2026 Challenge Reflection #5 :
Missoula Marathon Multi Race Weekend: Tony Banovich 5K, Kids Marathon and Half Marathon in Missoula, Montana - June 2026
When I signed up for the Missoula Half Marathon there were 3 main reasons:
It was in June
My husband was actually off work
It seemed like a big deal
If you’ve been following along, I set myself a pretty audacious goal after my first half marathon in 2026: run a half marathon each month for an entire year. You can read more about that here. So Missoula checked my June box.
My husband is also a law enforcement officer and in the Army National Guard - lucky me, right? (iykyk) This means that weekends off are a rarity, with him working between 2 and 3 every month and at least once he is out of town between Thursday or Friday and late on Sunday. Somehow, this race fell on one of the golden weekends not given in service so my family could be there at the finish line (a bit scary for me but we are fighting our fears one race at a time this year).
Lastly, this was my first race that was going to be “big.” I didn’t really know what that meant aside from the significantly higher price of race entry, official race photos and a multi-day event with a race expo (whatever that meant?) I thought it could be cool to experience - and I was beyond correct.
Missoula Marathon Weekend was purely magical.
Rain, Rain, Go Away (Or Don’t - The Adversity Teaches Us Invaluable Lessons)
Much like my first half marathon in Bozeman, nothing went according to my original plan. Initially, I planned to run this race by myself, enjoying the beautiful weather in Western Montana that late June brings. Luckily, I am not made out of sugar because I would have melted. Missoula poured rain for the entire race weekend. I also went from being mentally prepared to be on the course alone, to celebrating my niece’s first race with her - in the span of about 3 hours.
My niece and I have planned to run a half marathon together in October and have been enjoying hiking/adventuring together while she has been back in the state for the summer vacation from school. She was going to ride with me to Missoula to pick up my race packet and do the free Friday Beer Run as well as check out the Race Expo. I figured this would be easier than taking my two small kids and give her a taste of a race weekend, dipping her toes in before October.
Before I knew it though, my husband was behind the wheel of the truck, the bed packed with three days of clothes and gear for 2 adults, an infant, a child, and a bonus 13 year old, begging to let her run with me for the 5K the next day and the half marathon on Sunday. I was hesitant. She was wildly undertrained and woefully underprepared as I learned over the next 3 days.
But in the spirit of pushing limits this year, I said yes and signed my 13 year old niece up for 2 days of races.
Wild.
Day 1: The Race Expo
All 5 of us piled out at the Expo and I was a bit shell shocked. There were thousands of people winding in and out of the vendors. There was a well organized route that we walked backward through, fighting the tide of everyone who read the well posted signage. When we reached the end entrance, there were well organized tables for the 4 events over the weekend and the volunteers were a well oiled machine, ready to scan my QR codes and hand out assigned bib and shirt.
Unfortunately, I was not a well oiled machine. I did have QR codes but I had 2 children’s entries to the kids marathon, 2 for the 5K, and 2 for the Half Marathon. Not to mention the excited 6 year old, awestruck 13 year old geared to wander off, stroller with a toddler and moderately overstimulated and chronically sleep deprived police officer who had worked the previous 2 nights, scanning the massive crowds as he got his bearings.
We collected our bibs and wandered back through the tables and booths with race specific merch, freebies, shoes, shorts, and endless fuels to try. In the bustle of it all, we missed the start of our Beer Run and I had to cross the Big Three challenge off my bucket list for this year. Oh well.
Day 2: Tony Banovich 5K
The next morning was our first race: The Tony Banovich 5K. As with most larger races, the transportation to the event involved a shuttle. Getting 5 people ready in the morning and to the start line on time (especially in the rain) was drastically different than my normal race morning ritual. It was a bit harried and involved a lot of deep breathing but we made it.
My niece and I made our way to the start line and my husband took the kids to the finish line. The energy was already buzzing and I could see it reflected in my niece’s face. It was at this point that I knew I had made the right choice in letting her join me that weekend.
The route was relatively flat with less than 100 ft of elevation gain and took us around the university district. This provided great views of campus as well as an awesome view of the ‘M’ on the hill.
A Note on The Symbolism of the ‘M’ In Montana College Towns
All 3 of Montana’s major university towns have a historic hillside ‘M’ that marks a popular hiking trail with a panoramic overlook.
Missoula’s ‘M’ marks Mount Sentinel and is the oldest of the three. It was originally built in 1908 by Forestry Club members. The students carved a zigzag trail and hauled up rocks to build the original ‘M.’ Sixty years later, the large concrete ‘M’ that we see today was installed up there. This route is about 1.5 miles round trip with 13 switchbacks and 620 feet of elevation gain in the 0.75 miles up.
Next came Butte’s ‘M’ came in 1910, created by about 50 engineering students, and is up on the Big Butte. It is also the only monument that is illuminated by lights and stays lit up after dark, for the whole town to see. The popular Big Butte Loop is an easy 1.3 miles with 134 feet of elevation gain but to go straight up to the ‘M’ is a steep 0.5 miles up with around 300 feet of elevation gain.
The ‘M’ in Bozeman was the last to be erected in 1915. It is on the iconic Bridger Mountains and was built by engineering students from white limestone rocks. There are two distinct routes to reach this ‘M’; a short steep path (0.5 miles up) and a long winding one (1.5 miles up).
Unfortunately for me, there was a photographer right at this spot and I was too busy looking at the ‘M’ and photographing it to see that I was about to have my first real race photos of me with my phone in my hand - embarassing but laughable.
I crossed the finish line and was shocked by the quality of the medal. The copper metal for the 5K was hefty and beautifully done. Undoubtedly the nicest I had in my collection to date. I couldn’t wait to see what the Half Marathon’s medals looked like the next day.
Day 2: Kids Marathon
After reuniting with my family we prepared for the Kids Marathon. Missoula Kids Marathon was such a cute event. It is designed so that participating youth can log 25 miles in the months leading up to the event and then finish the last 1.2 miles during race weekend at a special event, just for them. The swag for this event was these adorable super hero capes and decoratable bibs for the kids. Plus a medal at the finish line.
My husband took my daughter and I took my son, allowing him to start the race running before popping him back in the stroller and then getting out again to run the last 0.10 mile or so. Watching him cross the finish line made my heart swell. It was such a fun event and honestly those capes are still some of the favorite toys in my house 6 weeks later.
Day 3: Half Marathon
Sunday morning brought the normal race day jitters - with a twist! It turns out that I am really committed to my race morning routine. Trying to get to the shuttles before 5:30am with an entire squad of people was a nightmare for me. I was anxious and the potential of being late drove that anxiety through the roof. The idea of missing the last shuttles made me nauseous and when I saw the traffic as we were 15 minutes behind my original schedule, I was nearly sick.
There was no need. We arrived at 5:45 ish and joined the throngs of runners being loaded onto the 15 rotating school busses that took us to the finish line. We found a tree to stand under and took in the sights. Tens of thousands of runners milled about as the club music from the 2010’s bumped. There was probably over 100 portapotties with lines, 6 trailers for gear bag drop and the pacers weaved through the crowd with their little balloon clusters over their heads and neon pink shirts.
I chewed my gum and headed to the middle of the pack for the start line. It was wild to think that this was only a portion of the runners since the full marathon runners had a different starting line that merged with ours several miles in.
When the gun went out, the pack moved as a lump together, slowly picking up speed. My niece was impatient with my initial pace so I shooed her along and she took off; I was curious when I would see her again. The answer was less than 3 miles later when she texted me, asking where I was and discovering she was only a few hundred feet ahead of me.
From that point forward, we stuck together and I got to experience her first half-marathon at her side.
This half marathon was the first where I was never once alone. My niece and I maintained a position in the middle(ish) of the pack; there was always around 5-15 runners clustered around us, both in front of and behind. This kept us going, as well as the vibe of the event. I’ve had spectators at my other races but nothing quite like this. Even with the drizzly weather, the people of Missoula absolutely turn out for this race. After about mile 4, there was never more than a half mile without groups of cheering people with signs, tents, treats, or music. It was basically a 13 mile long party.
My niece started to wear down about mile 10 or 11 but her attitude was great. For someone with almost no training and zero experience running long distances, she killed it. She summoned her last reserves of energy and powered across the finish line; I chose a more mild finish. But in the crowd I spotted my husband and cheering babies as I crossed into the finish and I once again knew that having them there to cheer me on was something I hadn’t known how badly I needed.
TLDR: My Big Takeaways from My Experience at the Missoula Marathon Weekend
Rain is whatever; this race drizzled the whole time but being wet the entire time really did prepare me for my next race where it poured.
I wish the medals from the races were more different; they’re beautiful but nearly identical for the 5K and the Half Marathon.
The whole community turns out; Missoula basically becomes a massive race expo and its as much an event for the spectators as it is for the runners.
The event is so well organized and executed, I was astounded. For this reason alone, it is on the short list for a repeat next year.
Seeing my niece accomplish her first 13.1 at 13 years old was very very cool. I am glad to have running to bond with her over going forward.
My last race: Beaverhead (Half) Marathon
Next race: Skyline Races Half Marathon (Virtual)
Inspiring read that also made me laugh out loud multiple times! You are such a lovely writer. I ran two half marathons before having my daughter, and literally have not been on a run since then. It's been almost two years. This made me want to buy a jogging stroller and get back at it. :) Thank you!