The point-to-point 26.2-mile adventure – a USATF certified Boston Qualifier – starts about 3 miles southwest of Jefferson City near the mining Ghost Town of Wickes, and features a moderate downhill start in a beautiful rural setting. Runners will encounter a demanding section of hills from Miles 16 to 20, and will face Cardiac Hill at the start of Mile 24. This marathon isn’t your run-of-the mill course designed to make qualifying for Boston easy, but if you lock up a qualifier here, you certainly will be set up to run extremely well in Beantown or wherever your running takes you next. If you can handle Cardiac Hill, Heartbreak Hill shouldn’t scare you.
The Governors Cup Marathon was the 440th largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 369th largest in 2022.
This year 13.3% of finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 14.8% of runners qualified for Boston in 2023.
This gives the Governors Cup Marathon the 106th highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 96th highest percentage so far in 2024.
Its Course Score of 97.72 ranks it as the 342nd fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 3rd fastest course in Montana.
The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are within the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the Governors Cup Marathon a PR Score of 97.72. This PR Score ranks it as the 287th fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 2nd fastest in Montana.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
Governors Cup Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 4939 feet (1505m) Min Elevation: 4045 feet (1233m)
