GETTING TO THE STARTING LINE via FRIENDS AND FAMILY

The Missoula Marathon does have shuttle buses leaving from the downtown parking garage (Main Street) on the day of the race, starting at 4:50 am.

HOWEVER, for those of you planning on having a personal chauffeur in the form of a friend or family member, here are the drop off locations, rules and parking spots:

MARATHON DROP OFF POINT
Frenchtown Elementary School. From Missoula take I-90 West. Take the Frenchtown Exit and cross the freeway to the Conoco Station. Turn left. Take the first right (maybe 1/10mile). Maybe another 1/10 take a left. You will be staring at the WEST entrance of the elementary school. There is a turn-around driveway. This is the same place that the shuttle buses will be dropping off runners.

There is a good amount of parking in this back area, both in the school parking lot, along the road, and in the Catholic Church parking lot for drivers to park and watch their athlete start.

HALF MARATHON DROP OFF POINT
Take Highway 93 South towards Lolo. Turn right at Peak Wellness Center at Blue Mountain Road (there is a light). The staging area is in the Peak Wellness parking lot. Buses will also be dropping off athletes at that parking lot.

There is NOT enough parking for drivers to remain in the parking lot. Anyone wanting to wish athletes off to a good start, will have to park along side Blue Mountain Rd., and that space will probably run out darn quickly.

Again, you will NOT be allowed to leave your vehicle in the Peak Wellness parking lot except to drop off an athlete. It is the staging area and willbe filled with runners, port-o-potties, and the shuttle buses need to turn around there.

Thanks to one of our runners for asking the question!

Jennifer Boyer