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Marathon Details - Grizzly Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > MT > Choteau > Grizzly Marathon

Grizzly Marathon

Grizzly Marathon & Half Marathon. 10K, 5K

Choteau, MT USA

August 6, 2011

http://www.grizzlymarathon.com

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2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

The course is set in the Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone along the Rocky Mountain Front of Northern Montana about 1 hour south of Glacier National Park.

Contact Information

Name:	Syd Rogers
Address:	P.O. Box 1013 Choteau, MT 59422
Phone Number:	406.466.3333
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (43)

Course 4.1

Organization 4.8

Spectators 2.6

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Number of comments: 43 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 > ]

D. C. from Chicago, IL (8/16/2011) "Great Small Race!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Don't let the small size of this race scare you off, this is a terrific race with great organization and a great layout. When they say no fans, they mean it - we're talking ZERO fans along the route. But what a beautiful course! Some tough rolling hills, but a net downhill overall. Gravel roads were fine to run on, not the issue other posts make it out to be. This is a race I would highly recommend to 50 Staters - the people in Montana could not be friendlier. Point to point this year, so you have to be on the bus pretty early (4 a.m.), but running through the scenic ranch country at sun up was pretty awesome. Overall, one of my favorite races.
Tyson Poskochil from Lincoln, NE (4/24/2011) "Truly Grizzly!" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This race begins and ends in the town of Choteau, but the majority of the race is run on rock and gravel roads in the rural countryside. Very scenic, as you progress through many rolling hills on this out-and-back journey. Organization was wonderful. Aid stations are adequately stocked and roaming volunteers do a great job monitoring everyone's progress. Pre- and post-race meals are well-organized and the workshop/presentation session on the eve of the marathon is both beneficial and enjoyable. Since it is a rural area, you won't see many spectators, but the hospitality is wonderful and the places to visit in the Choteau area are an added bonus that I would definitely run it again. Hills can be very challenging, however, and it would be beneficial for any participant to train for them prior to running. Kudos to Syd for making this race a small-town sensation!
Kami K. from Corpus Christi, TX (8/4/2010) "Tough, yet fun!" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Grizzly Marathon Choteau, MT Saturday, July 31, 2010 6:00 a.m. I flew into Great Falls via Denver on Thursday. From the airport to Choteau was a 55-mile drive. I stayed in Stage Stop Inn, a nice hotel with super friendly staff, located within a short walking distance to the start/finish of the marathon. Packet pick-up was on Friday afternoon/evening at the elementary school, where the Spring Creek 4-H Club served a pretty good pre-race spaghetti dinner, which seemed like a fund-raising event ($8 per person). The race packet included a technical short-sleeved T-shirt, an embroidered race ski hat, and a few other items. The start and finish were at the elementary school. Race day temperatures ranged from high 50's to mid 80's. The 6:00 a.m. start was very helpful. Mother Nature was kind to us by keeping the sun hidden behind the clouds for a while. The air was dry. In short, the weather turned out to be much better than what I had expected it to be. As advertised, the out-and-back course was hilly and challenging. The first 1.8 and last 1.2 miles were on paved roads; the rest of the course was on gravel roads. The route was scenic and I found myself amazed by the Big Sky Country. There were more hills on the way out than on the way back, which made the run suitable for negative splits. There were aid stations every other mile. There were mile markers. As expected, there was no crowd support. The route was very well monitored by volunteers on all-terrain vehicles. We shared the first several miles with half marathoners. Each finisher received a nice medallion in the shape of bear claw. There were plenty of recovery food items and drinks at the finish. In short, this was a well organized running event for which I salute the race director and her staff of friendly and cheerful volunteers. There were 76 (42 male, 34 female) finishers with the average finish time of 4:49:47.
C. H. from Montana (8/1/2010) "A nice surprise!" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This race was not originally on our to-do list until some friends from Virginia signed up for the marathon. Since they would be in the state we decided to join them by doing the half marathon (our 9th). We totally enjoyed the weekend! Choteau is the quintessential small western Montana town with lots of charm and a population of only about 1,800. The RD does a fine job of seeing to all details. The pasta night benefitted the local 4H club and the guest speakers were very interesting. Being a Montanan, the course was as I had expected with expansive views of the Big Sky Country. The hilly, gravel course was in good condition and the aid stations plentiful with friendly volunteers who had to get up really early to get in position. The race SWAG was great. This event really has fun and friendly vibes, and I wholeheartedly recommend it if you are looking to experience a race in Montana. There are no age group awards but the overall winners did receive a very cool cast of a grizzly footprint. The finisher medals were a nice-quality, metal, grizzly claw.
J. W. from Ames, Iowa (7/31/2010) "Wonderful, high plains experience" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 If you are looking for a small (fewer than 100 marathoners) event through the high prairie with the front range in the background and a warm and friendly race organization and town, this is one you should consider. The course is basically and out-and-back (this year) on gravel roads, largely uphill out and the reverse back, so its a great course for negative splits. Not a fast course, by any means, so it is best to deep-six the wrist watch and enjoy the day. There aren't really any spectators, but we were pampered by energetic and friendly volunteers at every aid station. The RD, Syd, is quite on top of things, so everything from packet pickup to the finish line was expertly implemented. The omnipresent grizzly theme added just a touch of whimsy, but no runners were eaten. We highly recommmend the Stage Stop, from which we walked to and from the start/finish.
J. K. from Portland, OR (8/8/2009) "unforgettable" (about: 2009) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I was passing through Montana and decided to pop into Choteau for the half-marathon. The people were SO incredibly nice, energetic, and accommodating - to me, that is what I'll remember most about Choteau! This was the first year with this course and there were a few anomalies: The gravel course is tricky, and the hill at the turn-around point for the half-marathon seemed odd. Also, I could have used a few more water stations. I would carry water if you're a big drinker or if it's a hot day. And, as others have surely mentioned, don't expect a PR. Spectators are virtually nonexistent - not a bad thing, but be ready to entertain yourself! Having said that, I would absolutely recommend the Grizzly to anyone! Go for the natural beauty and small-town charm and hospitality.
Steve White from Louisiana (8/4/2009) "Beautiful out-and-back course" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Being a flat-lander, this course was challenging but beautiful, with the Teton Mountain Ridge in the background. It's basically you and the wide open plains. Don't let the small-town marathon scare you; they did a great job, had a big turn out, and it was well organized. The socks, cotton shirt and logo gym bag are very nice. I want to thank the people at the water stations and on the four-wheelers - very well done. The finish line was simple and the medal was good. The Station Stop, Log Cabin Cafe and Elks Country Cafe were the places to stay and eat. If you go north to see Glacier National Park, stop at the Lighthouse Restaurant in Valier to get a bite to eat. Negatives: The race was one mile to long; numerous runners had GPS watches and they all had the same measurement, including myself. Except for the first and last two miles, it's a gravel course. Be ready for the hill at mile 3; it's kind of steep.
M. W. from Gainesville, FL (12/24/2008) "My hardest race so far but one of my favorites" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The hardest course I have ever done (even compared to Bataan) because of altitude (I'm a flat-lander), gravel on most of the course, and that one darn hill at mile 18. Every muscle in both of my legs and feet cramped on that hill! Still, the town is wonderful, the race director has everything well in hand, the Stage Stop Inn is a better than average place to stay in a small town, and there are lots of excellent dining choices. Small-town feel but big-race challenge. Even though this checks off Montana for me, I can hardly wait to revisit this state and try this race again.
B. H. from Austin, Tx. (9/16/2008) "Favorite marathon so far" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this race because it was in the summer and in Montana. I'm so glad it fit into my schedule. I've run some of the largest races in the country but this was, by far, the friendliest and prettiest I've completed. This race doesn't pretend to be a large-town, big race. It's run on the outside of town, down country roads, with little to no spectators. The people manning the water and snack stations were friendly, helpful, and supportive. I didn't give the spectators 5 stars for how many there were, but for how nice and cheerful they were as they stood outside in the heat handing out water. The race starts out with nice, low temperatures for August but quickly climbs as the sun rises. I would suggest some boxes along the road that could be brought back to the start so that runners could strip down as they went along. The hill at mile 19 is tough, but I'd have to say that it's not as bad as expected. I think there were a few hills before 19 that hurt more. I was worried about seeing a grizzly during the race but made up for it by trekking up to Glacier National Park after the marathon. Whoever stood at mile 24 in the grizzly costume in those high temps deserves a special prize. I would gladly repeat this state just to run this marathon.
Lowell Hawkes from Pocatello, Idaho USA (8/19/2008) "Great Organization, Great People!" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Two years ago at our local marathon, two 50-Staters told us the Grizzly Marathon was their favorite of the 30-40 they had run. Their instant quick recommendation was what got us there this year. For a small marathon, this one is organized as good as it gets - immaculate, precise planning, nice people, a great shirt, quality medal, quality night-before feed at the Baptist Church by the 4-H kids, aid stations manned by bona fide cowboys and locals, and a dang demanding course with a grizzly trained only to run between packs of runners! Wow, what a race! If you came to this one just for the beautiful drive up from Helena along big winding roads bounded by beautiful mountains, it would be well worth it. All the things that are good about a small-town marathon are there in Choteau, Montana. A choice of clean motels at fair prices, a quality grocery store with fresh fruit and produce for race planning, and a steakhouse rated the best in Montana by American Cowboy magazine for post-race dining and recovery. It is all there. This one is well worth the drive and is a very good marathoner's value.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 > ]



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D. C. from Chicago, IL (8/16/2011) "Great Small Race!" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Don't let the small size of this race scare you off, this is a terrific race with great organization and a great layout. When they say no fans, they mean it - we're talking ZERO fans along the route. But what a beautiful course! Some tough rolling hills, but a net downhill overall. Gravel roads were fine to run on, not the issue other posts make it out to be. This is a race I would highly recommend to 50 Staters - the people in Montana could not be friendlier. Point to point this year, so you have to be on the bus pretty early (4 a.m.), but running through the scenic ranch country at sun up was pretty awesome. Overall, one of my favorite races.
Tyson Poskochil from Lincoln, NE (4/24/2011) "Truly Grizzly!" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This race begins and ends in the town of Choteau, but the majority of the race is run on rock and gravel roads in the rural countryside. Very scenic, as you progress through many rolling hills on this out-and-back journey. Organization was wonderful. Aid stations are adequately stocked and roaming volunteers do a great job monitoring everyone's progress. Pre- and post-race meals are well-organized and the workshop/presentation session on the eve of the marathon is both beneficial and enjoyable. Since it is a rural area, you won't see many spectators, but the hospitality is wonderful and the places to visit in the Choteau area are an added bonus that I would definitely run it again. Hills can be very challenging, however, and it would be beneficial for any participant to train for them prior to running. Kudos to Syd for making this race a small-town sensation!
Kami K. from Corpus Christi, TX (8/4/2010) "Tough, yet fun!" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Grizzly Marathon Choteau, MT Saturday, July 31, 2010 6:00 a.m. I flew into Great Falls via Denver on Thursday. From the airport to Choteau was a 55-mile drive. I stayed in Stage Stop Inn, a nice hotel with super friendly staff, located within a short walking distance to the start/finish of the marathon. Packet pick-up was on Friday afternoon/evening at the elementary school, where the Spring Creek 4-H Club served a pretty good pre-race spaghetti dinner, which seemed like a fund-raising event ($8 per person). The race packet included a technical short-sleeved T-shirt, an embroidered race ski hat, and a few other items. The start and finish were at the elementary school. Race day temperatures ranged from high 50's to mid 80's. The 6:00 a.m. start was very helpful. Mother Nature was kind to us by keeping the sun hidden behind the clouds for a while. The air was dry. In short, the weather turned out to be much better than what I had expected it to be. As advertised, the out-and-back course was hilly and challenging. The first 1.8 and last 1.2 miles were on paved roads; the rest of the course was on gravel roads. The route was scenic and I found myself amazed by the Big Sky Country. There were more hills on the way out than on the way back, which made the run suitable for negative splits. There were aid stations every other mile. There were mile markers. As expected, there was no crowd support. The route was very well monitored by volunteers on all-terrain vehicles. We shared the first several miles with half marathoners. Each finisher received a nice medallion in the shape of bear claw. There were plenty of recovery food items and drinks at the finish. In short, this was a well organized running event for which I salute the race director and her staff of friendly and cheerful volunteers. There were 76 (42 male, 34 female) finishers with the average finish time of 4:49:47.
C. H. from Montana (8/1/2010) "A nice surprise!" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This race was not originally on our to-do list until some friends from Virginia signed up for the marathon. Since they would be in the state we decided to join them by doing the half marathon (our 9th). We totally enjoyed the weekend! Choteau is the quintessential small western Montana town with lots of charm and a population of only about 1,800. The RD does a fine job of seeing to all details. The pasta night benefitted the local 4H club and the guest speakers were very interesting. Being a Montanan, the course was as I had expected with expansive views of the Big Sky Country. The hilly, gravel course was in good condition and the aid stations plentiful with friendly volunteers who had to get up really early to get in position. The race SWAG was great. This event really has fun and friendly vibes, and I wholeheartedly recommend it if you are looking to experience a race in Montana. There are no age group awards but the overall winners did receive a very cool cast of a grizzly footprint. The finisher medals were a nice-quality, metal, grizzly claw.
J. W. from Ames, Iowa (7/31/2010) "Wonderful, high plains experience" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 If you are looking for a small (fewer than 100 marathoners) event through the high prairie with the front range in the background and a warm and friendly race organization and town, this is one you should consider. The course is basically and out-and-back (this year) on gravel roads, largely uphill out and the reverse back, so its a great course for negative splits. Not a fast course, by any means, so it is best to deep-six the wrist watch and enjoy the day. There aren't really any spectators, but we were pampered by energetic and friendly volunteers at every aid station. The RD, Syd, is quite on top of things, so everything from packet pickup to the finish line was expertly implemented. The omnipresent grizzly theme added just a touch of whimsy, but no runners were eaten. We highly recommmend the Stage Stop, from which we walked to and from the start/finish.
J. K. from Portland, OR (8/8/2009) "unforgettable" (about: 2009) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I was passing through Montana and decided to pop into Choteau for the half-marathon. The people were SO incredibly nice, energetic, and accommodating - to me, that is what I'll remember most about Choteau! This was the first year with this course and there were a few anomalies: The gravel course is tricky, and the hill at the turn-around point for the half-marathon seemed odd. Also, I could have used a few more water stations. I would carry water if you're a big drinker or if it's a hot day. And, as others have surely mentioned, don't expect a PR. Spectators are virtually nonexistent - not a bad thing, but be ready to entertain yourself! Having said that, I would absolutely recommend the Grizzly to anyone! Go for the natural beauty and small-town charm and hospitality.
Steve White from Louisiana (8/4/2009) "Beautiful out-and-back course" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Being a flat-lander, this course was challenging but beautiful, with the Teton Mountain Ridge in the background. It's basically you and the wide open plains. Don't let the small-town marathon scare you; they did a great job, had a big turn out, and it was well organized. The socks, cotton shirt and logo gym bag are very nice. I want to thank the people at the water stations and on the four-wheelers - very well done. The finish line was simple and the medal was good. The Station Stop, Log Cabin Cafe and Elks Country Cafe were the places to stay and eat. If you go north to see Glacier National Park, stop at the Lighthouse Restaurant in Valier to get a bite to eat. Negatives: The race was one mile to long; numerous runners had GPS watches and they all had the same measurement, including myself. Except for the first and last two miles, it's a gravel course. Be ready for the hill at mile 3; it's kind of steep.
M. W. from Gainesville, FL (12/24/2008) "My hardest race so far but one of my favorites" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The hardest course I have ever done (even compared to Bataan) because of altitude (I'm a flat-lander), gravel on most of the course, and that one darn hill at mile 18. Every muscle in both of my legs and feet cramped on that hill! Still, the town is wonderful, the race director has everything well in hand, the Stage Stop Inn is a better than average place to stay in a small town, and there are lots of excellent dining choices. Small-town feel but big-race challenge. Even though this checks off Montana for me, I can hardly wait to revisit this state and try this race again.
B. H. from Austin, Tx. (9/16/2008) "Favorite marathon so far" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran this race because it was in the summer and in Montana. I'm so glad it fit into my schedule. I've run some of the largest races in the country but this was, by far, the friendliest and prettiest I've completed. This race doesn't pretend to be a large-town, big race. It's run on the outside of town, down country roads, with little to no spectators. The people manning the water and snack stations were friendly, helpful, and supportive. I didn't give the spectators 5 stars for how many there were, but for how nice and cheerful they were as they stood outside in the heat handing out water. The race starts out with nice, low temperatures for August but quickly climbs as the sun rises. I would suggest some boxes along the road that could be brought back to the start so that runners could strip down as they went along. The hill at mile 19 is tough, but I'd have to say that it's not as bad as expected. I think there were a few hills before 19 that hurt more. I was worried about seeing a grizzly during the race but made up for it by trekking up to Glacier National Park after the marathon. Whoever stood at mile 24 in the grizzly costume in those high temps deserves a special prize. I would gladly repeat this state just to run this marathon.
Lowell Hawkes from Pocatello, Idaho USA (8/19/2008) "Great Organization, Great People!" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grizzly Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Two years ago at our local marathon, two 50-Staters told us the Grizzly Marathon was their favorite of the 30-40 they had run. Their instant quick recommendation was what got us there this year. For a small marathon, this one is organized as good as it gets - immaculate, precise planning, nice people, a great shirt, quality medal, quality night-before feed at the Baptist Church by the 4-H kids, aid stations manned by bona fide cowboys and locals, and a dang demanding course with a grizzly trained only to run between packs of runners! Wow, what a race! If you came to this one just for the beautiful drive up from Helena along big winding roads bounded by beautiful mountains, it would be well worth it. All the things that are good about a small-town marathon are there in Choteau, Montana. A choice of clean motels at fair prices, a quality grocery store with fresh fruit and produce for race planning, and a steakhouse rated the best in Montana by American Cowboy magazine for post-race dining and recovery. It is all there. This one is well worth the drive and is a very good marathoner's value.

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Marathon Details - Grizzly Marathon