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Montana Marathon
Race Details:
- Location: Billings, MT, USA
- Race Date: 09/20/2026
- Race Distances: Full Marathon, Half Marathon
Qualifying Race For:
Boston: Yes
World Major Qualifier: Yes
Montana Marathon Description
The Montana Marathon is a fast, net-downhill, Boston qualifying race finishing in Billings after a dramatic descent through the Montana plains. The point-to-point course drops from 4,200 feet to 3,140 feet, with the steepest stretch cutting through the Molt hogbacks, falling roughly 700 feet over about three miles near the halfway point. The final 16 miles continue losing elevation toward the finish, making this one of the most underrated Boston qualifying courses in the country. A half marathon runs the same course, drawing runners chasing fast times against a backdrop of big-sky scenery.
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Montana Marathon Additional Details:
Along the hottest stretches of the course, Billings locals set up their own unofficial cooling stations, running sprinklers and hoses for runners to duck through, a small-town touch that regulars say means as much as the official aid. Thirteen official aid stations keep runners covered from mile 3 through the finish, staffed by volunteers who lean into the race’s “Come Fly With The Hive” motto with genuine enthusiasm. Runners who complete four other local races during the season can add a bonus medal to their finisher haul through the Billings Running Crown Challenge. At Pioneer Park, the finish area turns into a proper mini-festival with music, door prizes, and a vendor area set against the shadow of Billings’s rimrock skyline.
Course Information
Profile: Downhill
Type: Point to Point
Surface: Road/Pavement
Pace Groups: No
Time Limit: 7 hours
# of Finishers
350 Half Marathon
221 Marathon
Elevation Details
Elevation Gain: 520 ft (158 m)
Elevation Loss: 1,351 ft (411 m)
Average Temperature
- Low: 44°F
- High: 70°F
Train Smarter for Race Day
A great race starts long before the starting line. Whether you’re chasing your first finish or hunting a new PR, a structured training plan takes the guesswork out of race prep — building your fitness, your confidence, and your mileage at the right pace for you.
Explore plans for every distance and experience level, from your first 5K to your next ultra.
Things to Do in Billings, MT, USA
Make the most of race weekend — here’s how to fill the time before and after you cross the finish line.
Scenic Drives & Viewpoints
Four Dances Recreation Area
Take the 3-mile out-and-back to Four Dances Recreation Area’s 656-foot peak for sweeping views over Billings and the Yellowstone Valley — choose it on a good-legs day.
Sports & Entertainment
Billings Mustangs at Dehler Park
Catch a Billings Mustangs minor league game at Dehler Park for a cheap, family-friendly evening — a relaxed, seated way to spend a summer night in town.
Shopping
Downtown Billings & Rimrock Mall
Browse downtown Billings’ art galleries and boutiques, or shop Rimrock Mall, the city’s largest — an easy, flat option with minimal walking required after race weekend.
Arts & Culture
Yellowstone Art Museum
Venture into the vault at the Yellowstone Art Museum to see works not currently on display, or join a guided tour — a relaxed, indoor rest-day option.
Landmark
Pompey’s Pillar National Monument
See the only physical evidence of the Lewis and Clark expedition open to the public at Pompey’s Pillar, a 200-foot rock formation above the Yellowstone River — an easy stop.
Outdoors & Trails
Skyline Trail
Walk or bike the paved Skyline Trail, a multiuse path that makes the iconic sandstone Rimrocks easy to access — a flat, low-impact option for tapering or recovering legs.
Zoos, Aquariums & Gardens
ZooMontana
Meet grizzlies, wolves, red pandas, and a two-toed sloth at ZooMontana, a 70-acre zoological and botanical park — a flat, shaded, low-impact outing for tired legs.
Museums & History
Western Heritage Center
Learn the story of the Yellowstone River Valley and Northern Plains at the Western Heritage Center, right in downtown Billings — an easy, air-conditioned stop for recovering runners.
Food & Drink
Billings Brew Trail
Sample local brews along Montana’s only walkable Brew Trail, six breweries, two distilleries, and a cider house within downtown Billings — a relaxed way to celebrate the finish line.
Hotels & Lodging Near the Montana Marathon
Compare nearby hotels and book your Montana Marathon race-weekend stay in seconds.
Sunrise Running Company may earn a commission if you book through the map below, at no extra cost to you.
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