Summer Runs

There's no shortage of foot races in southwest Montana—you can pretty much run one every weekend from June to September—but here are two of our favorites.

Saturday, August 8
The aptly named Bozeman Classic (aka, the Sweet Pea Run), now in its 31st year, is a great way to kick off the annual Sweet Pea Festival in Bozeman. The race draws over 1,200 runners from around the region, and being in early August, the weather is nearly always perfect. It's a huge community event and a good ol' time, whether you're a serious competitor or just off the couch. 5k, 10k, and 1k kids' run. Register online at active.com; for more information visit winddrinkers.org.

Saturday, September 26
The 8th Annual Drop & Trot combines running and push-ups for one of Bozeman's most unique athletic events. Starting at Bogert Park, competitors first drop for one minute of pushups before trotting out a 5k through Bozeman's beautiful south side neighborhoods. Each pushup deducts 10 seconds from one's run time, making burly-armed gorillas strong contenders against the scrawny gazelles who would otherwise leave them in the dust. There's also a fun run / dog jog, and this year they've added a straight 10k for more serious runners (read: afraid of pushups). In true Bozeman fashion, the entire event is dog-friendly. The Drop & Trot is a fundraiser for The Network, a local nonprofit group that fights domestic abuse. Register online at active.com, and check out thenetworkmt.org for more info.