RACE WEEK DETAILS

 

Welcome to Race Week!

Information and reminders below as you plan for race day.

 

Thank you for registering for the Whitefish Marathon, Half Marathon, or 5K! We have made it to race week, and another record-setting field in all three race distances with 2.000 registered! A special thanks goes to our Presenting Sponsor, Hammer Nutrition for their continued support. Speaking of Hammer, we will be making an exciting announcement with them later this week.

 

Also, we are excited about new partnership with Girls on the Run of Western Montana! They will have nearly 150 elementary-aged girls and their Running Buddies participating in the Wave 5K! Look for their green shirts and pink bibs on the course. If you are interested in supporting GOTR, please click HERE

 

Additional sponsors of our event include DON K Subaru, Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company, Glacier Bank, The Wave, Logan Health Whitefish, Pepsi, Aurora Wellness, Tamarack Cannabis, Compass Chiropractic, Martel Construction, Flat Head Running Company, and Natural Grocers.

 

Below are the race details all participants SHOULD KNOW. Please read through before Friday to get prepared. It's going to be a great day!

 

Fitness Expo & Packet Pickup:

  • Friday, May 15: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM at The Wave (1250 Baker Ave, Whitefish, MT 59937)
  • Saturday, May 16: 6:30 AM - 7:45 AM at Depot Park at the Whitefish Marathon tent (510 Railway St, Whitefish, MT 59937)

 

Girls on the Run INFO: GOTR participants and Running Buddies will have a special check-in process at the Wave and race morning. If you are a GOTR family with questions, please reach out to your coach.

 

Packet Pickup for yourself and Others: All bib numbers are assigned at Packet Pickup. You will not receive a preassigned bib number. We do allow picking up packets for others. Please have a copy of their registration handy should questions arise.

 

Deferrals, Downgrades, Upgrades & Transfers:

  • Deferrals, downgrades & transfers HAVE CLOSED – no exceptions

  • Upgrades are only available into the marathon as the half marathon and The Wave 5K are SOLD OUT

 

Friday Packet Pickup Parking: With record registration, parking could be challenging at The Wave for Friday packet pickup. There are three parking lots, in front, behind and up the hill. Please do not double park or in the day care parking spaces.

 

Race Day Parking: Although there are no designated parking lots on race morning, there are many parking areas within walking distance of Depot Park. Click HERE for a Whitefish parking map.

 

Race Day Schedule:

6:30 a.m.: Packet Pickup opens

7:30 a.m.: Participants begin to move into the starting corrals

7:45 a.m.: Packet Pickup closes

7:50 a.m.: Opening Ceremonies begin

7:55 a.m.: National anthem

7:57 a.m.: Final pre-race reminders and countdown

8:00 a.m.: All race distances start

9:00 a.m.: 5K awards ceremony

10:30 a.m: Half marathon awards ceremony

12:00 p.m: Marathon awards ceremony

 

Important Safety Information During the Race: In Montana, the roads stay open to traffic so please use caution while running. Cone arrows, directional signs and volunteers will be placed in strategic locations to help guide you along the way. PARTICIPANTS SHOULD ALWAYS RUN/WALK IN THE VEHICLE DRIVE LANE (not in the lane against traffic). With the number of participants, we do not want runners in both lanes, only in the drive lane.

 

Course Aid Stations:

  • Marathon & Half Marathon: Water and HAMMER are available approximately every 1.5-2 miles

  • The Wave 5K: The 5K course has one station at the halfway point

  • Portalets will be located at all aid stations

 

Course Maps:

  • Click HERE for Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K and all other course maps

 

Special Instructions for the Marathon and The Wave 5K:

  • Marathon – marathoners will run the first 13 miles with the half marathoners to add to the excitement of the day. You will split just after the 13-mile marker and will head out for the second half which is an out and back. The course USATF certified and a Boston Marathon qualifier!

  • Wave 5K – 5K runners SPLIT from the marathon and half marathon IMMEDIATELY after the first water stop.

 

Gear Check/ Bag Drop:

  • We do not have a bag check available. Please store your valuables safely.

 

Age-Group Awards & Results:

  • Results can be found on the website HERE

  • Awards will be presented in front of the hammer Nutrition tent next to the Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Beer Garden in Depot Park.

  • Top-3 Podium Award Ceremonies: Celebrate the podium winners in the marathon, half marathon and 5K at the times listed above.

  • Age Group Awards: Will be announced in the marathon, half marathon and 5K for both genders in the listed age divisions on the website.

 

Finish Line Party:

  • Enjoy Depot Park with our vendors! Runners receive one free Jeremiah Johnson beer in the beer tent with your bib tear-off stub.

  • Fishfest will also be underway with live music and other festivities!

 

Blackstar Restaurant featuring Jeremiah Johnson Brewing After Party:

  • If you did not use your Free Beer bib tear-off stub during the day at the Beer Garden tent, bring the tear-off to Blackstar located at the southwest corner of Depot Park anytime on Saturday starting at 11 AM.

 

MERCHANDISE: Whitefish Marathon and RUN 406 merchandise will be available at both the Packet Pickup and on race day in Depot Park. Sizing is limited so shop early. To secure your 2026 gear, check out our store HERE. Advanced orders will be held for you when you check in.

 

Bandit Policy & Bib Swapping:

  • Running with any bib other than your own is against the USATF rules and detrimental to the integrity of our sport. Doing so will result in a two-year ban from the race. Please respect the sport and all participants' hard training.

Additional information can be found on the FAQ page of the website located HERE. Thank you for running with us. We hope you enjoy Whitefish and our event. Have a GREAT Race!