Intermediate goals are good. On June 11, 2022, I finished the Governor’s Cup Marathon in Helena, Montana.
This race was six days after last week’s Deadwood Marathon finished in 6:05.
Helena has a 6-hour time limit and a favorable course profile. The race start was at 4950 feet, dropping to 4600 feet at mile three, then 200 feet of elevation gain and dropping to 4100 feet at the finish. The last eight miles were rolling hills with some significant ups.
I planned to finish 5 miles in 1 hour, 10 miles in 2 hours, 15 miles in 3 hours, and 20 miles in 4 hours. That would give me 2 hours to complete a 10 km.
I wanted to walk 2 minutes every 10 minutes, walking less on downhills and more going up.
The race started three miles south of Jefferson City at an end-of-the-road mining facility.
The first 22 miles of the course were in Jefferson County. Some trivia: there is no Jefferson County in Virginia. There are Jefferson Counties in Kentucky and West Virginia. Those were named when those states were part of Virginia. The last 4 miles were in Lewis and Clark County, a pair commissioned by Thomas Jefferson to explore and map the Louisiana Purchase.
Race day weather was a 48-degree dew point with a 57-degree temperature at 6 am, rising to 63 by my finish. Rain was forecast to start at 9 am. The rain began at 7 am for about 30 minutes and then again at 10:45.
We parked near the finish line on Last Chance Gulch in Helena. The buses left at 4:45 am, and we arrived at the start around 5:20 am. With 84 runners in the marathon, both buses arrived at the same time. The organizers had six units, and my line moved pretty well except for some unaggressive rookies.
I originally planned to run in a singlet with a long-sleeved shirt tied around my waist. After the porta pot, I wore shorts over compression shorts, a singlet over a long-sleeved shirt, a neck gaiter, a ball cap, gloves, and my Saucony Triumph 19 shoes.
There were no timing mats at the start. So, this race was gun time only.
I completed the first three downhill miles in 30:18 as the sun came over the eastern hills. When I turned to head uphill, I started walking. By mile 4, a light cold rain began. I’m glad I wore the gloves, gaiter, and long-sleeved shirt.
I carried a single bottle belt with UCAN topped with water at each aid station. I added another scoop of UCAN at miles 10 and 19.
I drank at every 20 minutes break.
Approaching the turnaround after mile 5, I needed to visit the porta pot to take care of a digestive issue. The rain on the roof almost made the unit a runner-sucking porta pot. By the time I exited, I was running in last place, with my 11:20 per mile pace. I made it through 5 miles in 57:09.
By mile 8, I had passed two runners. Until mile 10, I saw a few runners in the distance. Otherwise, I was running without another participant in sight.
I made it through mile 10 in 1:56:40 and the half marathon in 2:33:33.
From miles 7 to 23, we were on US 282. This route parallels Interstate 15. The 8 Mile Marker was next to a 60 mph Speed Limit sign.
Organizers wanted us to stay on the right side with traffic at our back. Force of habit, I ran some of the tangents on the left, and when facing traffic would be safer.
The course was not closed to traffic. It was a little scary at times. Most of the local traffic gave us space. I’d rather see what is going to hit me.
I completed 15 miles in 2:56:19. It is the second half of the race that has significant uphills.
After mile 19, I had to stop and visit a porta pot to take care of a digestive issue. My two visits probably added 4 to 5 minutes to my finish time.
I made it through 20 miles in 4:07:04. At mile 16, I started calculating mile pace to finish in 6 hours. I needed to keep them under 17 minutes which was quite doable.
By mile 20, I had to keep them under 19 minutes.
Starting after mile 23 is “Cardiac Hill.” At the bottom, it began to rain, and before I reached the top, puddles were forming on the roadway. This hill was not the steepest; it was the longest and did go past the Hospital. By this time, we were on the broad streets of Helena. Though not closed to traffic, I still used the entire road width. I hated that I was keeping all the volunteers, blocking side streets, out in the rain.
After mile 24, the course passes the Montana State Capital building, a beautiful structure. By that time, I needed to keep them under 29 minutes. I can do that.
There are some ups and runnable downs. About 1000 meters from the finish, the course turns south on Last Chance Gulch. The last 600 meters are on the roadway converted to a walking mall. The organizers have barricaded the sides of the running path.
Last Chance Gulch is uphill. I start walking at mile 26 and running at the half-marathon mile 13 sign. If you start a race running, I finish that race running.
My second half was 2:54:23 for a finish time of 5:27:56.
I finished 72nd overall and was the last finisher in under 6 hours. The two runners I passed around mile 8 both spent over 6 hours.
I was the 43rd male and 2nd in the Male 60 to 69-year-old age group. I guess I won an award. I hope to get it in the mail.
This finish was my 77th marathon in my 42nd state.
The organizers did a great job. In addition to the marathon, they had 200 half-marathon, 400 10km, and 800 5km runners. I never saw those other 1400 runners. There were special tents at the finish for the marathon and half-marathon runners. There was no real food, but the ice-cold can of Coke was super.
At the tent, I asked the PT to take my blood pressure. The 113/60 was not low.
Except for the rain and cars on the course, this marathon had a beautiful, interesting route, nearing the top of my favorite races.