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☰
The Montana Governor's Cup Marathon Runner Comments
Back to The Montana Governor's Cup Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.7 
Organization 4.1 
Spectators 2.7
Number of comments: 31 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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J. V. from Billings, MT
(6/12/2008)
"Not impressed" (about: 2008)
1 previous marathon
| 1 The Montana Governor's Cup Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This was my first marathon. Some of the aid stations near the end were totally deserted with no water or aid. All that was left was an empty table. I guess I should have packed my own supplies. The marathon finisher t-shirts at the finish line were great - if you wear an extra small, which I don't. The food in the marathon finisher tent was less than desirable. I guess maybe I have high standards or something. | |
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Grannie Annie Singer from Suffern, NY
(6/10/2008)
"Big Sky Country" (about: 2008)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 The Montana Governor's Cup Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was 50-state club marathon #48 -- only 2 more to go (though who's counting?). When I started this marathon business, I met a true gentleman who showed me the ropes. To my surprise, Walter and I took the early start for this race without even planning to meet up. This is one beautiful, scenic course... the big sky above and the ground below... beautiful. The winds were strong and never gave any marathoners a break, and even the horses along the course had their backs to the wind. Helena is a wonderful town, and the folks sure are nice. The expo was very helpful, and two shirts are given out (one a tech). Nice medal too, though I don't know about awards, as they were not given out. In all of my 60+ marathons, I give this a 9 out of 10. Great finish through town. Ahh, did Grannie Annie mention the beautiful mountains...? | |
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J. L. from Billings, MT
(6/9/2008)
"Enjoyable" (about: 2008)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon. I chose this because I live in Montana and wanted to participate in the finest the state had to offer. The course workers were excellent, with plenty of water, gel and porta-potties. Spectators were sparse until the end, but the course workers were very supportive. I liked the course. It was flat, except at the very end. It ran though town into scenic farmland and then back into town. Miss Montana hung metals around finishers' necks. The finishers' shirts were nice. I'm very happy to have run it for my first marathon. There were only a couple of drawbacks. First, there was no food left in the long distance runners tent at the end. I had to eat with the 5K racers (bananas, oranges and apples). There weren't that many marathoners and I think they could have beefed up the food a little better. Also, for the finishers' shirts, I got the last extra large and it barely fit. They need to mix in some XXLs. However, overall I give this a very good rating. Good job to the organizers and workers. | |
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C. M. from Montana
(6/7/2008)
"Good race, bad course" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 4-5 The Montana Governor's Cup Marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I've run this marathon four times, including today! The weather was brutal with a strong cold headwind that must have been gusting between 20-30 mph for the last 11 miles of the race. But that's weather and there's nothing you can do about that. The volunteers are wonderful and spectators and fellow racers are very supportive. And Helena is a great host city. However, I prefer the old course that began at Marysville. The new course may be flat (except for the slight incline at the end of the race), but the old one was much more scenic, if challenging. It's so difficult to run miles and miles on a road to nowhere and then have to turn around and run back on the same road. Mentally, it's a killer. And who wants to see all the people ahead of them (and on their way back) while you're still plodding along? And because of that, I don't think I'll run the race again (unless they change the course). I hate to be negative, because I really like the Governor's Cup - it's the first marathon I ever ran (in '96) so it holds a special place in my heart. I just can't bear to run that course again (I've run the "new" course in '07 and '08). One huge improvement is the t-shirts, especially the design for the marathoners - they are definitely the best I've seen from this race. All in all, it's a well-run event. There are lots of aid stations, local police ensure runner safety by blocking roads, excellent volunteers and great spectators at the end of the race. Unfortunately, the course is mediocre at best. | |
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C. C. from Booneville, MS
(6/10/2007)
"great, level, sunny, Western marathon" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 The Montana Governor's Cup Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 This marathon is generally level and nice to run. It started cool, but it really warmed up by the finish. My only problem was a short side run. It was not on the map and I had to go back from an aid station to run it causing me to run an extra mile or so. I don't know if everyone ran this little spur or not. The volunteers were all great and very helpful in every way. I am told that this is a new course and I greatly admire it compared to what I have heard of the old course. | |
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Duane Morse from Phoenix, Arizona
(6/4/2007)
"Pretty course - not too difficult" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 The Montana Governor's Cup Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 This race is just one of many that raises money for health care for poor kids in the state. The marathoners and half-marathoners run together for the first 8.4 miles before the two groups split and go their separate ways. Most of the race takes place on wide country roads among farms and ranches with green hills and snow-capped mountains in the distance. Though the elevation ranges from 4100 feet at the start to just under 3700 at the middle, and the only noticeable hill is at the start (and, therefore, at the finish). Spectators were few and far between, but the aid stations were plentiful. Awards were given only to the first-place finishers overall, even for the well-attended races, but marathon finishers got a "finisher's" shirt separate from the standard race T-shirt. The finisher's medallion was especially nice. The weather is chancy in the Rockies, but that's true for most marathons anyway. This year it was sunny and in the mid 50s at the start and near 70 when I finished, but the light breezes kept me comfortable throughout. | |
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s. s. from Pocatello, Idaho
(6/3/2007)
"Friendly city - interesting for a first marathon" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 The Montana Governor's Cup Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 My first marathon - info received in a timely manner but my only complaint is that there was not enough support during the race. For slow runners like myself, water at stations was too warm and they ran out of Gu - even though they said they had a ton of it. Glad I brought my own. I think all should get medals and just one shirt at the end for finishing; save the money for the cause - who needs 2 of the same shirt? People at aid stations were the best.... | |
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Adela Mehlberg from Great Falls, MT
(7/11/2006)
"My first marathon - what a great experience" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 The Montana Governor's Cup Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am SO glad I ran my first race here - I will always look back on this event with fondness and will definitely do it again. I rated the course with 4 stars only because I don't know what a good marathon course is. Everyone was great, friendly and supportive. It seemed well-organized and it was so much fun. Thanks everyone! | |
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S. C. from Montana
(6/21/2006)
"Great race on a beautiful day" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 The Montana Governor's Cup Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The course is really beautiful, and well supported with water/PowerAde/Gu stops staffed along the way. People were very friendly, and the weather was cool and not too sunny - perfect in my book. My only disappointment was the Park Plaza, marked (but no longer) Holiday Inn. Non-smoking rooms smelled smoky, and one side of the hotel was exposed to the pre-race-night rock band until 11:30 p.m. I'd stay somewhere else next time - and I'd come back to this course again. | |
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Dick White from Cocoa Beach, FL
(6/12/2006)
"Downhill with the Wind at your Back!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 The Montana Governor's Cup Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Helena, MT became my 31 state in my quest for 50. Helena had the most hospitable host hotel, the friendliest array of runners, and the best, most scenic course of all that I've done. |
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