TOUGH ELK
About this race
Date: July 18, 2026
Location: Caras Park - Missoula, Montana
Note: You will need your favorite hunting backpack for the workout!
Hosted during the RMEF Big Game Days, TOUGH ELK is a challenging workout designed to simulate the physical demands of a backcountry hunt. Step up to the challenge and prove your resilience.
Win an Elk Hunt
Complete the TOUGH ELK workout, and you’ll earn a shot at winning a premier elk hunting adventure in Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains with Montana OutWest. This all-inclusive experience includes expert guides, accommodations, meals, and full game care—ensuring every detail is taken care of for an unforgettable trip.
Register now for your chance to take in breathtaking scenery, robust elk herds, and an impressive success rate.
Win Wave Prizes
Each TOUGH ELK wave is made up of 30 participants, with prizes tied to every wave. That means you’ll have a 1 in 30 chance to win amazing gear and swag from our partner brands — giving every finisher a shot at something special. Win awesome prizes from Kenetrek, Midway USA, Eberlestock, onX, Buck Knives, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Sportsman's Warehouse, YETI, and others.
Plus, every registrant receives three FREE months of MTNTOUGH+ Training, RMEF Digital Membership, and a swag bag!
What to Expect
- The event is capped at 300 participants to ensure amazing draw odds
- 30-person waves — choose your start time
- Designed to simulate the demands of a backcountry elk hunt
- Depending on your fitness level, the workout should take 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete
- Challenge yourself to race the clock, but remember—the real victory is simply finishing the workout
- Athletes will bring their favorite hunting pack and complete a workout designed to replicate a backcountry hunt. The workout requires packs loaded with weights—40 lbs for males and 30 or 20 lbs for females. MTNTOUGH will supply these weights.
- Exercises include lunges, box step-overs, burpees, Zurcher squats, and a ruck, all performed with the loaded pack to simulate real hunting conditions.
Wave Prize Drawing
Wave prizes are drawn at the end of the event, at approximately 12:00 PM. Winners need not be present to win.
Elk Hunt Drawing
The Montana OutWest hunt drawing will happen on the live stage at Cara’s Park at approximately 5:00 PM on July 18, 2026. Winner must be present to win.
Pick your distance
Running
8:00 AM WAVE - Kenetrek $500 Gift Certificate
8:15 AM WAVE - MidwayUSA $250 Digital Gift Card
8:30 AM WAVE - Turtlebox Ranger Speaker
8:45 AM WAVE - Eberlestock Bang-Bang Range Bag & onX Annual Elite Membership
9:00 AM WAVE - Buck Knives 664 Alpha Hunter Pro & onX Annual Elite Membership
9:15 AM WAVE - Buck Knives 662 Alpha Scout Elite & onX Annual Elite Membership
9:30 AM WAVE - Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s $200 Gift Card & onX Annual Elite Membership
9:45 AM WAVE - Sportsman’s Warehouse $200 Gift Card & onX Annual Elite Membership
10:00 AM WAVE - Eberlestock Mainframe Pack
10:15 AM WAVE - Annual MTNTOUGH+ Membership & YETI Package
Typical race-day weather
Based on 7 years of historical conditions on this event's race dates in Missoula.
Course
Route map and elevation profile
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Missoula
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Missoula 5K Races 8 races
- 10K Run Events in Missoula 2 races
- Missoula Half Marathons 3 races
- Missoula Running Calendar 2026 40 races
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 60 Missoula events
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