Montana Marathon - Race Reviews

I'm a 50-stater and I must say I really enjoyed this marathon! I liked the low-key packet pickup which was fast and efficient with complimentary wine & beer to boot! They have an optional 5 am start that is open to everyonenot just walkers . Despite some concerns about running in the dark on remote Montana roads, it turned out to be a wonderful experience!! I saw one of the most amazing nighttime skies with stars and crescent moon that slowly morphed into a glorious sunrisesomething Ill never forget! They dont call it Big Sky Country for nothing! And besides that, it was nice and cool in the morning and it was great to take advantage of that. Obviously, I didn't see some of the scenery in the early miles, but as it became lighter I found it to be very pretty. The marathon is very well run and the volunteers were outstanding. I liked the shirt and finishers medal, which doubles as a bottle opener! :) I placed in my age division but was not able to wait around for the awards, but they were very kind to mail it to me. This is a smaller race but it was really well doneI HIGHLY recommend!!

This would not be my first choice in Montana marathons if you are a 50 stater. It has great volunteers, but the scenery is not enticing. The road from Molt to Billings is long, cambered and boring. Finally at mile 11 it opens up to a great scenic view, then nothing till you hit town at mile 14.Then its through town, with traffic, potholes and still cambered. HOWEVER: The volunteers are GREAT. The medals are awesome and the shirts are a very nice wicking type.

I don't like yellow bus rides, but thank you It would be cool to have an ultra from the school up to the start and back down. That would take care of the yellow bus. (Smile) I enjoyed the marathon. I will return.

I came from PA and found the race to be scenic, well organized with cheerful volunteers handing out water and powerade. This is a small marathon with very little spectators but everything else was top notch. I would recommend it to any runner who plans to run a marathon in Montana.

I ran the half this year, but have previously run the full twice and the half 3 times and the 10k once. I'm the DS whose '05 comments are on the last page of these comments, and I'm writing again to say the organizers have done a great job of improving steadily, such that anyone who runs this, and doesn't expect Boston or Chicago amenities, will likely be quite pleased overall. Not that it's perfect: there's still the potential for scorching heat (tho the past 3 yrs temps have been perfect to cold), and if you depend on spectators for a boost, go elsewhere. Plus, you need to warn your quads that this is almost all downhill, and odds are you'll get a boost from the prevailing nw (tail)winds. Best of all, great strides have been made in packet pick-up, busses, and finish line organization, especially the food and bag retrieval. And I have yet to get better designed tech shirts, year after year, than this race. So if you want a small marathon in gorgeous scenery, this could be the one for you.

I ran this marathon to meet my 50 state quest. It was my 126 marathon and my 37th state. Everyone was so accommodating: from the lady who did the early start for us; then stayed with us; flashing lights until daybreak; to Clarise, a food table voluntar at the finish line; who gave me a ride to my hotel. In between these wonderful women at the start and finish, the race was well laid out; organized; and user friendly! I have done so many marathons that I think that I can say that Montana was marvelous!

Fast course super finishing experience.Did not notice the poota potties at Molt. No signs and its dark. Lined up for 1 holer in the community hall.Drop off bags could be better organized at finish area just a mess of bags. This marathon has great potential for tourism in the area if you work out a couple small details.

I met a guy at the finish who had finished his first-ever marathon and walked him over to the volunteers, who forgot to give him his medal... which was identical to the half medal. I think marathon finishers should receive something better than what the halfers get.

Loved this event! My husband ran the marathon and I ran the half. The race director and her committee and the volunteers did a wonderful job in making sure that all the participants in all of the 2010 events had a great experience. The course was scenic and well-marked, and the volunteers were friendly and cheerful. The RD even brought the packets to the host hotel for those of us that chose not to have a rental car. Even the weather cooperated this year. The day was cool and sunny at the start, some fog rolled in to keep the route scenic and the temperatures down, and then the sun came out to finish with a pleasantly warm day. It was about 40F at the start and about 70F and sunny down at Daylis Stadium when my husband finished. We would definitely recommend this event to anyone that likes small marathons with pretty rural scenery and friendly, happy volunteers.

This was my 20th marathon and the route was wonderful. Pros: Great scenery. Friendly volunteers (when they were paying attention). Great location for a finish, as it finished inside the stadium. Local police and volunteers were directing traffic in town, which definitely helped, since no roads were closed to traffic. Cons: They said there would be gels at the water stations, but there weren't any in the later stations. No snacks of any variety at the finish line. The website lacks information (for example, that the start will be cold (2C) and that we should keep our warm clothes until just before the race start as we will want them in the community centre and while standing in line for the porta potties). No information on how many people were entered. No timers at all on the course - you are totally on your own when it comes to timing. A few more years and they may have all the small details worked out. A great marathon route, really!!

Pros: -Great volunteers! Water stop volunteers called out drinks when I was 100 feet away. -Great volunteers! Traffic controllers ensured my day would not end due to a lack of safety. -Great volunteers! Knowing they were the only spectators, they were full of positive energy and inspirational. Seriously, there was a group of guys near mile 21 that were screaming at me to run up the hill to the turn! They were awesome and necessary at that point of the race. -Spectacular scenery. While the first 10+ miles were tough (see Cons below), the views define Big Sky Country: Deer crossing the route at sunrise, cows mooing, horses running their ranch lines. Spectacular. Cons: -The first 10 miles are all uphill. Approximately 250' of elevation gain (25 stories) to open the day. -Miles 10-13 are all downhill. Steep downhill. Approx 700' of elevation loss in less than 3 miles. No treat. By mile 14 you will know where each muscle in your "quad" is and how well they were trained. -A kind of cheap finishing medal. -No spectators and/or community support (beyond the great volunteers!). While I shouldn't list the course profile as a con because the numbers are posted and I knew them going in, it still was a bummer! It's a small race. I heard that there were 230 entrants, with close to 160 finishing. It was a hard day with poor weather playing too significant a role, but that's how it goes sometimes. Not the RDs fault. Some of the DNFs may have been due to the dynamics of the first 14 miles, and altitude could have played a role too. I live at 700' and I think the altitude played a role in my performance (as did the weather). All in all, a great, small event run by great people. Congrats to the organizers and volunteers. I only wish the people of Billings could embrace it and get on board.

I enjoyed the entire race. The rain didn't help matters, but it was much better than the 90-degree temps on Saturday. The course was very well organized and the aid stations were first-class. I enjoyed the course, and the other runners were very supportive!

This run into Billings from the countryside was spectacular. Although there were some uphills, this would be a great course to score a personal best. It could also lull you into pushing too hard in the first 1/2 only to fade out in the second. Very friendly race. Only downside was that there was lots of traffic. It was the first race where I didn't wear my iPod once - out of fear of not hearing traffic. This was state #14 in the pursuit of 50.

On my quest to do 50 states, the Montana Marathon was state #9. The organization was excellent. For example, the buses took us to the start where we stayed warm in the Molt community center. The pasta dinner was inexpensive and I enjoyed Western States 100 winner Nikki Kimball's slide-show presentation about her race. The course was straight, with views of the vast grasslands. I got my best of the year with this course. If there are anything negatives, the medal was ordinary and one needed a car both to get to the pasta meal and to and from the race finish. In conclusion, what I really appreciated was the spirit of the Billings spectators and race volunteers.

Positives: Coming from a big city on the east coast, I was amazed at the beauty of big open sky. Watching the sunrise over the prairie was amazing. The volunteers were helpful and encouraging. The host hotel was comfortable and inexpensive. Negatives: Although we were told the course was "all downhill," there were long stretches of gradual uphill challenges. There were very few spectators for most of the course until we reach the outskirts of Billings. There were no Gu's or gels to be had if you were a "middle of the pack" runner like me. The post-race food tent was meager - bread with honey, and some fruit and water. The sports drink offered at the stops - "Hurl" - was nasty.

As I continue my trip around America one marathon at a time, I finally found myself in Montana. A large state with very few people - and in the Billings area, not a very interesting landscape. The people, few as there are, were uniformly nice and uniform in physical appearances. I cannot say enough about how nice and friendly everyone I met in Montana was. They where laid back (I am from New York City, so everyone is at least a little laid back), easy going and willing to help out. Billings is Montana's largest city, I have been told, which is not saying much. It has very little to offer culturally or visiting-wise. It is a commercial city and not a tourist place. The race starts in the smallest city I have ever been in, Molt - population 50, with about 6 buildings. The race runs along a two-lane highway for about 18 miles, with only open prairie to look at. I do not think a more boring landscape could have been chosen. There was nobody around but you, the road, and the animals. The course while net downhill is not fast. The declines are sharp and short. The inclines are gradual but long. The altitude does make a difference if you are used to sea level. Do not expect a PR. Expect your legs to take a pounds on the steep declines, which you will pay for later. Spectators do start when you reach Billings and its suburbs. Spectators are - for such a sparsely populated area - plentiful and enthusiastic. I give the town a lot of credit for the support it gave the runners. But do not expect too many spectators; after all, there are very few people living in Montana. The race is well organized. It does not have big-city amenities, but it has all the essentials for a marathon. Everything is close together. Stay at the host hotel; it is very nice - and it's close to the YMCA for the bus to the start and not far from the finish. This is a nice little race. Do not come with great expectations and you will not be disappointed. As a whole, I think Bozman is a better choice (nicer town in a nicer area with more touristy things to do) if you are doing the 50 states. I do commend the people of Billings for being so friendly and nice and the race organizer for doing a good job on a very small scale.

This is just what the doctor ordered if you're sick of big-city crowds at the start or messing up your times with the half people colliding with you midway through. My wheels came off due to the toll the decline can put on you, but it's not the marathon course - should've adjusted the training. No matter, I really enjoyed the course, the nice hotel rate, and the overall nice weekend for a great race!

The 2006 Montana Marathon was my third marathon and the first in my home state. I went in hoping for a new PR but I underestimated the course and ended up coming in about 45 seconds off my PR. The course is point-to-point with a net downhill, with long gradual ups and downs the first 10 miles followed by a good 4 miles of solid declines and then 12 miles of generally flat terrain with a few short ups and downs thrown in. This year's course was redesigned to avoid the gravel section that was referred to in previous comments and I think the new layout worked well. Just be careful on the steepest downhill portion; that's where I over did it. The race was very well organized. The buses left for the start on time and got there with plenty of time left to warm-up. The race started promptly at 7 and the course was well stocked with aid stations, porta-potties, and volunteers directing traffic at intersections. The technical fabric t-shirt was nice, although I personally have a pet peeve about organizations from Montana always displaying mountain scenes on their advertisements, even if no mountains are visible from their location. If you run the Montana Marathon expecting to see the mountain scene depicted on their logo, you'll be sorely disappointed. The finisher's medal was unique; a hand-crafted leather medallion on a leather lanyard. The weather sucked (cold, rainy, very windy), but in Montana you never know what to expect. A previous commenter said the race should be pushed back to Oct. or Nov. to avoid the Sept. heat. This year's event was a good example of why Sept. is about as late as they can go. In Montana, the further into the fall you go, the more you flirt with winter weather. Spectators were sparse, but given the weather conditions, I can hardly blame them. The people who were cheering us on were very enthusiastic and supportive despite the weather. Overall, this was a well run, small event (about 130 full marathon finishers). If you're ready for the course, I think it could be a very fast one.

I am a member of both the 50 States Marathon Club and the 50 States Marathon & DC Group, with 36 states done on my quest to do them all. If all the marathons had someone like Jennifer Anderson, her volunteers and the YMCA to run the marathon, it would be more pleasant in any weather condition! The weather was not kind to us BUT the warmth of the people at each and every aid station caused us to look forward to each mile (17 aid stations with Heed/water, and gel at many of them). The finish line was set up so we could get across and have plenty of food and drinks (even hot coffee and hot chocolate!!) This marathon should be drawing thousands of runners and when the word gets out about how well it is run, IT WILL! Thanks for the great time. It was worth the trip from the Tampa, FL area! I hope to be able to run it again someday.

Ran the 1/2 marathon: First mile is all downhill (don't go out too fast or you'll pay for it), course was well marked, and marshals did a good job directing runners and stopping traffic. It was a windy and rainy day, but it didn't bother me. There were a few spectators ringing bells and cheering us on, which helped. I was upset that there weren't more pictures taken, especially at the finish. The spaghetti feed was good but not great. Runner's t-shirt was same as last year (2005). All in all, it was a good time.

No negative comments.

I just thought I should put in my thoughts after reading some of the comments about the race. It seems if you have run this race in 2004 or 2005, you really enjoyed it, like myself. I enjoyed this race so much that I didn't want some of the comments that people put up from earlier years to taint how well done this race was. I ran this race 2005, and we had wonderful running conditions - a little fog at the start, but still good temperatures. There was plenty of signage, sheriff patrols, water, sports drink, first aid and volunteers to run through the rural roads into downtown Billings, MT. I also ran this race in 2000, and I feel this race is becoming one of the best in the region! I want to give this race a huge thumbs up for this year!

I loved this course. I guess some don't agree, but I thought the scenery was gorgeous. The volunteers were all friendly and supportive, and the organization of the race was great. I enjoyed the finish on the track.

The Montana Marathon was my 40th marathon and my 37th state. I thought that overall, it was nicely done. The near perfect weather and fast course were additional bonuses and helped me finish in my fastest time since 1992. If I have any criticism at all, it was in the almost complete lack of traffic control. Rimrock Road was a little scary at times. As we got into the the heart of Billings, I thought the volunteers with the stop signs were very brave to step out in front of traffic considering how oblivious most of the drivers were. The $45 entry fee seemed a bit steep for a race with no police protection. Otherwise, the technical fabric shirt, the unique medal, and the friendly volunteers were much appreciated. The wet washcloth at the finish was a nice touch. Nice job.

Very efficiently run race, just to echo what's been said. YMCA races are a favorite of mine, and this one has a super group of exceptional volunteers. Great bargain, in terms of shirt, host hotel, pasta dinner and organization. Course is well staffed with volunteers at aid stations and traffic crossings, and finishing on the track is a nice touch. The slant of the road on the last 5 miles or so is a bit tough, the first 3 miles on gravel made you glad when it ended, and there's some traffic to contend with on the way into town, but nothing life-threatening and law enforcement is out and riding the road. As far as I can see, that's the only downside, and if you're reading this, you'll be mentally prepared and that should take care of it. One of the more pleasant post-race gatherings I've been at, with races for little kids, good, fast award ceremony, and variety of food and drinks.

First of all, let me preface by saying that the organizers seemed like nice, caring people who wanted to put on a good race. Unfortunately, there were some problems. First, there was not enough water on the course; a major fault considering the potential for heat in the summer. Second, the course runs unprotected over the great plains in the early morning hours, when Bubba and Hoss are just coming back from a night on the town, and don't take too kindly to all them skinny out-of-towners clogging up their speedway. Third, the course starts out beautifully into the sunrise. We also saw some pronghorns. But soon enough, the direct sunlight gets to you, and the tedium of the sun in your face while running uphill over featureless terrain (the only thing to do is count the power lines as you pass them) can get a little old, a little quickly. Fourth, nobody in Billings seems to notice or care that there is a marathon going on. Fair enough, but a little community support would be nice. Finally, there is not much going on at the finish line to warrant sticking around very long afterwards.

I ran this in 2000 and 2002, and am just now commenting because I'd hope to see improvements that could encourage me to run it again. It's not at all badly done, given that you're in Montana--where Big Sky means pretty much empty of people (as in spectators). Organizers can't do much about that, but I hope they address a few frayed edges: 1. Heat. It's too early in the year for the baking plains of Montana. The start, way out in the country at 7 am, isn't too bad, except for running into the blistering morning sun. But you end up on the pavement of Billings at 10 am to noon, and the temps by now are mid-80s with unrelenting sun. This race begs for Oct. or even early Nov. 2. Volunteer goof-ups. Maybe this is part & parcel, but in 2000 the bus driver got lost and kept stalling, so we disembarked at 6:50--ergo, no warm-up. In 2002, after finishing, I went back to the ice tub for a 2nd bottle of water and the volunteer said no! Only one per runner! Good thing no one suffered heat stroke & sued them. On the plus side, in '02 I got my coolest race shirt ever--a black tech job with a very small & tasteful green logo. And the folks who mention scenery are right--it's spectacular, especially for non-residents. In '00, at about mile 3, we looked in a field by the road and saw about 10 pronghorns--not only a fantastic animal in their own right, but also the chosen symbol of this marathon!

This is a great marathon. The point-to-point course is extremely scenic, especially in the beginning of the race. You run past fields of horses and other breathtaking views. You're on a slight incline for the first ten miles or so, and then it's all downhill with some flat areas until the finish. It's a great race for a PR. Billings is a beautiful city, and the people are very friendly. The race director knows what she's doing here. This is highly recommended.

I ran the 2004 Montana Marathon and it was my very first. The weather was good, course was good and the race was well organized. Views were awesome. I would run this race again if I have the chance. One improvement would be number or spectators, especially miles 20-26. Great race.

I thoroughly enjoyed the race and my first visit to Montana. The Billings community was so friendly and helpful, including everyone from the airport security to the car rental agents, hotel, restaurant, retail outlets, local folks including the race staff and volunteers, spectators, fellow runners and Forest Rangers. The weather was excellent too, sunny and warm on Saturday for sightseeing, overcast and cool on Sunday for the race, snow in YNP on Monday, mild at Lil’ Bighorn on Tuesday. Back to the race. Race organization was first rate in my opinion: the packet pick-up went smoothly, the goody bag and nice quality Coolmax shirt were appreciated, the pasta dinner included all you could eat two kinds of sauce, bread, green beans, and chocolate brownies – all for $5. On Sunday morning, there was parking aplenty in front of the YMCA so that you can sit inside the Y until the buses loaded up to the start in Molt. The course was very good, two-lane blacktop rolling in the first half, mild downhill into the residential area on the second half, but not quad-killers. I enjoyed the Big Sky openness of the race; even the 3 miles of gravel were not a problem. Traffic was sparse as were the spectators, but it was a cool Sunday morning. At the finish line they handed out wet towels in anticipation of a hot day, though Mylar blankets might have been more appropriate. I asked a volunteer for an extra trash bag to cover my shoulders, but I should have used the ‘gear drop’ option – my fault. They had peanut butter and honey sandwiches, my favorite post-race food, and the awards started right on time. The age group awards were nice quality caps with embroidered Montana Marathon 26.2, the medals were nice (though I wish the year was engraved); but hey, this was a fund raiser for the YMCA kids, and any expense saved went to that ‘cause’ which I support (notice the entry was only $45). The walk from the finish line back to the YMCA was about 4 blocks – I asked a fellow runner for ride, no problem. I took a side visit to Yellowstone, easy 150 miles on the interstate (Beartooth Pass was closed due to snow). The park is amazing if you’ve never seen it – especially in the snow. I also took a side trip the opposite direction to Little Bighorn Battlefield –also worth the trip. The whole experience was wonderful and I thoroughly recommend it – can you tell? But you must persevere in tracking the information online. The 2004 race info was not linked until August and then the information was buried within the ‘registration PDF’.

This race was very well organized from packet pickup to post race activities. The shirt was the best one I have gotten, an actual microfiber running shirt as opposed to another cotton Tshirt. The elevation decline is a little distorted because most of it comes over three long downhill stretches. The course also starts with 3 1/2 miles of dirt road which was easy to run on but the race director should look into controlling the amount of traffic on that part of the course because cars and buses kicked up a lot of dust. If you don't like running alone for large stretches or need a lot of spectators, this is not the race for you.

The race management and volunteers could not have been friendlier. The downhill course, cool morning, and light breeze made for an enjoyable marathon. The pasta party was a great value where runners could meet old friends or make new ones. My wife and I made the front page of the newpaper and John Standish sent us a copy to make sure we had seen it.

As a 50 state marathoner on my second round of the states, I rank this race my favorite. The course is easy to follow and the scenery is wonderful. The YMCA staff and Director Bill work hard and are the most dedicated people. The pasta dinner is a good value for the money and everyone is very friendly. The whole logistics of travel, accommodations and race are great. This is Big Sky Country with a race organization with a Big Heart!

First of all, the organizers of the race do an excellent job with the limited resources they have to work with. Water stop support was excellent. Could have used a porta potty every two miles during the first half of the race instead of every three miles. Sport drink provided at waterstops (Gatorade I believe) was too strong causing an upset stomach. Better off mixing a little weak than too strong. The overall elevation drop of 1000 feet over the entire course is deceiving since much of the loss comes in a few hills near the middle of the race. The course is good until you get into town. Rimrock Road is very narrow with the cars not willing to give you a great deal of room. Once you turn up Polly for the last 5 miles of the race, the pitch to the road is very sloped on the sides causing your stride to change at a time when you are definitely fatigued. The idea of finishing the race on the track in the stadium is a good idea. More crowd support would be nice from the local community. For those of you needing a Montana Marathon to complete your 50 state goal this is as good of choice as any in Montana.