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WHY RUN MISSOULA…

The community support for this race really set it apart. Despite the 6 AM start, there were tons of spectators along the route cheering, especially toward the end of the race when you run through residential neighborhoods. People were also playing music (including a grand piano in someone’s front yard, and multiple bluegrass bands), offering their own aid stations with freezer pops and cold sponges, pointing their sprinklers into the road to cool down runners, and providing “adult” refreshments. Major shout-out to the group handing out beers at mile 23! In addition to the community support, the race also had beautiful scenery and was really well organized. I’d definitely recommend this race

Jessies9686

Some, or all, may agree that the age of fantastic customer service is long gone. The advent of the Amazon age makes it easy to forget that people are behind the products and services we want to purchase. If you’re a little ‘old school’ and want to spend a few bucks and enjoy a community sponsored event (this race is not put on by a big national chain) the Missoula Marathon delivers on all fronts. From the airport, hotel staff, public folks, race officials, and the crowd to cheer you on, it’s a masterpiece in race support that other events could learn from. This race is #1 for a reason, and if there are a few nit-picky things that a participant didn’t enjoy, they are probably never satisfied. You need to look hard to find the service and execution this race delivers, and for the effort it takes to get to this little town, it’s worth twice as much once you’ve spent the weekend there. Kudos to the organizers for a job very well done!

Torrey H. from Montana

My daughter and I have been running for 3 or so years and this was our destination ‘event’ for this year. Great job to Tony and team for doing a fantastic job of organizing the actual event and then getting the whole town behind him too. The race was beautiful. Even for the slow runners, like myself, the on course encouragement was great too. There was a lot of encouragement among the runners running a 5hr plus pace that you may not see in other places. I mean, where else do random strangers willingly help out and share body glide with a passing runner in need. It was also cool to pause at the finish line while some of the running ‘buddies’ you had passed finished and you got to congratulate them, separate from everyone else, for what they had done knowing that these guys had really gone through a lot to finish.

D.B. from St. Augustine, FL

Bottom line is that it’s a very well done race. It’s well organized and marked, and the half is its own race basically; they start farther down the course and you don’t really merge with them unless you’re running really fast; the course is not congested but they also mark lanes for half and full after the merge point. There’s lots of support from police, volunteers, and the community. The event organizers took precautions when it looked like the weather might affect the welfare of the runners but they didn’t panic and cancel it like some races might have done. It ended up being a great day to run and well worth the trip! I highly recommend the race, especially if you’re a fifty stater looking for a summer race / Montana marathon. Well done, Run Wild Missoula!!

Meg S from Virginia

If you are a “50 States Fanatics” this is your Montana race! One of the best organized races I have ever been involved in! Every person working the race, whether at the expo, aid stations on the course, or at the finish line was exceptional. You know, without a doubt, that this race weekend has been planned meticulously! The beer run, the 5K, the full and half marathon, the expo, the well-designed T-shirts, the Montana outlined bib (so cute!), the huge finisher medal, the free finisher photos, all make this race a definite destination race! If it is not on your bucket list now, you need to add it!

Barb N. from Missoula, MT

This race was top notch in all aspects. There were a lot of races this weekend in the great NW including an ever popular tunnel race in Snoqualmie and a Revel Race at Mt Hood, both beautiful courses. However, neither could match the excellent community and race organizer support of Missoula. Port o potties scattered every 1-2 miles, a lot with NO WAIT–that’s possible?? People with signs, on horseback, playing the piano, strumming the banjo, giving me free gummy bears, mimosas, Fireball shots, whiskey, M&Ms, cooling me off with sprinklers. Who are these people? Do I know them? I’ve never had so many fans. I was a pacer so I’m the one supposed to be calling out times and splits, telling jokes, making the long journey less arduous but the Missoulans provided far more luxuries than I could offer. Mile markers were spot on, Pacers were spot on across the board—which is rare. I was very proud to experience this run. Definitely top notch!

S.E. from Visialia, CA

It was my first marathon and I am glad I ran this as my first. starting from the beautiful town and its fantastic people. Two runs the beer run and the 5K came perfectly with my plan for marathon training taper. The management of this race is amazing. The aid sections were fully staffed, cheering people, gatorade and water option which worked so well, strategic locations so I was never stressed about hydration, the porta potties at the beginning were plenty, shuttle services are amazing. I mean I can go on and on . The people of Missoula were so welcoming and cheering. They out their sprinklers on, had gummy bears , water stands, ” fireball bottle” and cheers all the way. Post race photos were free and were being taken with family. Pre race you could get free taping and for a minimum amount you could get post race massage from alpine physical therapy. Shout out to them for making my run so enjoyable for taping me. I loved the town. If I don’t run again I will definitely come to cheer to enjoy the experience and food and breweries of this town.

Naveen R. rom Richland, WA

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About Run Wild Missoula and its signature event, the Missoula Marathon