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Grizzly Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Grizzly Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.1 
Organization 4.8 
Spectators 2.6
Number of comments: 43 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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J. B. from Billings, MT
(9/19/2007)
"My first Grizzly, but not the last." (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Grizzly Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first Grizzly Marathon and it was somewhat a last-minute decision. I was partly waiting to see how the wildfires would react. The marathon is on gravel (except the first 7 miles) and I was fine with it. If you want lots of crowds, find another race. The folks that were here were very enthusiastic... cheerleaders at the mile 19 turnaround (a nasty little hill). I ran with someone who had run the course before and they said the gravel portions were in better shape than previous races. The only downside was that the smoke from the wildfires obscured the views. So, that means I HAVE to go back and do it again. Plus the organizers and volunteers were fantastic. | |
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B. S. from Missouri
(9/3/2007)
"A must-do race" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grizzly Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 My friend and I flew from Oklahoma city to run the half. (I live in Missouri.) I had always dreamed of visiting Montana! Of course, in my mind all of Montana was supposed to look like Glacier National Park, so I was somewhat confused by the "treeless rolling plains" of the "high mountain desert"! But I forgot all about my need for trees after spending just a few hours in the lovely, quaint town of Choteau! It reminded me of Mayberry and I expected to see Sheriff Andy Taylor walking down the street at any moment! Our hotel was in Choteau and the staff was spectacular! I have stayed at many hotels at many races and never been treated as warm and wonderful as I was by the folks at the "Stagestop Inn"! This was an awesome town and I can't say enough good about it! From the fresh, home-baked pies at the Log Cabin Restaurant to the Choteau citizens walking and cycling down the quiet city streets, Choteau found a place in my heart and I will cherish it always! And the ice cream... oh my!! Everyone and I mean everyone we saw welcomed us and wished us luck in the race! As for the race itself, the gravel, the smoke, the hills... well "I survived the burn" and I got an awesome (my favorite) t-shirt to prove it! Even had a grouse run with me and got my picture taken with a grizzly bear at mile 9! (OK, it was a girl in a bear suit.) It's true, there were almost no spectators. But the few that were there were more supportive than some of the big-city crowds I've seen at big races! And the finisher's medal was big... really big! Glacier National Park was close by (about 90 miles north) and so we drove up and spent the day.... Wow... that's some of God's best work! The Grizzly Marathon is a must-do race in my book.... I hope to return someday! Heck, I'd like to move to Choteau! | |
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Chuck B. from Nebraska
(8/18/2007)
"I survived the burn..." (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Grizzly Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I just finished running the full today. It was one of the better marathons that I have run, despite the smoke caused by all the fires that were burning throughout Montana. The race started at 6:30 a.m. under perfect weather conditions of 56 degrees with a slight breeze from the NW. Unfortunately, the direction of the breeze brought the smoke our way from a fire that was about 12 miles away. Sometime during the race, however, the winds had shifted, which cleared the air for the most part. Even at its worst, the air quality was still OK. The course starts out on a slight decline for the first 8 miles or so, making for some good start times. Then the country roads kick in.... Gravel the rest of the way. Finding and staying in a good tire path is the key, which requires some shifting of lanes or tire paths, if you will, at times. Once reaching the gravel, the course consists of rolling hills... nothing too bad and very manageable - that is until you reach the 18-19 mile marks. What a killer: the top of the hill is a turn-around at mile marker 19. If you reach it in time (under 3 hours), they will give you a pin that is about an inch in diameter. The words read, "Hillus Horribillis" and "Grizzly Marathon" with a grizzly in the center. I loved this race. The organization was terrific; no spectators, however (I don't train with spectators any way). But the volunteers were terrific - thank you all for a wonderful experience. I was expecting a slow time for me here, but the cool temps and low humidity conditions offset the time I gave up maneuvering over the course. It was a relief from the high temps and humidity that I have been training in all summer long. AWESOME TIME! THANKS!!!!!!!!!! | |
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c. b. from East Coaster
(7/4/2007)
"Montana a Very Memorable Experience" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grizzly Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 What are 130 marathoners and equally as many half-marathoners doing in the middle of no where - Choteau, Mt - with a population a meager 1,000? Running, of course. Everyone comes out for a different reason; at least 40% were running this marathon as they were on their quest to complete 50 state marathons. Since there are only a very few races in Montana, this one is used as a "collection" race. I met an incredible number of people that had run between 35 and an incredible 100 races! I know that a "wacko" meter exists, but I didn't know how far into the red zone some have taken it. This loony has no desire to complete 50 states. About the race, it was run 20 miles outside of a VERY small-town called Choteau (show-tow). The race was to start at 6:30 a.m. so that meant all participants had to be at the start around 5:30 a.m. About 40 minutes away from our hotel. It was quite cold at the start ~45-48 degrees. Once the sun came up, it warmed nearly 20 degrees in the next hour. Before my 10th mile in was very hot and the sun was blinding. Most people knew about this (why didn't anyone inform me), and if you did not wear sunglasses or a hat you had a hard time focusing ahead. This race was hailed as a chance to meet nature (specifically grizzlies at a safe distance) and other animals, while enjoying a beautiful run in the Montana Front Range of the Rockies. We were warned numerous times what to do if we saw a grizzly (stay far away and back away slowly), if we startled a grizzly at close range (put your arms out to appear bigger - how the hell do runners do this in skimpy shorts and tee's), and if we got between a grizzly mother and cub (quietly submit to death as it will come quick and painfully). We were trained about how to spot them also - a large hump over the shoulder denotes grizzly or brown bear. As bizarre as this may sound, I was looking forward to my encounter(s). No narrow escapes with any bears, or other animals. I did step over a squished snake measuring about 7'. That was it. I am not even sure if I saw a bird in 3+ hours. If bugs and runners do not count, the landscape was devoid of life. What I did see was lots of gravel. Gravel in every conceivable size. The 1st 7 miles were flat and on asphalt. The next 19 miles were on gravel and rocks with long rolling hills. Imagine running through a stream without water, take a step and slip, take a step and slip... and proceed like this for 40,000 more steps. Two miles had rocks and no gravel, and no matter how you prepare, you cannot train to run on rocks. Although I did not find it painful, it was hard to feel comfortable and maintain a confident gait on these stones. Since we ran the entire marathon on ranches (one of them was David Letterman's) there were cattle gates every mile or so. A cattle gate is a series of 10" rolling pin objects built into the ground so the cattle will not cross them but a truck can easily roll over them. Boards were put down so the runners could pass over them without breaking an ankle. I saw no cattle, although we have seen more cows on this trip then ever before. The course was difficult. The 2 painful hills were midway through the race where you climbed for about 4 miles straight - no relief. The 900 vertical feet stretched over many cattle gates and hills. The most demoralizing aspect of these hills were that you could see them for miles and you knew what was coming long before you got there. I still do not remember the decline but they tell us that we did come down the same vertical distance. Then the ultimate was at 19 where you had to go up a 15-degree pitch for about 200 yards. If you finished the 19-mile hill in less than 3 hours, you received a grizzly bear pin (wow, a pin - now you know why I torture myself). The pin is labeled "Hillus Horribullis"; I made it in 2:37 and did not see the girl handing out the pins. Near tears I found her, as I was not leaving this hill until I was PINNED! By the way, I also missed the girl dressed as a grizzly bear, a major disappointment. The guy in front of me was so dazed that I saw him run off without his pin - I was too tired and not in the right frame of mind to even tell him. I think I realized it about halfway down. Let me tell you about the spectators in Montana. To sum it up in a word NONE. Besides the 8 aid stations, there was not a single one - I mean nobody. Why would there be any? We were in the middle of freakin' nowhere, on ranches that span 100's of square miles. They also closed the course so family was unable to watch until the finale. You can see to end of the horizon if there is not a mountain obstructing your view. Hay fields in most directions. Thus, I spent a lot of time talking to the few water/aid station folks that showed up. The scenery is remarkable, it look like a dessert without the sand. Huge hills and endless valleys that go on forever. The mountain range that we faced for most of the race was truly breathtaking, but who had time to look at it as I was watching my feet navigate the gravel? Seriously, it was fun but harder then I anticipated. About 130 full marathoners showed up; I assume all or virtually everyone finished. Most years everyone finishes. I finished 14th in 3:46, and 5th in my age category (as my kids like to say, "old age category"). No Boston qualifying time, but hey, who comes to almost the end of the United States to pull down a Boston time? How's that for a juicy rationalization? | |
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Louis BEAUDOIN from Canmore, Alberta
(10/10/2006)
"Cannot ask for better" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grizzly Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This race and the everything about it were just great, from the pasta dinner, to the stations, to the people in Choteau. Again, this is not a big-town race and that's why we came here, but the course was challenging and the view from the road (gravel) was out of this world. Thanks again. | |
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C. W. from Bigfork, MT
(8/29/2006)
"Awesome scenery, great support, avoid the bearscat" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grizzly Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the best. Great hills to surge or slink up and down - 11 miles running ever closer to the Rocky Mt. front, with the rest of the race stretching range. If you like rural races, or want an introduction to rural races, this is the best. Local families were caring and friendly, with plenty of food even for those of us way at the back - thanks especially to the girl willing to run home to get me lotion, and her mom for reaching into her purse for the lotion she had with her... and especially to the organizers who treated us slow-feets with respect. Great support, great feeling, awesome views. A hill-and-gravel-road challenge to return to; I can PR somewhere else. | |
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Tyson Liskow from Laramie Wyoming
(8/21/2006)
"Run this race." (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Grizzly Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon. All I can say is that it was incredible. The people are the friendliest in the world (my girlfriend and I stayed in the home of a local family) and the race was beautiful. Well worth the 15-hour drive. | |
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Terry Sentinella from Washington State
(1/7/2006)
"Great race" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grizzly Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This marathon is exactly what the race director said it would be. It was a tough course as I expected. Would I do it again? Definitely! The aid stations had snacks, energy gels, energy drinks, and water, much more than big-city marathons. The feast after the marathon was one of the best I have seen. One of the participants collapsed after he finished the marathon, and the response from the aid vehicle was very fast. Running a marathon at high altitude with a constant wind will always be tough. The race director and his wife were very accommodating and did a great job of making sure everyone was well fed and taken care of. For hospitality at its finest, run the Grizzly. | |
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ML VandeRiet from Weatherford,Texas
(10/20/2005)
"What An Adventure!!" (about: 2005)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I could not think of a better state to run my very first half marathon!! I drove a distance of 3,700 miles round trip to Choteau, and it was worth every mile and every penny I spent on gas!! The town of Choteau was wonderful, and the people were the best; what a wonderful stay it was!! The course was rough, but I run on gravel everyday, so that was no big deal.... The rest stops were great!! I can't wait for August 2006!! | |
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Terry Pescosolido from Columbus, OH
(9/1/2005)
"Brutal course" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Grizzly Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 This was my 27th marathon, and Montana my 12th state in my quest to run the 50 states. Pre-race. Decent race packets, although the race shirt is only so-so. Pre-race meal was a superb pasta dinner with delicious brownies for dessert. The race was pretty well-organized. Good number of porta-potties. It was questionable strategy to start the half-marathoners at the same time a small distance in front of the marathoners. Even though the routes soon split, the lead marathoners still crashed into the back end of half-marathoners. This needs to be changed. Water stops were adequate. Post-race food was very good. The course. Very scenic. The first ~7 miles were on pavement. Then 3-4 miles of extremely rough, big gravel (rocky) road. Then the rest of the race was packed gravel road, and included some significant hills. The last 5-6 miles (flat) were all into a stiff headwind. Spectators were non-existent. The rough section (mentioned above) was the absolute worst 'non-natural' running surface I've ever experienced. I don't mind tough courses with naturally occurring challenges, but having to run on a road covered with large loose gravel rock for 3-4 miles, and worrying about twisting an ankle with each step, was quite irritating, and sure took a lot away from enjoying the run. |
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