Course Maps

Cell Service:

There is also NO CELL PHONE SERVICE at the start, finish, or along the course.

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Start / Finish:

All race distances will start from East portal which is about 2 miles from Taft, MT by vehicle. Taft, MT is at exit 5 on the Montana side of Lookout pass along I-90. There is limited parking near the Start/Finish area. Runners may park at East Portal on a fist come - first serve basis. There is overflow parking at the Taft parking lot off the I-90 exit and shuttle buses to the start line area will be available if needed. Look for signs as you exit.

***Please read the athlete guide page regarding the construction detour at exit 5 affecting eastbound traffic

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All Courses:

All courses are out and backs. This is primarily due to not being able to shuttle bus over St. Paul Pass. There is also NO CELL PHONE SERVICE at the start, finish, or along the course. The route is run on a railroad grade that is not steeper than 1.5% along the route. Runners will get a good warm-up running the slight downhill grade before turning around to finish strong back up the gentle grade. A 1.5% grade is the equivalent of 80ft of elevation change over a mile of the route.

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Lights Are Mandatory!

All distances will run through tunnels that are very dark when you are in the middle. If you do not have a headlamp or flashlight with you, you will not be allowed onto the course. Headlamps are also available for purchase during registration and you will be given your fully functioning light at packet pick-up with batteries. If you are bringing your own light, we strongly recommend a light with 500 lumens or more. Please make sure your light has a fresh set of batteries and we recommend turning your light off when you are not in the tunnels to preserve battery. The tunnels are dark!

**Please note that map elevations are not accurate due to the limitations of gps mapping with measuring through tunnels.

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Marathon: (26.2 miles)

Highlights: 1.6 mile long Taft Tunnel, 16 total tunnel sections, 14 trestles, waterfalls, scenic views, 9 aid stations
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The marathon will start out running through the famous Taft Tunnel for the first 1.6 miles. Runners will then exit the tunnel at Roland and hit their first aid station and a self service gear check near mile 2. As they continue past tunnel 21, runners will hit a second aid station near moss creek. After tunnel 24, runners will start to cross a series of trestles. As runners make their way toward Adair they will hit another aid station with a vault toilet just after the aid station. Runners will continue on past another aid station after tunnel 28 and then reaching the turnaround aid station before tunnel 29. All marathon runners must be to the turnaround aid station before 11:30am. Runners will then make their way back along the trail the same way the came. After hitting the Roland aid station for the last time, runners will enter the Taft tunnel for the last 1.6 miles as they run toward the finish at east portal. The Marathon course will finish at East Portal.
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Marathon: Runners are required to finish in 5 hours (before 2:00pm). This assumes a Marathon runner averages roughly an 11:20 min per mile pace. If you plan to finish in over 4.5 hours, sign up for the Early Start option.
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Marathon - Early Start: Runners are required to finish in 7 hours (before 2:00pm). This assumes a Marathon runner averages roughly an 16:00 min per mile pace.

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Half Maraton: (13.1 miles)

Highlights: 1.6 mile long Taft Tunnel, 8 total tunnel sections, 6 trestles, waterfalls, scenic views, 5 aid stations
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The Half Marathon will start out running through the famous Taft Tunnel for the first 1.6 miles. Runners will then exit the tunnel at Roland and hit their first aid station and a self service gear check near mile 2. As they continue past tunnel 21, runners will hit a second aid station near moss creek. After tunnel 24, runners will start to cross a series of trestles. After Trestle 220, runners will hit an aid station the half marathon turnaround running back along the trail the same way they came. After hitting the Roland aid station for the last time, runners will enter the Taft tunnel for the last 1.6 miles as they run toward the finish. The Half Marathon course will finish at East Portal.
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Course cutoff time: 4:30 hours (roughly 18:40min/mile).

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10K (6.2 Miles):

Highlights: 1.6 mile long Taft Tunnel, 2 tunnel sections, waterfall, scenic views, 2 aid stations, self service gear drop
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The 10K course starts out running through the famous Taft Tunnel for the first 1.6 miles. Runners will hit an aid station near Roland at mile 2. They will continue on for a little over another mile before turning around. After turning around, runners pass the Roland aid station one more time, and will re-enter the 1.6 mile long Taft tunnel as they head back toward the finish. Please be aware that the 10K run completes a total of over 3.2 miles in the Taft Tunnel.

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