Glacier Half Marathon
Glacier Half Marathon
June 24, 2023 | East Glacier, MT
June 24, 2023 | East Glacier, MT
Come run this challenging but epically rewarding point-to-point half marathon with some seriously stunning views!
The course runs along the Eastern border of Glacier National Park. You'll climb for the first 5 miles and then it's all downhill from there. Along the way, you'll be rewarded with incredible views of Glacier National Park and the prairies at its base as you climb Looking Glass Hill. You'll gaze at Two Medicine Lake during miles 5-8 and you'll finish on the front lawn of the beautiful and historic Glacier Park Lodge.
Get to Know Your Half Marathon Course
Maps & Elevation
Elevation Note: This is a challenging course! The course includes a 5-mile stretch of steady incline that begins above 5,000ft. Please train with this in mind.
Course Description
The race will start about 1.3 miles east of Kiowa, MT on highway 89.
The entire race will be on pavement except for a couple short sections that run on grass. At Kiowa, the road climbs almost 900 ft. It’s a big climb, but runners will be rewarded with gorgeous views of Glacier National Park, and the prairies at its base as you climb Looking Glass Hill. From mile 5 to mile 10, the course runs downhill while enjoying stunning views of Lower Two Medicine Lake. The last portion has a series of hill-climbs and drops where runners will finish on the front lawn of the Glacier Park Lodge.
The course will be well-marked, but it is your responsibility to stay to the left when running with traffic and be courteous and mindful of cars and other runners. DO NOT step off the course into traffic; you will be disqualified. We want you to stay safe.
Time limit
All runners will have 4 hours to finish the race. That is an 18.5 minute mile - plenty of time for walkers! If at anytime we deem it unsafe and need to pull a runner off the course we would hope for understanding and immediate cooperation. Failure to comply will result in being banned from future events.
Location Note
To be clear, this race doesn't take place inside the National Park. It's difficult to get permission to conduct private business activities on national land, and rightly so.) Having said that, this is about as close to the park as it gets.
Aid Stations (Bring your own cup!)
All aid stations are cup-free so remember to bring your own hydration solution or request a FREE Nathan reusable cup when you register.
Expect about 6 aid stations on the course near mile 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 12 (Exact locations vary). A medic will be stationed typically at the aid station at or near mile 9. Aid stations include toilets, water, Gnarly Hydrate, Honey Stinger gels, basic first aid supplies, and sometimes more. Cups are not provided on course to help reduce waste.
GET INVOLVED
Support Our
Park Communities
Fundraise for your chosen race and your registration fee could be waived. All funds go to Wander Project to support efforts in and around the communities that host our events.
New this year, YOU choose whether the funds you raise support a WP community partner or an organization that matters to you!
Volunteer with Us!
Our amazing volunteers help runners at the race expo, finish line, merch tent, and beyond! Join us for a 3-4hr shift and earn a $50 or $100 credit towards a future race.
Pro-tip: Volunteer at the expo and run the next day OR ask a friend to volunteer and "gift" you the credit (or use it themselves!)
HOW TO PREPARE
Glacier Half Logistics
Come here to prepare for your race weekend!
Bib Pickup Options
Choose your bib pickup option during race registration! If your plans change - don't worry.
Option #1: Race Expo (recommended)
Race expos are held the Friday before the race. They typically run 5-7 hours, allowing you to get your bib at your convenience.
Option #2: Race Morning (not recommended)
We do not recommend waiting to pick up your bib until race morning, but understand that it may be unavoidable.
Race morning bib pickup is located at the start line after your shuttle ride.
Option #3: Shipped Before the Race
There is a cost of $30 if you want to have your bib and shirt mailed to you. We do this as a convenience for runners not wanting to drive to the area early. You can add a shipped bib to your registration until one month before the race by logging into RunSignup, clicking Manage Registration, and Add Ons.
Refunds: Once your package is shipped, you are officially checked in to the race and no longer qualify for our refund, deferment, or transfer options.
Bib Pickup/Race Expo
Date: June 23, 2023
Location: Red Eagle Campground (North of East Glacier Park, MT)
Expo Hours: 12:00-6:00pm
Expo Hours: 12:00-7:00pm
This is a great opportunity to pick up your bib, check out the area, and meet fellow runners. We’ll have our merchandise table set up, so be sure to stop by and say hi! We'll have a variety of swag from race shirts to our favorite Hydro Flasks and everything in-between.
Need to pick up your bib on race morning? Ride the shuttle to the start line and look for the bib pick-up tent!
Bring Your Own Bag
In our ongoing effort to eliminate waste during our races, our expos are bagless events. We encourage you to BYOB (bring your own bag) to hold your bib, race shirt, and any goodies you pick up from the race expo!
The race starts at 6:00 am (MST) sharp. We do not start our races late so please plan enough time to park at Charging Home Stampede Park in Browning, MT and grab a shuttle to the start line.
Friday (Expo)
12:00 PM - Race expo & bib pickup begin at Red Eagle Campground.
4:00 PM - Native Presentation
6:00 PM - Race expo ends
7:00 PM - Bib pickup closes
Saturday (Race Day)
4:00 AM - Runner parking and start line shuttles open at Charging Home Stampede Park.
4:15 AM - Raffles begin near the start
4:30 AM - Bib pickup opens at the start line
5:00 AM - Last start line shuttle leaves!
5:30 AM - Start line bib pickup closes
5:40 AM - Runners line up & last call for gear check
5:45 AM - National Anthem, Blackfeet Honor Song, and Blackfeet Victory Song
6:00 AM - HALF MARATHON BEGINS!
7:00 AM - Spectator parking & shuttles to the finish line begin from Charging Home Stampede Park.
8:45 AM - Awards Ceremony at the finish line
Morning/Afternoon - Shuttles will bring runners and spectators back to the event parking lot in Browning as needed.
Arrive early & get ready with us
We encourage runners to arrive early on race morning. Find a parking spot, grab some Summit Coffee or hot chocolate, and listen for updates from our race announcer (they're the one with the megaphone and early-bird energy)!
Parking, Shuttles, & Runner Drop-off
Parking and shuttles will be located at the Charging Home Stampede Park in Browning, MT on race morning.
Shuttles will return runners to the parking lot after the race. There is absolutely no parking or drop off at the start line or finish line.
*Note: There is no shuttle services from Glacier Park Lodge or the Vacation Races Campground (Red Eagle). Runners will need to drive/carpool to the parking lot in Browning in order to catch the shuttle to the start line.
Finish Line Staging
Shuttles will depart from the finish line at Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier Village back to the parking lot in Browning as runners finish the race.
At the finish line we will have a food box (full of recovery snacks), bananas, and chocolate milk. Please help yourself to one food box, chocolate milk, and banana per runner. There will be water at the finish line, but no cups. Please use your reusable cup or water bottle to fill up at the finish line.
In addition to the expo, the merchandise tent will be set up after the race near the finish line!
We welcome spectators to Glacier - but please note that this is not a spectator friendly course. There is no option to cheer runners on along the course. Instead, all spectators should park with the runners in Browning, MT. Then, hop on a spectator shuttle to the finish line! These shuttles will go round-trip from 7:00am until shortly after the last runner finishes their race.
We recommend downloading the RaceJoy app to track your runner's progress and send them cheers along the way! Once your runner has crossed the finish line, please exit the runner recovery area to avoid crowding. The beverages, supplies, and medical tent at the finish line are for runner use only - thank you!
The most convenient (and most fun) place to stay during race weekend is our Vacation Races Campground! The Vacation Races campground will be located at Red Eagle Campground on the Blackfeet reservation at the south end of Lower Two Medicine Lake (off of Highway 49).
There is plenty of space for campers but keep in mind that this is primitive camping and will be treated like a large group site. You'll share fire pits with neighbors and make new friends!
Note: Runners who are camping will need to drive to the parking area in Browning to catch the shuttle to the start line race morning.
Reservation Info
*Your tent must be packed up and returned by
9:00 am on Sunday! This is a strict check-out time.
Campsite Details
*Damage due to neglect and failure to return your tent at check-out may result in an invoice to cover repairs or replacement.
Campground Pricing
Reservation Type | Flat Rates |
|---|---|
Campsite Only (bring your own tent) | $75 |
Campsite + 4-person Tent Rental | $100 |
Campsite + 6-person Tent Rental | $130 |
Getting to the Start Line
The campground is conveniently near the expo but it is NOT nearby the shuttle pickup for race day or the finish line. Please keep that in mind. You will need to park in Browning on race morning. From there, shuttles will bring you to the start line and back to Browning from the finish line to pick up your car.
- Parking Lot: Charging Home Stampede Park (Browning, MT)
- Shuttles from Browning lot to Start Line: 4:00 - 5:00am
- Shuttles from Finish Line to Browning lot: 7:00am until shortly after the last runner finishes
As nature lovers, we are committed to keeping our events sustainable and managing negative impacts on the environment. Here's how you can help us:
CUP-FREE RACING
Single-use plastic is a huge source of waste at any public event. We have reduced that impact by making our events "cup-free".
What does that mean for you?
Coolers of Water and Gnarly Hydrate (electrolyte drink) are available at all aid stations, but cups will not be provided on course or at the finish line. In order to stay hydrated, we ask you to bring one of the following:
1. Reusable water bottle
2. Nathan reusable cup - These light-weight cups fold into a pocket or waistband. Request one when you sign up to run!
3. Hydration pack - These are refillable backpacks meant for running that allow you to access fluid via a built-in straw.
Stay hydrated on course with a reusable cup!
ZERO WASTE CONTAINERS
You can help us reduce trash by sorting disposable items into the appropriate container.
You’ll notice three containers at our events:
Please avoid putting organic waste and compostable items in the wrong bin. It gets gross to sort through.
Race Results
Visit RunSignup for current and past race results.
Runner times are available ~20 minutes after you finish the race. Keep in mind, the results are not official until all runners have crossed the finish line, and have been reviewed by the event director. Because our age group winners are based on chip time, it is possible to cross the finish line before someone else in your age group while still finishing with a slower time than them.
Top Finisher but missed the awards ceremony? You can request to have your place medal shipped to you!
Got questions about your placement? please email timing@runsum.com.
Photos
Race photos are typically available for FREE via RunSignup the Friday following the week of the race. We will send out an email when they're posted to the album. Past races are available via the link
Share your experiences with us!
Be sure to use #GlacierHalf in any photos you post from the race or your adventures exploring the park so we can share in the fun with you!
Exclusive Glacier Marathon merchandise will be available both at the race expo and near the finish line! When possible, we'll have race merch for sale in our online store after the race is over. Please allow time for us to add items online.
Other events you're Going to Love!
Note: Signing up for each race separately will NOT register you for a Double or Quad. Runners MUST sign up directly for their desired Double or Quad in order to be eligible for the additional swag and medals.
