July 24 Get an altitude adjustment during the Madison Marathon, reportedly the highest road marathon in the country, held on gravel roads in the Gravelly Range near Ennis. The elevation starts at themadisonmarathon.com.
participating in the Rocky Mountaineers’ Snow Travel Clinic in Glacier National Park. Kick steps to rockymountaineers.com for details. Raise money for CampMak-A-Dream (and make a muscle scream) during the Ride Around The Pioneers In One Day (RATPOD), an epic oneday, 130-mile cycle-thon from Dillon through three mountain ranges around the Big Hole Valley. Move your mouse to ratpod.org or call 549-5987. June 29-30 Watch folks with amazing strokes at the U.S. Freestyle Kayak Association’s Pro Freestyle Kayak Tour Stop/ Montana Whitewater Championships, which hits Brennan’s Wave in downtown Missoula for sweet whitewater action by top paddlers. Go rapidly to 721-2437 or strongwaterkayak.com/ events.
JULY July 4 Set off some fitness fireworks at the 4th of July Team Challenge in Eureka, a timed competition where individuals or teams of three bike 3 miles, kayak 3 miles on Lake Koocanusa, and run 2 miles on a trail. Let freedom ring at 8893777 or go to welcome2eureka.com. July 7 Put on your explorer cap during the Yellowstone Boat Float, an event that retraces the Lewis and Clark expedition route from Livingston to Laurel, with two overnight stops inbetween. Load up the flotilla by calling 222-4414. July 9 Enjoy a cold one during The Glacier Challenge, a six-leg, 50mile relay race in Whitefish that features canoeing, road biking, mountain biking, kayaking, and a 4K and 10.5K run. Be cool at theglacierchallenge.com. July 10 Hit your stride for 26.2 miles or just go halfway during the fourth annual Missoula Marathon, named “Best Overall Marathon” by readers of
Tri the XTERRA Wild Horse Creek triathlon in the Hyalite Canyon near Bozeman, featuring a 1,200-yard swim, 16-mile mountain bike ride and 6-mile run (with a shorter course, too). The multitasking begins at bigskytri.com. July 29 Put your spine into it during the Swan Crest 100, a 100-mile trail run from Swan Lake to Columbia Falls along the backbone of the Swan Range. Ultra motivation is at swancrest100.com. Chad Harder
Runner’s World. Bust a move to missoulamarathon.org. July 16 Land a lunker during the Broadwater Rod & Gun Club’s Walleye Derby, a catch-and-release contest at Goose Bay Marina on Canyon Ferry Lake, with a $1,000 cash prize for winners. Cast off by calling 266-5279. July 17 Bike the ’root to help the Bitterroot Land Trust during the 2011 Tour of the Bitterroot, an event with a 46-mile, non-competitive ride, family challenge and kids’ derby. Roll to tourofthebitterroot.org for the dirt. July 23 Go ahead and plummet during the Skydive Lost Prairie 44th Annual Jump Meet, a gathering of up to 500 jumpers—one of the largest of its kind—where the public can take a flying leap with an instructor. Air your views at skydivelostprairie.com. Catch some of the hottest stars on wheels at The Missoula XC, a USA Cycling Pro XCT Finals race for mountain biking pros (and some amateurs). The event features a hardcore 6K course on single track, double track and dirt road at Marshall Mountain. Pump it up at Missoulaxc.org.
July 30 Do it standing during The River Pig, a whitewater stand-up paddleboard race at the Alberton Gorge with elite and open divisions. Surf to strongwaterkayak.com/ events or dial 721-2437.
AUGUST August 5 Aim your sights on hunting season during the annual Missoula Gun and Antique Show, featuring 800 tables of firearms and other items— Montana’s best gun show of its kind, folks say. Lock and load at 549-4817. August 6 Hurl yourself to victory when the Helena Ultra Runners League holds the HURL Elkhorn Endurance Runs in the mountains near Montana City, including 50K and 50-mile gambols. Sprint to vigilanterunning.org. August 27 Reel one in during the Salmon/ Lake Trout Tournament at Fort Peck Reservoir. They’ll hook you if you call 526-3442. August 28 Dig it at the River City Roots Run/Walk 4-Mile, part of Missoula’s multi-day River City Roots Festival. Hit the ground running at runwildmissoula.org.
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