WHEN IS THE BEAR PAW MARATHON?
June 1st, 2024
6:00am: Bear Paw Marathon 7:00am: Bear Paw Half Marathon 8:00am: Bear Paw 5K Fun Run/Walk
HOW DO I GET TO THE START?
There is NO parking at either the full and half marathon start line.
Bus transportation to the start lines is provided as part of your entry. Bus Pickup location is the MSU-Northern Armory Gym south parking lot (300 13th St W, Havre, MT 59501). The buses for the Marathon will leave at 5:10 AM. The buses for the Half Marathon will leave at 6:15 AM, and the 5K at 7:30 AM. Please arrive early and load the buses and in a timely manner to make sure you arrive at the start line on time.
WHERE & WHEN CAN I PICK UP MY RACE PACKET?
Packet pickup for the full marathon, half marathon, and 5K is at the Holiday Village Mall (1753 US-2, Havre, MT 59501), on Friday, May 31th between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM. There will be NO packet pick up on race day. You may have a friend pick up your packet for you. Please contact the Bear Paw Marathon team with a Facebook message or call the Havre Chamber between 9am-3pm MT Mon-Fri at 406-265-4383 to make arrangements ahead of time if you will arrive Havre after packet pickup.
WHAT IS THE COURSE TIME LIMIT?
The half and full marathon courses officially close at 2:00 PM, an 8 hour limit. Aid stations will close and streets will reopen based on the 8 hour limit.
HOW MANY AID STATIONS ARE ON THE COURSE?
There are 14 aid stations throughout the full marathon course spaced approximately every 2 miles with water and first aid kits. Some aid stations may be unmanned. Some aid stations will also be carrying snacks, gels, and electrolyte enhanced hydration products.
COURSE & COURSE SAFETY
The course is coned and marked very well, but it is open to traffic. There will be volunteers and/or police officers at most intersections. Please remain on the LEFT (southbound) side of the road unless otherwise directed. Because the course is open to traffic, we recommend that all participants wear bright clothing to improve visibility.
Music devices with headphones/earbuds are allowed. If you carry music, you must still be able to hear instructions from race officials; directions from course monitors; motorists that may have made their way onto the course; and, warnings from participants that may be overtaking you.
Bibs must be worn on the front of your body and be visible at all times. The timing system may not properly record if your bib is not worn on the front of your body.
We ask that all faster participants yield right of way and go around when overtaking slower participants.
If you experience medical issues while on the course, please look for a volunteer or police officer.
If you have to drop out of the race, please let a volunteer at an aid station or law enforcement officer know and they will arrange for you to be transported.
All participants must be capable of completing the course in 8 hours. There will be no official time for anyone taking longer than 8 hours. Aid stations, traffic control, volunteers, etc. will relinquish their posts based upon the 7.5 hour completion time. If you are still on the course, you will be asked to move to the side of the road for the remainder of the route; and, to obey all stop signs and traffic signals.
SECURITY CONCERNS
• Pre-Race shuttles are for participants wearing bibs only.
• Please check your gear bags promptly upon your arrival at the starting line. Bags left unattended are subject to search and removal.
CAN WHEELCHAIRS, STROLLERS, OR HANDCYCLES TAKE PART?
The Bear Paw Marathon course is not equipped to accommodate wheelchairs, strollers, or hand cycles on the full and half marathon course. We will be looking to accommodate them in future years. Wheelchairs, strollers, and handcarts are welcome on the 5k course!
REGISTERING CHILDREN
Children 3 years and under do not need to register. Children 4 years and older need to register.
Tag us on social media during race weekend at #bearpawmarathon and #runthepaw