Mud, Road & Water
The sun is shining, the birds are singing—and Bozemanites everywhere are warming up at starting lines around the state. To help you decide how to spend your speedy summer, here are three of our favorite races.
BozeMonster Challenge
Now in its third year, the BozeMonster has only gotten bigger—get ready for oversized obstacles, plentiful prizes, and a prodigious party at the finish line. On August 24, dress up in your silliest costume for a 5k riddled with hay bales, mud pits, balance beams, and a finish-line obstacle guaranteed to cover you in filth (some O/B staffers were still digging dirt out of their ears days after the race last year). Before the gun goes off, your favorite mini-monsters can compete in the Dino Dash: a scaled-down sludgefest designed for shorter legs. After you jump in the lake to clean up, enjoy a celebratory beer, good eats, and live music all afternoon. Swing by bozemonster.com for details.
BSWD Stampede
Bozeman’s original running club is proud to announce the 35th running of their signature road race, the Big Sky Wind Drinkers Stampede (formerly the Bozeman Classic). On August 3, the Stampede hosts nearly 2,000 runners racing from Main Street through Bozeman and back for either a quick 5k or a quad-cramping 10k. This year, the race features a super-hero-themed costume contest with Downtown Dollar prizes. You can also enjoy a post-race raffle, and for all you speed demons out there, expect big prizes for top finishers. To register or find out more, go to racemontana.com.
XTERRA Wild Horse Creek
Since you’ve been swimming, biking, and running all spring, it’s time to show everyone how fit you are on July 28. The XTERRA Wild Horse Creek includes a 1200-yard swim across Hyalite Reservoir (wetsuits required), a 16-mile mountain bike ride, and a six-mile trail run. This race will challenge any veteran multi-sport athlete or weekend warrior looking for an endurance-based thrill. If you’re not in shape for the event by race time, you can enter with friends and run it as a relay. Almost the same course as the XTERRA, the shorter “Just Tri Off-Road” version consists of a 600-yard swim (wetsuits still required), seven-mile mountain bike, and three-mile trail run. For more details, go to bigskytri.com.
