in the first half of the course definitely make this a challenging marathon, and to make it even more difficult, the undulating smaller hills in the second half really draw on your reserves. I also noticed a sudden mileage increase of about 0.3 miles on my Garmin in the second half of the course. Several other full and half marathoners commented on the same anomaly with their GPS mileage. This may be something the organizers should look into in terms of course measurement. Although this is a challenging course, you can definitely qualify for Boston here, provided you've put in the proper training mileage and some hill work. Unless it's your first marathon, you probably won't PB on this course, but don't let that stop you from coming out for this one. It's beautiful. The finish on the track at the university was a nice way to celebrate the completion of the race. Spectators were few and far between on the course. The many volunteers were helpful, well organized and very cheerful. They really made a difference. The inclusion of a marathon relay also added a festive atmosphere to the event. I would suggest organizers add a more clear differentiation to their bibs though; I thought I was chasing (and lost track of) a fellow age grouper in the marathon only to learn that he had dropped off at a relay leg switch point. The race shirt was of good quality, but it wasn't a Brooks technical shirt as had been advertised. The distinctive finishers' medal was also a nice piece of hardware to add to the collection although it disappointingly did not have the year marked on it. This is to be expected though in small races with such reasonable entry fees as the Lewis and Clark. The finishing area was upbeat with lots of pizza, lemonade, cookies, fruit, bagels and licorice. A couple of massage therapists were on hand giving free post-race massages. They were really good, and gave each person the time and attention needed. Surprisingly, there wasn't even much of a line. Organizers provided cash awards to the top 3 men and women finishers, plus a cash award to the top male and female masters winners. Very nice touch for a small race. Bozeman is a very nice town with lots of shopping, restaurants and sightseeing, which makes this event all the more worthwhile. I highly recommend staying at the event's host hotel. The rate was really good, and they were very friendly and helpful to the runners - even allowing us to have a "very late" check-out time with no extra charge. For runners leaving on a Sunday after the race, this is a very thoughtful consideration. Overall, I would highly recommend running the Lewis and Clark. Wonderful race!
Jeff Hill from Glen Ellyn, IL (9/29/2007) "Challenging but beautiful" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I have to second many of the previous runners comments. This was my 49th state and I have to say that I have not run a marathon course that offered more beautiful scenery. In summary: Pros: 1) One of the most inexpensive entry fees I've paid yet. 2) No bands on the course. ;-) 3) Technical long-sleeve t-shirts (Brooks) provided to all entrants. 4) Well-organized in every aspect-from start to finish. 5) Non-stop flights to Bozeman from Chicago. 6) Variety of running surfaces with very few cars. 7) Free pizza and friendly volunteers. 8) They do not ban personal music on the course. Challenges: 1) The altitude (for us flat-landers). 2) Hilly course (both downhill and uphill). This is not the course to get your Boston qualifying time or PR on. Overall, if you're looking for a scenic marathon with not a lot of hype, I heartily recommend it. It's also close to Yellowstone and Grand Teton (at a delightfully uncrowded time of year), so it's a GREAT 4-5 day getaway.
M. H. from Tremont, IL (9/25/2007) "Challenging and interesting marathon" (about: 2007) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 They did say it was challenging and they were right. I came from IL and was not ready for the altitude difference. The marathon was run well. The pre-race pasta was very good and topped off by a talk by Nikki Kimball (top women's ultra-phenom). The race was well organized, people on the course were great, and the course was a real challenge (oh yeah, I already said that). I will say that a few more aid stations are needed, especially early on. All in all, the race directors did a great job and put on a great race for a small number of marathoners.
Vaughn baraby-martin from Helena Montana (9/27/2005) "Great hybrid trail/road marathon/half marathon" (about: 2005) 1 previous marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I actually ran the half marathon and enjoyed the challenge that this race provided. Very tough course. The race officals stated to not expect a PR in this race and they were right. Some of the front runners were stopped by a freight train but I lucked out and crossed right after the last train car passed the crossing. This course has it all; hardpacked dirt, single track trail with some mud, blacktop and a large number of uphill battles to keep you on your toes! Crowd support is very sparse but most of this race is wilderness so that explains it. I highly recommend it for a very challenging trail/road marathon and half. -Vaughn
J. T. from Central Mass (9/30/2004) "So this is why they call it Big Sky..." (about: 2004) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT) COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Having completed more than 50 marathons, this ranks right up there with the best of the small marathons I've run. Logistically, the race coordinators thought of everything and put together a wonderful event. Volunteers were in abundance and eager to assist. The first half of the course is quite challenging; some pretty good climbs. For those traveling from the east, don't forget Bozeman is 5000'+ so there is some adjustment to running at altitude. The scenery is spectacular...Yellowstone and the Grand Teton's are just a short drive from Bozeman. For those fellow 50-staters out there, the L&C Marathon is a great way to check off Montana.
My Left Knee Hurts from Sedalia, Colorado (9/27/2004) "September in Montana - Just do it" (about: 2004) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran the 1/2 marathon event in an effort to build to a full marathon later in winter. I found out about the Lewis and Clark run through this website and had never run an official event of any distance - ever. This turned out to be the perfect choice as the coordination & hospitality was informative and super-friendly (the event coordinator's mom returned me and another runner to the Holiday Inn host hotel after the race). The course was really great, beginning in the foothills near heritage campsites from the Lewis & Clark expedition. It combined typical western ranch road surface, asphalt and single/double track trails through parks, open space and neighborhoods, culminating at the Montana State University stadium. The weather was simply delightful - 45* and sunny at the start; 60* at the finish... crystal clear skies with views of foothills and mountains all along the way. Aspen changing to gold in their prime. Mostly Montanans running this race - talented and friendly regardless of age group. The specatators sprinkled along the route were very supportive. Many thanks to the volunteers for keeping the many aid stations ready to roll.

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Marathon Details - Lewis and Clark Marathon (MT)