Governor's Cup
About this race
The Governor's Cup is looking forward to welcoming runners to Helena on June 12-13, 2026. Make plans now to come to Montana's capital city, enjoy one of the state's longest-running events, and do a little exploring while you're here.
Established in 1974, the the Governor’s Cup caters to families, recreational runners and elite athletes looking for a great way to exercise their competitive spirit and celebrate the benefits of a health lifestyle in Helena, Montana. Staged in the picturesque backdrop of the Treasure State’s capital city and its surrounding countryside, the Governor's Cup features the half marathon, 10K, 5K and mile run.
Join fellow runners on June 10, 2016 for the Governor's Cup. It's a fantastic 1.6K, Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10K, 5K featuring a flat and fast course in Helena.
Pick your distance
Running
Fun Run
This is a non-timed, non-competitive 1-mile lap around Centennial Park, fun for kids and family. The event is sponsored by the YMCA. Please note that this specific event is on Friday, June 10, so plan ahead to ensure you pick up your race packet before 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Downtown to ensure you arrive at Centennial Park in time for the start of the Fun Run. **There are no refunds for cancellation** KIDS MARATHON ALERT: If your K-5 child is participating in a Kids Marathon training program at a Helena-area elementary school, there is no need to register them for the Fun Run here. Registration for the new Kids Marathon training program and run, which will be contested at the same time and place as the Fun Run, is only being conducted through participating area elementary schools. Kids Marathon participants will receive their T-shirt from their training coordinators and must wear their Kids Marathon T-shirt to the 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 10 event at Centennial Park to receive a unique finisher's medal.
Marathon
The marathon course is a USATF certified Boston Marathon qualifier and is home to the second-fastest men’s and fastest women’s times ever posted on Montana soil – 2 hours, 20 minutes, 35 seconds by Helena’s Jim Hatcher in 1982 and 2:45:59 by Helena’s Heather Lieberg in 2013. The course begins in the ghost town of Marysville at 5,293 feet of elevation and descends into the rural Helena valley, before finishing up historic Last Chance Gulch. The course features an elevation loss of 1,926 feet and an elevation gain of 760 feet for a total net loss of 1,166 feet. Many former participants say it's a good representation of what a runner will experience at the Boston Marathon. If you can qualify for Boston in Helena, you'll be setting yourself up for a solid performance in Beantown. Event web page, including course preview (video): http://www.govcupmt.com/marathon/ **There are no refunds for cancellation**
Half Marathon
The Half Marathon course begins at the halfway mark of the marathon and follows the marathon route to the finish line in historic downtown Helena. Runners enjoy a gradual downhill start in a scenic and rural setting to get the legs moving, and there are no major climbs or descents along the course. Throughout the race, runners get a clear view of iconic Mount Helena, which overlooks Last Chance Gulch - site of the finish. Event web page, including course preview (video): http://www.govcupmt.com/half-marathon/ **There are no refunds for cancellation**
10K
The Governor’s Cup 10K course starts in downtown Helena at the corner of Cruse and 6th and finishes on the Capital City’s historic Last Chance Gulch. The challenging course features stunning views of Mount Helena, the State Capitol and other historic sites in the Capital City. Event web page, including course preview (video): http://www.govcupmt.com/10k/ **There are no refunds for cancellation**
5k
The Governor’s Cup 5K course starts in downtown Helena at the corner of Cruse and 6th and finishes on the Capital City’s historic Last Chance Gulch. The challenging course features stunning views of Mount Helena, the State Capitol and other historic sites in the Capital City. Event web page, including course preview (video): http://www.govcupmt.com/5k/ **There are no refunds for cancellation**
About Helena
Governor's Cup takes place in Helena, Montana, United States. The local timezone is America/Denver.
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Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.