Wicked Fast (MT) Marathon

** The 2026 Wicked Marathon net downhill will be less than 1500' and not be subject to any time penalty for Boston Marathon qualifying **

The Wicked Fast Marathon is a fast, net-downhill road course designed specifically for runners seeking a significant downhill run. As a USATF-certified route a Boston Marathon Qualifier, its profile is designed for speed with a 1,200-foot net elevation drop from start to finish. The net-downhill stays under the Boston Athletic Association's 1,500-foot threshold, ensuring that qualifying times face zero qualifying time penalties.

The point-to-point race runs through the expansive scenery of Montana's Yellowstone Country and Paradise Valley. The race begins at the Snowbank Trailhead on Mill Creek Road. From the high-altitude starting line, runners glide eastward down Mill Creek Road, navigate a brief sequence through Prey Road and Clark Lane, and then transition onto a prolonged, gravity-assisted descent down East River Road. The entire trajectory runs along the natural course of the landscape, concluding right on the banks of the Yellowstone River at the Pine Creek Fishing Access and 90% of it is run on paved surfaces.

Notable sections are characterized by long, wide-open highway straightaways that showcase dramatic, unobstructed views of the surrounding mountain ranges.

A practical pacing strategy focuses on a conservative approach during the first half of the race, as the gradual downhill gradient can easily trick athletes into a deceptively fast clip that leads to an early bonk. Conserving energy through the mid-course highway miles ensures enough power to maintain target speed across the final flat stretches along the river.