Governor’s Cup

Sometimes all it takes to start a fire is a little spark. That’s the thought behind the Governor’s Cup road races, which are held annually on the second Saturday in June. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana presents the annual event in Helena to provide people with a fun and festive opportunity to celebrate the benefits of exercise and healthy lifestyle choices with their friends and neighbors. The Governor’s Cup serves as the main fundraising event for The Caring Foundation of Montanasm, with all race registration fees going to the foundation. If you would like to donate to the foundation, please click here. For nearly 50 years, the Governor’s Cup has sparked fires inside the bellies of numerous participants in the marathon, marathon relay, half marathon, 10K, 5K and Kid’s Marathon and Fun Run.

Schedule:

4:15 – 5:45 a.m. – Marathon/Half Marathon/Marathon Relay bus loading
301 S. Park Ave., Buses will leave promptly at 4:45 a.m. (marathon/marathon relay) and 5:45 a.m. (half marathon)

6 a.m. − Marathon and Marathon Relay Start – Must take bus to starting line.
Buses will leave from Lewis and Clark County Library at 4:45 a.m.

7 a.m. − Half Marathon Start – Must take bus to starting line.
Buses will leave from Lewis and Clark County Library at 5:45 a.m.
Please note there is NO out-of-town packet pickup the morning of the race for the marathon and half marathon.

7-7:45 a.m. − 10K Out-of-town Packet Pickup
Packet pickup for out-of-town 10K participants. Located at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church at 512 Logan Street.

8 a.m. − 10K  Start
Behind the Holter Museum on Cruse Avenue.

8:45-9:45 a.m. − 5K Out-of-town Packet Pickup
Packet pickup for out-of-town 5K participants. Located at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church at 512 Logan Street.

10 a.m. − 5K Start
Behind the Holter Museum on Cruse Avenue.

Course Info:

Marathon

The Governor’s Cup marathon course is a point-to-point 26.2-mile adventure – a USATF certified Boston Qualifier – starting about 3 miles southwest of Jefferson City near the mining Ghost Town of Wickes. It features a moderate downhill start in a beautiful rural setting. Runners will encounter a demanding section of hills from Miles 16 to 20, and will face Cardiac Hill at the start of Mile 24. This marathon isn’t your run-of-the mill course designed to make qualifying for Boston easy, but if you lock up a qualifier here, you certainly will be set up to run extremely well in Beantown or wherever your running takes you next. If you can handle Cardiac Hill, Heartbreak Hill shouldn’t scare you.

Click Here for Course Map

Half Marathon

The Governor’s Cup half marathon course is a 13.1-mile journey starting in Clancy and joining up with the marathon route less than a mile into the race. Runners will encounter a demanding hill section at Miles 3 to 7, and will face the aptly named Cardiac Hill at the start of Mile 11. Participants looking for a beautiful setting and a challenge will arrive at the finish line satisfied and hungry for more. The net elevation loss is 162 feet (4,272 to 4,110) and the cumulative elevation gain throughout the race is 638 feet.

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10K

The Governor’s Cup 10K course starts in downtown Helena near the Holter Museum on Cruse Avenue and finishes on the Capital City’s historic Last Chance Gulch. The challenging course features stunning views of Mount Helena, the State Capitol and other historic sites in the Capital City.

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5K

The Governor’s Cup 5K course starts in downtown Helena near the Holter Museum on Cruse Avenue and finishes on the Capital City’s historic Last Chance Gulch, where gold was first discovered in 1864. The challenging course features stunning views of Mount Helena, the State Capitol and other historic sites in the Capital City.

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Click Here for Registration