The Snow Joke Half Marathon returns in-person to Seeley Lake Saturday, Feb. 26. The largest winter road race in Montana, traditionally is held on the last Saturday of February. The iconic race celebrates its 43rd anniversary this year.
“We’re excited that we’ll be live again,” Missoulian and Ravalli Republic publisher Jim Strauss said. “Last year, we held it virtually. We heard from a lot of people who missed that tradition of the Seeley Lake winter road race.”
This year’s race will be 13.1 miles, as is tradition. The long-standing western Montana tradition has never been canceled, be it rain, snow, cold or, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s great to be back live teaming with Missoula Run Wild and the community of Seeley Lake, especially the Seeley Lake Elementary School volunteers who put so much time and energy into the race,” Strauss said.
The race has historically brought about 700 or so runners to Seeley Lake. A portion of the entry fees and sponsorships will again be contributed to Seeley Lake Elementary Outdoor Adventure Club and Run Wild Missoula to support those organizations’ community efforts.
While the Snow Joke wasn’t one of the races canceled, others were, which forced Run Wild Missoula, which helps produce the Missoulian event, to cut back for a little bit. But the past year, and as of late, the events are starting to come back more as in-person racing seems to be making its full return.
“It is exciting,” Run Wild Missoula Executive Director Trisha Drobeck said. “It’s been tough for everyone just not being able to gather or do races in person. ... This year we have really gotten back to doing in-person racing. Everybody wants to see their friends and run with other people and it really just brought life back into the running community. I know [the Snow Joke] is a really popular race. … Runners are going to be super stoked to register and get out there and run in the cold.”
Registration can be completed at mtsnowjoke.com. The cost is $51 for people registering by Feb. 11. The cost rises to $61 from Feb. 12-25. Race-day registration is $70.
The presenting sponsor for this year’s race is Bob Ward’s. The other sponsors include Blackfoot Communications, Cory’s Valley Market, Double Arrow Lodge in Seeley Lake, Park Side Credit Union, Lindey’s Prime Steak House in Seeley Lake, Pattee Creek Market, Citizens Alliance Bank in Seeley Lake, Paws Up, Chicken Coop, the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, the Filling Station — which is giving each runner a free beer following the race — Missoula Electric Cooperative and Revo gym.
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