
From the Organizer
Join us for our 8th year of our point-to-point mountain marathon show casing the newest trails on the Foy's to Blacktail Trail system! Maximum 100 sign ups allowed, so sign up soon! Racers with gather at Herron Park at 5:30 a.m., with final bib assignment and a pre-race meeting starting promptly at 5:45. Busses leave promptly at 6 a.m. to take racers to the start at the Lakeside to Blacktail Trail (NO parking at the start of the race). More details about the course (see cool interactive map from OnX Backcountry), drop bags, Race Series, etc., can be found on the main website, Foy's to Blacktail Trail Marathon.
All runners will be eligible for a random give away of cool swag like a pair of running shoes!!
Remember to bring your bear spray. All racers must race with it because there is a real risk of running into wildlife such as bears and/or mountain lions that feel threatened and get aggressive. Even those at the back of the pack need to be aware of startling any of these charismatic megafauna.
There will be a strict 12 pm cut off time to reach the Emmons Saddle aid station, however even the slowest runners in the past have made it under this cut off. You will need to be moving at an average pace of >3 mph to meet this cut off.
This race, along with the FTBT-Herron Half Marathon, 10k, & 5k trail races, are our longest-running annual fundraisers. The money raised from the races goes directly to building and maintaining trails in the 40+ mile FTBT system, including new trails on Emmons Ridge south to Blacktail Mountain. In addition to event fees, our trails thrive largely in part to our dedicated sponsors. See the main webpage for a list of current and past sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring this year's or future races, please reach out to brian@runflathead.com.
The Flathead Race Series!
See main website for details. Races include FTBT races, the Big Mountain Run, the Whitefish Trail Blazer races, and the Le Grizz races. At the end of the year, Competitive Timing will compile a list of all who have completed the series as well as a leader board.
Distances & Pricing
Race Location
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
The half marathon is the distance where you find out what you're actually made of. Long enough to demand real preparation. Short enough that it doesn't consume your life to train for it. Most people who run their first half describe it as the race that changed their relationship with what they're capable of. Once you cross this finish line, the bar moves. That's not a warning — that's the point.
Race day energy varies by event size, but the finish line feeling is the same regardless. Big races keep the noise going the whole way. Smaller races give you stretches where it's just you and the miles — and that solitude becomes its own kind of fuel.
The half marathon rewards people who show up for the boring training miles.
How long to train: 10–14 weeks. If you're already running consistently, 10 weeks of structured buildup is enough. If you're building from a casual base, give yourself 14.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Foy's to Blacktail Trail Marathon
Jun 21, 2026