Madison Marathon (MT) - Race Reviews

Despite the course being insanely beautiful, I will never ever run another race organized by this group. I have run 35 marathons or longer including many trail marathons and ultras; this was the worst organized race I have ever run. The race advertised that there would be limited support but "some food" at aid stations. There was zero food at any of the aid stations. Zero. This advertises as a road race, I guess technically this is true, but it is on an extremely poorly maintained gravel road. Lots of cars drove by very quickly on the narrow road with no respect for runners. At the turn around spot I asked the volunteer where the turn around was and he said "right here" at this point *I* had to yell to the woman who he had let pass the spot by about 50 yards. Then he joked with her that she actually did have to keep going so she turned back around again. I don't know how he thought that funny or acceptable. Finally, none of the aid stations had first aid kits!! This is so incredibly unacceptable and dangerous.

Great people, great views, little air, lots of long hills. A challenge that brings a lot of interesting and passionate people together. Race kicked my butt- however it was my first win. My time was about 1 hour slower then my most recent marathon. Save some energy for the hills at the end.

2015 was my 4th year in a row to run Madison. I spent 9 days in Leadville, running above 10,000 feet before heading up to Ennis this year. I beat my previous best time by 30 minutes. The weather was cooler than in past years, too. I ran a good bit of the marathon, including the difficult last 6.5 miles with a young guy named Dillon doing his first marathon. Had the best time I've ever had here. Felt the best. Hiked 11 miles in Yellowstone the next day. What can I say? This is still my favorite marathon!!

Beautiful course. Solid organization. Excellent volunteers. Good aid stations. Very difficult course! I've not seen any official 'total climb' number listed for this event but its a lotta thousand that's all I know. And similar in many ways to leadville's 26.2. Wow. Second half is really tough...even worse than Leadville. Plus, there's no better place to be than Montana in July. Great weather, long days, and recreation everywhere! **the worst thing about this marathon is just getting to the start line. Very pretty but it's very remote! Leave early haha

This was my first time running this race (full marathon), and I could not have asked for a better-organized, personable race experience. The race director, Sam, did a fantastic job welcoming many out-of-state runners to the charming town of Ennis, and to the state of Montana as a whole. The aid stations were well-stocked, and even though the website mentioned that aid stations were infrequent, I thought that the distance between aid stations was fine. That said, this race is very difficult, especially after you run past the finish line for the half marathon to run an additional 6 1/2 miles out and 6 1/2 miles back to the marathon finish line. The scenery, the race staff and volunteers, and the sense of welcome and community from this race will definitely convince me to put myself through this brutal race again in the future!

Unfortunately, because of some injury issues, I was not able to train for this race and had to drop from the full to the half. Nevertheless, my family and I centered a vacation to Montana from South Carolina around this race, and it was worth every penny. The most beautiful scenery ever! If you need spectator support, this is not your race, but in my opinion this area of the country is as close to heaven without actually being there. It took three hours from the meeting location in Ennis MT, and two separate bus rides to get to the start line, and that was totally cool! Coming from a sea level state, the altitude was a killer, so expect that. Drink pletny of fluids or look for a pounding headache about an hour into it. If I had a bigger budget I would run this race every year. The race director is extremely helpful as well, and adds a real personal touch to this event. Put this one on your bucket list for sure!

Wow! The 2013 Madison Marathon outside Ennis, MT was the TOUGHEST of my 38 marathons and several halfs. Monument Ridge, a picturesque spot on the course, was labeled as being over 9500 feet. The altitude made it tough to breathe on hills, and there were a LOT of steep hills; I had to walk them all. I heard that many people finish this race 1.5 hours slower than their average time. I did it in 2 hours more than the previous day's M.A.D. Marathon in Idaho Falls (yes, I ran 26.2 miles two days in a row&because I'm crazy). I was SO happy to be finished at Madison, but also SO glad I did it. The course was beautiful, running above the tree line in the mountains with the Big Sky above. Gorgeous sights of landscapes of hills, valleys, trees, cows at pasture. Sounds of...nothing but my own footsteps and cattle mooing. Smells of sage and wild flowers. Taste of dirt in my mouth. Feel of everything hurting! Ive run many races and seen good and bad race organization. Madison's organization was top-notch. To start, pre-race communication was excellent. I knew what to expect before, during and after the race. I felt like Sam the race director was very personable in reaching out to runners via email, and he and his crew were awesome in person. Race logistics were well-managed and course support was pretty good for a small, rustic race. Post-race, the food, drink and support from the race crew were excellent. My only suggestion: can you find a way to bring a couple port-a-potties up the mountain to place on the course at Monument Ridge and at the turnaround? Will I run the Madison Marathon again? Probably not. I'm on a quest to run marathons in all 50 states, so it may be a while before I return to Montana. And even so, Madison was probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I would recommend this race to others, but with the following caveat: it really is HARD. Do this if you would like a unique challenge, but do not expect it to be easy, do not expect to PR, do not expect a big city marathon experience - you won't get it. What you will get is a gorgeous course, fabulous support and a day that you'll always remember.

I got to run through Beautiful country, that I hadn't been in before. I do live in Montana, but it is so big, it's impossible to explore all of it. I did the 5K Saturday to get into town and get my bearings. Same people directing the Marathon, also. I was given wrong information on early Sunday Race packet pickup from one of them. I was told I couldn't do that (I could have). At the Race packet pickup Saturday evening, I mentioned I would be at the shuttle bus at 5:30 AM. I was told the bus pulls out at 5:00 AM, so I would miss it if I came at 5:30. (wrong again). So other that cramping Saturday evening and Sunday early wake-up, everything else went fine. My first official Marathon. Gravel road is tough. At least one of the uphills is never-ending (mile 23). Altitude was not an issue since I have been going into the high mountains for 40 years. At 8500' to 9600', oxygen is pretty much normal levels. Water stations every 3.25 miles. I run with a water bottle and they had enough to refill it. A few stations had bananas, peanut butter sandwiches, bug spray, and electrolyte drinks. Porta potty at the end of the half, and one at the 20 mile turn around spot (saved me!) Cattle will move out of your way if you whoop and flap your arms a little. Great bunch of people to run with, even the slowest were smiling and happy! It's too soon to think I may do it again in the future. Let my feet quit hurting first. I'm glad I did it.

The RD pretty much promises runners they will have a PW in this race. In my case, he was correct. The back half took me over an hour longer than the front. There isn't 200 yards of flat in the entire race. All of this was as advertised. The course is beautiful, but very hilly. For example, I ran the front half in 2:37, but had a 16 minute mile in there somewhere. Lots of 50 staters and Maniacs. The altitude is a MAJOR factor. Highly recommended as long as you don't care about running a bad time.

What an incredible experience. I had friends who had run this race before, and Sam's emails got me all sorts of fired up, but there's just no way to completely prepare for this experience. I've only been running for a year - I've run one full and this was my 5th half marathon. I loved every single step. I've never enjoyed another run - race or not - like I did this one. The ultimate personal challenge with the most amazing reward - knowing you have just conquered something that very few people ever will. The altitude didn't bother me (I live in Montana at 5.000 feet), and I did walk some hills. I camped at Clover Meadows the night before and met some fabulous runner people. I'll definitely be back for the full next year, and the year after that and the year after that.... I didn't set a PW - actually ran this one faster than my very first half last summer. ...but talk to me after I commit to the Full next year.

Course was beautiful Organization was top notch Spectators very minimal but for me that was okay, the few that were there were great That was the toughest marathon I ever done but I would not of trade the experience for anything. Great people, scenery and what a great experience. Camping out all by myself at the National Forest near Black Butte Mountain Friday night was awesome and peaceful, Yellowstone was nice but that was the icing on the cake! I did this as a training run after doing a marathon 6 weeks prior( first time that close generally 16-18 weeks) and to embark on my first streak of 3 marathons in 85 days. I got my PW like the director forewarned us. To read my report go to runrunrace.com

This was, by far, the hardest physical undertaking of my life. At the 19.5 mile turnaround, I felt like I did at the Iwo Jima hill at Mile 26 of the Marine Corp Marathon (you can keep the hill, just get me to the Finish :)), only I had 6.5 miles to go - and they were the hardest miles on the course. I got the PW Sam promised me, I almost passed out at the Finish, but I also got the views and the sense of accomplishment. I was a tourist in a sea of crazy runners (50-staters, ultramarathoners), but I think I'll visit them again next year!

Can't add a whole lot to others comments about the course: breath-taking (trying to sing 'Then sings my soul...' on Sunday at 9,500 feet not quite like it sounds in church :-)and butt-kicking. Practice taking downhills in you're training, cuz you can hurt yourself trying to make up time for all the uphill climbs. I'd estimate about 3-4 miles of 'relatively' flat. One thought: no cell phone service. NO WAY to let anybody at Ennis know you're done, what bus you may be on, and when to try to rendezvous with you. Could they offer a radio at Clover Meadows to connect with someone in Ennis to keep family who stayed at 5600 feet abreast of your progress? Ditto on the aid: it is what he offered - limited, but a cooler at 16.5 (and again at 22.5) that was empty was rough to see. The race monitor on his mountain bike was quick to respond when I pointed it out,thoughTHANK YOU! The APPLE at 19.3 turn aroundOMGcold on the lips was SO refreshing. Thank you to the angel who offered the fruit! Logistics are monstrous for this event, but having seen what Sam has pulled off, dunno how else I'd do it. IF you want the scenery, the workout, the opportunity to run at 9500 feet, there's gonna be some hurdles to jump. All in all a once in a lifetime workout (unless you come back for more)!

I ran the half marathon in Ennis MT on July 22nd of 2012. It was amazing! It was hard!! I would recommend this run to anyone who wants to push themselves and prove they can do just about anything they put their mind to! almost all uphill, starting at about 9,200 feet, this course is breathtaking and gorgeous! A well groomed dirt road in the Gravelly Mountain Range....that's all that needs to be said. It was Montana at it's best! The small of Ennis comes alive in the summertime with fly fishing fanatics, mostly... but the runners that flock to the town for this race are something else. They really do make everyone come together, local or not. The pre-race dinner is well worth your time, the breakfast that Pic-A-Nic holds at about 5am for runners is BEYOND kind! The race director is one of the friendliest, down to earth people I have ever seen organizing this 5th annual event. CONGRATS for such a success!! I will be back in 2013 for sure!

Decided to use this marathon as a foundation of a vacation out west; had a great vacation.....the scenic value of the course was certainly a memorable part of the trip! My review of the race... The Good... Scenery...absolutely breathtaking! Mountain setting was stunning! Race director's frequent messages and enthusiasm... Got me pumped for the race! ...being able to pick up race number, pack morning of race...that is a huge plus for me ...love small races like this...there is a great sense of runner ... Impressed w dedication of those that put this race on; the logistics of wilderness setting up in the mountains must b very difficult! -1/2 marathon runner who gave me one of her water bottles for the second half, a life saver! -having host hotel, fan mountain inn, b a short walk to the shuttles to the start line, loved that! -bug spray provided at start line, bugs weren't as bad as I thought they'd b after reading other reviews, they were not really a problem for me ...did I mention the scenery??!! ...loved the granola bars at a couple of the aid stations The bad...it is a loooong bus ride to the start line.... And the bus rattling on the uneven gravel roads was jaw rattling Need more water stops! Race director very upfront about minimal support race; but w heat, altitude, frequent hydration is a must!.... And if there is only going to b a station every 3-3.5 miles, however it has to happen; there MUST b cold water there for the slower runners! (empty cooler 16.5 miles in when I was struggling was nearly spirit crushing....thank goodness an older gentleman in a pickup stopped shortly after that and asked if I needed water... Boy did I! He had coolers full of ice and cold water in his truck... The water was like an adrenaline shot! The altitude.... I knew as a midwesterner, I'd have no way to truly prepare for it... But man, did it kick my butt, especially the second half! The ugly.... My time; the combination of the altitude; constant steep hills ( up/down, up/down) uneven gravel roads as I foolishly ran this race w a foot injury, all led to my slowest time in a Marathon by a LONG way, but I am quite proud of finishing! Directions to the finish line.... I attempted to provide my fiance w written directions, a drawn map... And she had a devil of a time getting to the finish line.... More road signs? More Madison marathon signs? A shuttle for spectators from ennis? I don't know what the answer is... The late start.... Thank goodness clouds came out late morning/early afternoon; cause otherwise the heat, added to altitude and minimal water stations woulda been brutal... 830 is a pretty late start; and it was delayed even later than that, closer to 845... I know logistics make it difficult, but even 730 or 8 start would help Overall, even though I was very slow, injured, and physically beaten down by this race... It was a once in a lifetime experience...not many can say 'hey, I did a road marathon at 9000 plus feet'. So while there were inperfections( the one most needing addressing is increasing hydration opportunities, in my opinion).....this one was unforgettable!

Sam (RD) was great - probably the best communications prior to a marathon I've seen. Pasta dinner the night before is well worth the $$. It is a remote marathon and if you need fans to cheer you on this one is not for you. But if you want a challenge this is it. The course is all gravel road but I run those for my long runs so I had no problems with them. I took the previous write up seriously but did not have problems with bugs and my wife had extra water and gatorade for me (and others) on the course. I did use SPF 50 and it kept me from burning. I recommend combining this race with a Yellowstone vacation - we really had a great time. Also get reservations early - we stayed at the B&B and it was wonderful. But we know some folks had to drive in from Bozeman because they could not stay in Ennis. In summary.... if you are a serious marathoner this is a must do but don't expect a PR (you might even have a PW). RD is great and it is a beautiful location!

I've run Mt. Lemmon and Blue Ridge Marathons. Both claim to be 'the hardest road marathons'. After running Madison, I know which marathon is hardest. But I won't tell you - run it for yourself. This is a memorable event. The views are amazing at every point. Up, down, up down. I saw dear and antelope. The cow crossing was a marathon first. The lack of oxygen adds the extra kick. Event is well done. It takes an hour to get up to that remote location at high elevation. Can't thank the volunteers enough for taking the time to put on a great show. Sam's pre-event e-mails got me fired up for the start. Great memories! The only thing I would change is my reservations to stay in Ennis a few more days. What a great place. Super friendly people. Hope to come back again soon. Wimpy runners should avoid this marathon.

This was the 2nd most beautiful marathon coming in second to Mongolia. It was phenomenal. We were lucky with no thunderstorms....an earlier start would much better even if logistics make much of it before dawn.

This run joins Catalina, BigSur, and Choteau as the most beautiful of my rural runs: high on a ridge paralleling the Continental Divide. That said, altitude and sun exposure make for dehydrating/exposure issues that, I think, need and can be attended to. I don't think it's possible to carry enough water to compensate for what's not offered (my Camelback lasted me 6 miles, and there was sufficient drink at the 5 stations only for a drink, not to replenish bottles); if each runner has a swag team it would create a car/bike/dust nightmare. Suggestions: Aid stations every 3 miles, with water, sports drink, sun lotion, and effective killer horse fly repellant. Water to both drink and pour over us; sports drink for the electrolytes lost at high altitude. This year we were promised 5 aid stops with water and sportsdrink; one had both, two had sports drink only, two had water only. Providing more stops would be as easy as the drive up the ridge, which can be done in any vehicle. And there are a host of areas to set up on this broad bare ridge. Choteau's marathon, for example, has sponsors for each stop, with prizes awarded for the most appreciated. The literature about the run notes the difficulty of the final out and back: I think it's bec. we're dehydrated and overly sun exposed by then. So, bec. of the sun exposure, start the race early. Currently it's a 9am start that this year was 9:20. Same day registration could be 1/2 hour, and EARLY to facilitate, say, a 7 or 8am start. That sun stays brutal by 10am... Third, ALL of the road offshots/junctions need to be CLEARLY marked. The organizers know the route: especially the one junction where the main road goes west and we go north, it's not clear until it's miles too late. Finally, the course is gorgeous, but it's run on the main route from town. Once we started, all of the buses and cars dropping starters off passed the runners: dust and competition for the narrow dirt road. For the marathoners on the final up and back leg, we contended with all of the halfmarathoners and faster marathoners driving past us to get home. Dust, dust, dust. And frankly, it felt like just another weekend trying to enjoy my foot sport against weekend traffic. I do that all the time. I'd love to run this again, but I won't until 1. I can run it early in the day; 2. water and sportsdrink are provided at least every 5 miles, preferably 3; I share the road with other runners and EMT only (why not use the offshoot roads for the run, instead of the main ridge drag?). In sum, gorgeous area, great spirit, please provide more safety and health assist.

I specifically did this marathon to see if I could do it. This is not a race for people needing a lot of support, spectators, etc. It is one of the toughest there is. The only thing I could add to others' comments is, bring a wilderness or deep woods sportsmen grade bug spray - that may work on the horseflies. The bug spray they provided on the course and that I brought myself did not work, and in fact seem to attract the horseflies even more. I have about 20 huge bite marks/welts from these humongous horseflies that surrounded me in a tornado of bites throughout the course.

I signed up for this race after looking at the pictures from last year. The course is absolutely beautiful, with the most amazing views of the mountains and Big Sky country. Unfortunately, it was also a brutal course with the elevation and slow steady hills- both up and down- that lasted for miles. There was minimal support along the course, and very few spectators. If you are one who needs a lot of motivation along the course, don't run this one. The race director was great, very helpful, and was very up front about the lack of support. We were warned repeatedly to bring everything you might need while running. This was the prettiest, but also the hardest race I've run. It was very well organized, the director was fantastic. Just be sure and heed the warning about the hard, hilly course with little support.

Scenery - nothing in comparison. Course - dirt roads, few potholes. Spectators - few, thankfully. The few spectators I encountered actually made things (unwittingly, I'm sure) much more difficult, as they cruised alongside the runners in their cars, kicking up dust and forcing us into the ditch so they could pass. The hills were incredibly, incredibly challenging. I would advise camping the night before, in the small, primitive campground at the start. It was hot, very sunny and exposed (no shade), and the flies were BIG and swarming. But I can't wait to come back to this race again!

Not many marathons in the world offer vistas as spectacular as these -  jaw-droppingly gorgeous! And no road marathons in the US have this little oxygen due to elevation, but that's OK as long as you recognize that you will have to go slower. And you'd be hard-pressed to find as friendly a community or as dedicated a set of volunteers and organizers. Come do this! You'll be glad you did.

This run is very difficult to rate with stars because it's unique. I've given the course 5 stars since they say exactly how the course is... very high, difficult and with incredible views. There's no other course I've heard of that puts you on top of a mountain range and gives you a very decent gravel road to run on. If you've ever wanted to see 60-80 miles in any direction, this course delivers. As a small town (very small), they're still learning what is required to put on a high-elevation run. A lot of the times listed were pushed back and there were ample opportunities to speed things along. However, a participant needs to remember that all the race gear needs to be trucked up a long gravel road and placed above 9,000 feet - not an easy task, regardless of the location. Spectators: One star. Not a lot of folks want to drive way the heck up into the mountains to watch a few folks burn themselves up on a road, and I understand. But this is the beauty of the race; as a participant, you must be mentally fit to run the longest marathon you've run. No music, no cheers - just you and your mind getting you through. The steady sound of your feet on a gravel road and meeting other racers on the course should be the most and best to expect. If you need a zillion folks to keep you motivated, stay home. If you enjoy the solemnity that only 9,500 feet, 26.2 miles and views of the Rocky Mountains can provide, sign up now. Depending on the year you attend, make sure you know where and when there's water and what sort of nutrition will be provided - and be prepared to bring extra of your own. Also, a small camera would be a good extra, as the photos you take you'll be grateful for as you build upon you marathon career.