The half-marathon takes runners on a single, cold and snow-covered lap around the lake, making it quite likely one of the country’s coldest outdoor race events of the year.
Race organizers tell participants to expect icy patches along the course’s snow-plowed road, and allow at least some time for the sun to come out — the race starts at the unusually late time of 11:00 AM. The start and finish are at Seeley Lake’s Elementary School Gym, where runners also register between 8:30 and 10:30 AM on the day of the race.
Located right in the middle of Montana’s Bob Marshall and Mission Mountain Wilderness Areas, the town of Seeley Lake is also set in what is known locally as the Seeley-Swan Valley, home to about 2,400 permanent residents and many, many more tourists and visitors year-round.
Snowmobiling and Nordic skiing are two of the area’s most popular wintertime activities, as the surrounding area boasts about 350 miles of snowmobile trails and a world-class Nordic ski trail system, which visitors can tour on one of the town’s famous sleigh rides or dogsled rides.
The race has grown from a small event with just over 30 runners at its inaugural running in 1980 to one that attracts upwards of 700 runners today. Leashed dogs are welcome to participate alongside their humans, with a soup bone prize for the first dog to finish.