TOUGH ELK
- Date
- July 18, 2026
- Location
- 123 Carousel Drive, Missoula, MT
- Distance
- 8:00 AM WAVE - Kenetrek $500 Gift Certificate · 8:15 AM WAVE - MidwayUSA $250 Digital Gift Card · 8:30 AM WAVE - Turtlebox Ranger Speaker & more
From the Organizer
Date: July 18, 2026
Location: Caras Park - Missoula, Montana
Note: You will need your favorite hunting backpack for the workout!
Hosted during the RMEF Big Game Days, TOUGH ELK is a challenging workout designed to simulate the physical demands of a backcountry hunt. Step up to the challenge and prove your resilience.
Win an Elk Hunt
Complete the TOUGH ELK workout, and you’ll earn a shot at winning a premier elk hunting adventure in Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains with Montana OutWest. This all-inclusive experience includes expert guides, accommodations, meals, and full game care—ensuring every detail is taken care of for an unforgettable trip.
Register now for your chance to take in breathtaking scenery, robust elk herds, and an impressive success rate.
Win Wave Prizes
Each TOUGH ELK wave is made up of 30 participants, with prizes tied to every wave. That means you’ll have a 1 in 30 chance to win amazing gear and swag from our partner brands — giving every finisher a shot at something special. Win awesome prizes from Kenetrek, Midway USA, Eberlestock, onX, Buck Knives, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Sportsman's Warehouse, YETI, and others.
Plus, every registrant receives three FREE months of MTNTOUGH+ Training, RMEF Digital Membership, and a swag bag!
What to Expect
- The event is capped at 300 participants to ensure amazing draw odds
- 30-person waves — choose your start time
- Designed to simulate the demands of a backcountry elk hunt
- Depending on your fitness level, the workout should take 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete
- Challenge yourself to race the clock, but remember—the real victory is simply finishing the workout
- Athletes will bring their favorite hunting pack and complete a workout designed to replicate a backcountry hunt. The workout requires packs loaded with weights—40 lbs for males and 30 or 20 lbs for females. MTNTOUGH will supply these weights.
- Exercises include lunges, box step-overs, burpees, Zurcher squats, and a ruck, all performed with the loaded pack to simulate real hunting conditions.
Wave Prize Drawing
Wave prizes are drawn at the end of the event, at approximately 12:00 PM. Winners need not be present to win.
Elk Hunt Drawing
The Montana OutWest hunt drawing will happen on the live stage at Cara’s Park at approximately 5:00 PM on July 18, 2026. Winner must be present to win.
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
87°
Typical Low
53°
Chance of Rain
22%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Missoula 2 Ne, 3 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Missoula, MT
Population
75,600
as of 2023
Nearest Airport
MSO
Missoula Montana Airport · 4 mi
Time Zone
Mountain Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at TOUGH ELK, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
Coming Up
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From Endurance Grid
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.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
Running
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)
- What is the TOUGH ELK?
- TOUGH ELK is a running race held in Missoula, Montana on July 18, 2026. It is one of the many endurance events listed on Endurance Grid, a multi-sport endurance event calendar covering running races, triathlons, HYROX, and more endurance sports across the United States. Find more running races near you or explore our sports guides to learn what race day actually feels like.
- When and where is the TOUGH ELK?
- Saturday, July 18, 2026 in Missoula, Montana at 123 Carousel Drive, Missoula, MT. Check the event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the TOUGH ELK?
- Registration is handled through the event's registration page. Confirm pricing and distances there, and sign up.
TOUGH ELK
Jul 18, 2026