2024 Race Date: October 20, 2024
Location
The start and finish will be at Spring Meadow Lake State Park in Helena, MT.
2715 Country Club Ave, Helena, MT 59620
Course Maps
The Just for the Helena of It Half Marathon Course is officially USATF Certified!
“What is course certification?
The purpose of the USATF course certification program is to produce road race courses of accurately measured distances.
For any road running performance to be accepted as a record or be nationally ranked, it must be run on a USATF-certified course. In addition, the certification program is very important to the average road racer, as well as those of exceptional speed. Most runners like to compare performances run on different courses, and such comparisons are difficult if course distances are not reliable. No one can truly establish a personal best if the course distance is not accurate.”
This description was taken directly from the USATF website.
Our certification number is MT23002MF.
Training Plans
Download helpful training plans for each race. These day-by-day suggestions will assist you in preparing for the race and be your best.
2024 Race Time
The Half Marathon will start at 9:00am.
The 10K will start at 9:45am.
The 5K will start at 10:00am.
Registration
Registration for the 2024 Just for the Helena of It is open.
2024 Race Pricing
Mar 1 – 31 | closes at 8:45 am on race day | |||
| 5k | $35 | $45 | $55 | $65 |
| 10k | $50 | $60 | $70 | $80 |
| Half Marathon | $65 | $75 | $85 | $95 |
Packet Pick Up
Packet pick up will be held at Mt. Ascension Brewing Co. on the 2nd floor.
317 Cruse Ave, Helena, MT 59601
Friday, October 18th, 2024 : 3 pm to 7 pm
Saturday, October 19th, 2024: Noon to 5 pm
Race day packet pick up is for out of town participants only. This will be held at the start/finish line area at 2715 Country Club Ave, Helena, MT 59620.
Sunday, October 20, 2024: 7:30 am to 8:45 am
*You can have a friend pick your packet up for you. Please make sure they have your first and last name.
Bibs
Bibs must be worn on the front outside layer of your clothing. This is for safety reasons as well as being able to accurately record your time.
Race Shirts
Everyone registered before October 1st, 2024 is guaranteed a race shirt. There are no guarantees that you will receive one if registered after that date. Half Marathon and 10K shirts will be a technical running shirt. The 5K shirts will be cotton. These shirts will be gender specific.
New for 2024! Bag Drop
Check back for updates on bag drop. No more walking back to your car for your jacket or money.
Timing
Just for the Helena of It will officially be chip timed by Competitive Timing. Go and visit their booth after you’ve crossed the finish line for your race results. Results will be available online after the race.
Time Limit
The 5K course will close at 1:00pm.
The 10K and Half Marathon courses will close at 1:30pm.
Open Course
The Half Marathon is partially on roads through town which means it is open to traffic. The course will be marked with cones and volunteers will be at most intersections. Please be aware of all your surroundings. If choosing to wear headphones, please keep the volume low to hear the traffic and course instructions.
Terrain
The 5K and 10K courses are routed through well maintained gravel paths and asphalt. The Half Marathon is routed through a variety of terrain including, but not limited to: asphalt, brick, trail, and concrete. Please be prepared for uneven surfaces.
Headphone Policy
Headphones are permitted. However, please be aware of your surroundings, road crossings, and other runners.
Strollers
Strollers are welcome. All areas will be able to accommodate most jogging strollers. When passing, please let others know your intent to pass and give them enough space to avoid any injuries.
Dogs
We ask you to please leave your furry friends at home! Service animals are welcome. Per our permitting, dogs are not allowed at our event.
Parking
There will be limited parking at Spring Meadow Lake State Park. We have secured parking across the street at Green Meadows Country Club and off of Broadwater Ave at George’s Distributing. We highly encourage you to carpool to help reduce the amount of traffic.
Awards and Giveaways
Award ceremonies will start at 11:00 am with the 5K.
We have dozens of giveaways generously donated by local businesses, check your race bag at packet pick up to see if you are an INSTANT WINNER! More giveaways will be distributed by RANDOM on race day. Check the back of your medal to see if you’re a lucky giveaway winner!
Age Group Divisions
- 5k: 3-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+
- 10k: 5-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+
- 13.1: 12-19, 20-29, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+
Finish Line Party!
Come prepared to party long after you’ve finished. Along with needing to be present to win prizes, we have secured food trucks and live music. Oh, did we mention all race finishers (over 21 with valid ID) will receive their first beer FREE? Beer will available for purchase. CASH ONLY.
Travel Plans
Visit our “Plan your Trip” page for accommodations, places to eat & drink & thing to do around Helena. We have secured special rates at the following hotels. Book early to get the special rate as room quantities are limited for these rates.
- Doubletree by Hilton Helena Downtown – Please book using this link for the special room rate. Room quantities are limited.
- Residence Inn by Marriott is offering a reduced rate on their king studios. When booking, all you need to do is say you are with “Just for the Helena of It” and the reduced rate will be automatically applied. Give them a call at (406)443-8010.
In Event of Severe Conditions
This is Montana and the weather often changes at a moment’s notice. Your guess is as good as ours on what the weather will be like. In the last 5 years, it has snowed once on the third weekend of October. We will not cancel the event due to weather. Check weather forecasts and be prepared for anything. We suggest leaving a warm sweatshirt or jacket in your car to stay warm during the Finish Line Party.
In the event of snow, the 5K route will change to follow along the 10K and Half Marathon courses.
Cancellations and Refunds
This event follows standard running industry policy: All entry fees are non-refundable. We reserve the right to postpone or cancel the event due to circumstances beyond our control such as a natural disaster or emergency or as required to protect the safety of participants and staff. No refunds will be issued under these circumstances. We reserve the right to change the details of the event without prior notice.