Live on Trail 1033: Trisha Drobeck, Executive Director of Run Wild Missoula | 2026 Missoula Marathon

"Runners are coming from all 50 states and 11 countries this year, which says a lot about both the race and Missoula’s reputation as a place people want to visit, run, explore, and experience."

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2026 Missoula Marathon

2026 Missoula Marathon Event Poster

Every year, marathon weekend brings runners, families, volunteers, spectators, local businesses, and entire neighborhoods together for one reason: the love of running. The banners go up, the course comes together, the cowbells come out, and Missoula becomes part race course, part welcome committee, and part block party.

Always fun to welcome Trisha Drobeck, executive director of Run Wild Missoula, into the Trail 103.3 studio to talk about the 2026 Missoula Marathon, happening June 26–28.

This year’s full marathon is already sold out, with limited VIP options still available at the time of our conversation. The half marathon still had a few spots open, and the weekend includes plenty beyond the 26.2-mile race: the Friday night Beer Run, Runner Expo at Caras Park, Tony Banovich 5K, Kids Marathon, half marathon, and the downtown finish that makes race weekend such a visible part of summer in Missoula.

We covered what runners can expect, what Missoulians should know, and how the weekend comes together behind the scenes. That includes the course, shuttle information, road impacts, volunteer needs, and the community support that has helped build the Missoula Marathon into one of the signature events of the year.

The full marathon starts in Frenchtown and comes toward Missoula along Mullan Road before continuing through areas including Kona Ranch, Big Flat, River Pines, Maclay Bridge, Target Range, the Slant Streets, and toward the University/downtown finish. The half marathon starts near Blue Mountain and joins the marathon course near Maclay Bridge.

Runners are coming from all 50 states and 11 countries this year, which says a lot about both the race and Missoula’s reputation as a place people want to visit, run, explore, and experience.

Trisha also shared more about the marathon’s long-running partnership with Youth Homes and the Run 4 Kids team, which is on track to raise $100,000 this year in support of local youth services.

And for anyone who wants to be part of marathon weekend without running, Run Wild Missoula is still looking for volunteers, especially course monitors. C

Course monitors help keep runners safe, support the flow of the event, cheer people on, and help race morning run smoothly.

This year, thanks to Logjam Presents, course monitors will also receive a free ticket to a KettleHouse Amphitheater show.

The full conversation is below, with more on race weekend, volunteer opportunities, course information, the Beer Run, Youth Homes, and what makes the Missoula Marathon such a big part of summer in Missoula.

Learn more, register, volunteer, or find race weekend details at MissoulaMarathon.org.

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Tommy Evans:Trail 103.3 — good morning. It’s Tommy, in for Mike Smith as he comes back from Ireland. Hello, Mike. Hope your travels are going well.

As I mentioned, it’s a great thrill to welcome into the studio Trisha Drobeck, executive director of Run Wild Missoula. Welcome back.

Trisha Drobeck:Hi.

Tommy:How are you?

Trisha:Oh, I am so good.

Tommy:So good. Why so good?

Trisha:Oh man, you know, it’s officially — the marathon is coming. You can’t stop it. The banners are coming up on the bridge today. The rest of them are downtown. The sun is shining. The mountains are green. My inbox is flooded with all sorts of questions and complaints, so it must be marathon season.

Tommy:We were just talking about the banners going up, and that’s when you know — as the event organizer for how many years now, Trisha?

Trisha:This is my fifth one. My fifth marathon.

Tommy:Five marathons in. When those banners go up, it’s like no turning back.

Trisha:It’s go time. Game face. Let’s do this.

Tommy:We know that this happens in Missoula, because you’ve already sold out of the primary — you mean, the 26.2?

Trisha:The 26.2, yeah. Sold out, except — and this is the caveat — there are a few spots in Earl’s VIP. If you really want to get in, you’re going to have to open up your pocketbook and get the most excellent treatment. You can still get in until the 31st.

Tommy:Now let’s talk about the VIP treatment with the Missoula Marathon. Let’s talk about what runners can expect. Obviously, plenty have signed up, and folks may know what to expect. Maybe we have some first-time registrations this year. Let’s run it down.

Trisha:Well, we’re known as a race that gives away amazing swag. We have great post-race food, amazing vibe, community support, 15 aid stations along the course. So you’re going to be supported and come away with an awesome race, especially for a first-timer.

But if you wanted to take it to that next level and really have your hand held — and maybe your feet rubbed, I’m not sure — throughout the whole process, you can sign up for the VIP.

It’s the first year we’re doing it, so this is kind of our beta test, and we’re really excited to roll it out for people. I think those who sign up are going to be really pleased.

Tommy: And they can do so at RunWildMissoula.org, I presume?

Trisha: Or MissoulaMarathon.org. Either one.

Tommy: Okay, there’s a lot of links. We got links on links on links.

Trisha: We need to have plenty of places to go. One is not enough.

Tommy: Yes. Let’s talk about the pairing with Youth Homes.

Trisha: Yes. Oh my gosh, yeah, the fundraising.

Trisha: Yeah, so I believe we’ve been working with Youth Homes for gosh, probably maybe 15, 16, could be even 17 years, to be honest with you.

This year they are crushing it. The team is just so dedicated. I know they get about 100-ish runners on the team, and that team is on track to raise $100,000 for Youth Homes this year, which is great because they’re opening a new home, like an emergency intervention home, which is desperately needed in this community. So it’s going to a great place.

You’ll see those Run 4 Kids jerseys out on the course, and be sure to give them an extra cheer, because those folks are really working it and doing a lot of peer-to-peer fundraising.

Tommy:That’s just amazing. So the marathon event coming up June 26 through the 28th. And as you sort of lament as the organizer of the event each year, every time the marathon happens, there are some folks that go, “Why didn’t I know about this? And why are the roads closed? And now I’m late for my XYZ.”

So Trisha, let’s go through the routes, starting/stopping points, how you’re working with the city to come up with these routes and traffic redirects and so on and so forth.

Trisha:The city and the county are fantastic. The state as well. So as you can imagine, there are lots of jurisdictions that we cross, including the 5K that goes around the university. We have a lot of agency partners that we work with.

This is the third year with this exact same course. So if you live in that area, you’re not going to be surprised — hopefully.

The marathon route starts in Frenchtown, and we come down Mullan. It’s actually a nice, straight 11 miles. Big shoutout to our friends at Rotary, who cleaned the Mullan section — all 11 miles of it — a few weeks ago.

Then the marathon turns on Kona Ranch and heads up to Big Flat, which, big joke, is not flat — which a lot of out-of-towners think is really funny.

Tommy:It fools out-of-towners.

Trisha:I know. Suckers.

Then it merges and comes across River Pines, Maclay Bridge, winds through Target Range, and then into the city through the Slant Streets and kind of toward the University.

We do send out postcards. We put up yard signs throughout the whole course. And I just encourage folks: chalk it up as the one day a year you can go and spray people with a hose, you can play your loud music, or shut your blinds and just Netflix and chill if that’s what you need to do.

But yeah, we just really hope people stay off the course and that they take it as an opportunity to support people who are coming and spending money in their community. And it’s a lot of money. It’s over $4 million that they spend in three days.

Tommy:Over 1,700 registrants for the primary marathon.

Trisha:That’s right, yeah.

Tommy:That’s a lot of money from them out-of-towners.

Trisha:Yeah, and a lot of those people are bringing their friends and their family, and then they move on to Glacier or head down the Bitterroot or Yellowstone or something. So it’s just such a great event to bring people together.

And I also think people maybe are a little more tolerant because it’s not like we’re out there boozing it up, playing loud music all night long. Although the 6 a.m. cowbell does tend to irritate a few people every year.

You know what? I’m just like, you just gotta go with it.

Tommy:So as far as the start in Frenchtown, forgive me if I’m creating a false memory here, had we talked in the past about shuttles or rideshare? So it’s not like this big pile of cars and everyone’s trying to get back into the middle.

Trisha:No. You are not allowed to drive to either start line. So you cannot drive to Frenchtown. You cannot drive to the PEAK Blue Mountain, which is where the half starts.

We do have lots of shuttle buses, and so everybody’s going to get on a school bus. We load at either Hilton Garden Inn on North Reserve, for those folks staying out there, or we load at the Adams Center for both the marathon and the half.

Tommy:Hilton or the Adams Center. Good to know.

Trisha:Yep. Just for the marathon for the Hilton. Everybody in the half needs to go to the Adams Center, though.

Tommy:Okay, so we still have a few spots open for the half marathon. Same route as last year?

Trisha:Yep. It starts at PEAK Blue Mountain and then joins up right by Maclay Bridge with the marathon, and then you’re running in and just enjoying the view.

Tommy:You’ve participated in other marathons, I’m sure, besides this one. And you’ve already touched on a number of bullet points, but let’s go through what makes this one so special. Why are folks coming from all 50 states to be in Missoula to attend the Missoula Marathon?

Trisha:Yeah, and 11 countries this year too.

Tommy:Really?

Trisha:I know. We have people coming from all over.

I think there are a couple things going on. One, the reputation of Missoula has changed, right? People want to come here, whether you’re a runner or not — fly fishing, whitewater rafting, school, whatever. People want to come to Missoula, or they want to come to Montana. Missoula is kind of this mecca, this gateway for recreation. Everything’s iconic here, right?

So people want to come here. And especially if they’re a runner and they need to check off that Montana, state-of-Montana race, we are, by far, the largest marathon in the state. And also, our reputation is so awesome.

To me, one of my biggest jobs is just to protect our reputation and make sure we’re doing all the right things.

There are all these different websites — kind of like Yelp for marathon races — where you can read reviews. And we have some of the best. We’re premium, extra special.

In those reviews, people are like: great course, amazing course support, good swag, value. But the one thing that people keep coming back to is how awesome the community is and how nice the people are in Missoula.

And so that is — I can’t take credit for that. I might, but no, I’m just kidding.

Tommy:Well, it goes back to you mentioning how folks might get the garden hose out. People tailgate, right?

Trisha:Yeah, totally.

Tommy:They make signs. They tailgate. I mean, it’s a total event in the whole town. Born and raised here, so I’m familiar, right? And we go, “Yeah, the marathon,” but it’s easy as a lifelong Missoulian to sometimes just go, “Yeah, the marathon.”

But 50 states, 11 countries — that’s a pretty big pull, so that speaks to that reputation.

Trisha:Yeah, and just so many things are unique about Missoula. I get a lot of people who ask me, “Is this a trail race? Are there hills?” And I’m like, actually, no. We’re in a valley, and it’s on a road.

But we have an outdoor expo at Caras Park. I think another iconic thing is people finish, they grab their Big Sky beer — thank you, Big Sky Brewing — and then they walk down and sit in the river. Nature’s ice bath, you know?

It’s just little things like that that really tip us over the edge and give us that feel that people are like, “Oh, Missoula, I had so much fun.”

We’re not the fastest. We may not be the prettiest. But when it comes to all of the little extra touch points, that’s where we shine.

Tommy:So you mentioned there’s a lot of positive feedback. Where you shine is that race support throughout the day and the swag. For someone who’s signed up for the first time, or maybe they’re thinking, “You know, I haven’t done this. Maybe I’ll try the half marathon.” Let’s elaborate on both those points a little. What can a first-timer expect?

Trisha:Sure. So there’s going to be a lot of people. If you’ve ever done another 5K or something in town, you can expect, especially if you’re doing the half, two to three times as many people — maybe even four times.

There’s going to be a lot of people. There’s going to be a lot of excitement and noise, probably some fireworks.

But for the most part, like I said, we’ve got so many great volunteers. Somebody should be able to answer every question you have along the way.

Tommy:That’s amazing.

Trisha:All of our volunteers come in awesome shirts. They have badges. We’ve got an amazing FAQ page. Just a lot of people know what’s going on.

One thing we haven’t talked about is the Beer Run for Friday night.

Tommy:How have we not?

Trisha:I know, I know.

Tommy:So let’s go through the Beer Run, Trisha.

Trisha:So that is our kickoff, our welcome party — the Beer Run. It’s kind of one of my favorites. I think also because I’m not as stressed at that point yet.

And it’s free. We’ve got music playing. People are grabbing their bibs and their shirts, and they’re getting excited, and they’re checking things out.

We have about 40 vendors down at Caras selling all the things. It’s just a big party. Everybody goes out on this three-mile kind of easy jog, getting the legs shaken out from the plane ride or the drive. Then you come back and, again, thank you Big Sky — Big Sky offers each participant in the Beer Run a free beer.

Everybody just gets to say, “Hey, where are you from? What are you doing?” It’s pretty awesome.

Tommy:It’s a pretty good draw.

Trisha:Yeah, that’s pretty awesome.

Tommy:All right, let’s run down the dates, all the information. You mentioned MissoulaMarathon.org. The dates again, and last call — anything else, Trisha, you want to get on there?

Trisha:If you want to volunteer — if you don’t want to run — I will take it. We could use some more volunteers, especially course monitors.

Our friends at Logjam are offering all course monitors this year a free ticket to the amphitheater. They have, like, five shows. So thank you, Logjam.

Get yourself a free concert ticket and come be a course monitor for us.

June 26 through 28, most things happening at Caras Park and around downtown, and MissoulaMarathon.org.

Tommy:Okay, hang on a minute. Free concert ticket for volunteering, which you always have a huge turnout of volunteers.

Trisha:As a course monitor.

Tommy:As a course monitor, excuse me.

Trisha:A special position, yes.

Tommy:Okay, so a special position. If someone just heard that and said, “Okay, I’m going to get involved,” but they’ve never been a course monitor before, is it as simple as going to the website to fill out an application, send an email? Let’s run that website.

Trisha:You can go to MissoulaMarathon.org, click on the volunteer button. There are five different course monitor positions. They’re just by location on the course.

It’s about a four-to-five-hour position and super fun. You basically get to cheer on the runners and maybe stop a few cars from crossing the road here and there.

Tommy:What a hard job.

Trisha:You get a shirt. You get a sweet vest to wear. Some people get a stop sign if they want it, you know?

Tommy:Fun.

Trisha:We can set you up. Then after the race, you’ll get a link to sign up for that free ticket from Logjam at the KettleHouse Amphitheater.

We need about 100 to 120 course monitors.

Tommy:I was going to ask how close you are to filling those.

Trisha:Oh, we’ve got lots of space, yeah.

Tommy:You do? Okay.

Trisha:Yep, yep. But sign up early if you can. It just helps me keep years on my life.

Tommy:Well, yeah, forget running. Let’s keep Trisha Drobeck, executive director, around. Thanks so much for coming by. Always a fun visit.

Trisha:Yeah, always fun.

🌲 Trail Community Interviews are part of the Trail Listening Post podcast series and can be heard LIVE on 103.3 FM most weekdays at 10AM