2023 Race Date: October 15, 2023
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.
Race Time
The Half Marathon will start at 9:30am.
The 10K will start at 9:45am.
The 5K will start at 10:00am.
Registration
Registration for the 2023 Just for the Helena of It is now open.
Mar 1 – 31 | ||||
| 5k | $25 | $35 | $45 | $55 |
| 10k | $40 | $50 | $60 | $70 |
| Half Marathon | $55 | $65 | $75 | $85 |
Packet Pickup
Packet Pickup will be held on Friday, October 13th from 4:00-8:00 pm and Saturday, October 14th from 12:00-5:00 pm at Headwaters Crafthouse (2125 N Last Chance Gulch #101, Helena, MT 59601). Volunteers are required to check in, pick up any necessary items and shirts during Saturday’s packet pickup.
There is an additional option for out of town runners (ONLY) to pick up packets the morning of the race at Spring Meadow Lake State Park (2715 Country Club Ave, Helena, MT 59620) from 8:00-9:00 am.
All packets are required to be picked up by 9:00 am on October 15th. There will be no holds or late pick up. Any packets not picked up by this time will be considered a donation to the event.
Race Shirts
Everyone registered before September 26th, 2023 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.
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 2:00pm.
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.
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 DRAWING immediately following the award ceremonies, must be present to win!
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.
Lodging
Check back to see our updates for partnering lodging.
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.