Marathon returns for 40th Governor’s Cup
HELENA, Mont. – The
Governor’s Cup is running back to its roots.
With the return of the
marathon for the 40th annual event in Helena, participants will
navigate a commemorative 26.2-mile course from Marysville to the Capital City –
a scenic route featuring portions of courses used throughout the race’s rich
history in Helena from 1976 to 2008.
The 2013 Governor’s Cup,
presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, will begin with the
marathon at 6 a.m. Saturday, June 8, followed by the start of the half marathon
at 7 a.m. The half marathon also will follow a commemorative course to
celebrate the event’s fourth decade of providing Montanans and visitors with a
healthy and fun activity for the entire family. Along with the longer events,
the event will feature a 10-kilometer run/walk at 8 a.m., a 5K at 10 a.m., the
Stuart Brownlow 400-meter Challenge at 10 a.m., and a 1-mile Fun Run at 11 a.m.
“For Montanans who are
serious runners to those who just want to get in better shape, the Governor’s
Cup coming up in June is a great incentive to get outside and start moving,” said
Governor Steve Bullock, who will be participating in the event. “There’s tons
of research that shows just how important exercise is to our physical and
mental well-being, so I hope a record number of Montanans will join me in this
year’s run. Whether you’re 6 or 66, I encourage you to sign up for a
great day of exercise and companionship.”
Mike Frank, president and
CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, will run the marathon.
“Throughout its rich
history, the Governor’s Cup has been Montana’s marquee running event,” Frank
said. “We are proud to offer a full spectrum of races that do so much to
encourage a healthy lifestyle.”
Registration is open at www.govcupmt.com. Fees are $60 for the
marathon, $50 for the half marathon, $20 for the 10K or 5K, $15 for the Fun
Run, and $10 for the Stuart Brownlow 400-meter Challenge. A Family Fun Package
is also available for $60, which includes four entries for the 10K, 5K, or Fun
Run. All entrants will receive a T-shirt and race number.
The late Thomas L. Judge
helped establish the Governor’s Cup in 1974 during his first of two terms as Montana’s
governor, as the event was then sponsored by the Governor’s Council on Physical
Fitness. His son, Patrick, has competed in the event the past 33 years. The
Governor’s Cup began in Bozeman in 1974, was held in Missoula the following
year, and found a permanent home in Helena in 1976. Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Montana (then Blue Shield of Montana) became the event’s major corporate
sponsor in 1979, beginning a successful relationship now in its 34th
year.
“There aren’t
many races in Montana with the depth of history enjoyed by the Governor’s Cup,”
Patrick Judge said. “One of its most defining aspects has always been the
diverse menu of races, offering multiple opportunities for families, fitness
enthusiasts, fun-seekers, and serious competitors.”
The
Governor’s Cup serves as a major fundraising event for the Caring Foundation of
Montana and the Healthy Montana Kids Plan. The Caring Foundation, a
501(c)(3) organization founded by BCBSMT in 1992, is exclusively dedicated to
providing Montana children with access to health care benefits. For more
information, visit www.caringfoundationmt.com
or call 1-800-447-7828, ext. 7990.
The
Healthy Montana Kids dental plan, a program of the Department of Public Health
and Human Services, provides free or low-cost health coverage for children up
to age 19. For more information, visit www.hmk.mt.gov
or call 1-877-543-7669.
MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR’S CUP
Patrick
Judge, Helena
Son
of late and former Governor Thomas L. Judge, who helped launch the event in
1974; past marathon (1999), 20K (1997), 10K (1993, 2011) champ; has run in the
event the previous 33 years
“It’s exciting that Blue
Cross has chosen to commemorate the 40th anniversary with the return of the ‘42K.’
Bringing back this marquee event, on the classic Marysville course, is a great
tribute to the history of the race.”
“I think the founders of
the Governor’s Cup would be well-pleased with its longevity, popularity, and
overall success. I’m very proud of my dad’s role in helping launch the event
with the support of the Governor’s Office, and for his personal enthusiasm for
running. And I’m thrilled that the current Governor is building on that
tradition.”
“There aren’t many races
in Montana with the depth of history enjoyed by the Governor’s Cup. One of its
most defining aspects has always been the diverse menu of races, offering
multiple opportunities for families, fitness enthusiasts, fun-seekers, and
serious competitors. In my view, it’s always been one of the key ‘must run’ events
on the Montana racing circuit. The race options and overall festival atmosphere
are great for anyone looking for a healthy and fun Saturday morning activity.
There’s a reason it consistently draws such large crowds.”
“I’m really grateful for
all the sponsors, volunteers, and participants that have made the event
possible over the last four decades, and really impressed with the current
organizational team. Here’s to 40 more years!”
Fondest memory: “Winning
the Marathon in 1999, during my 20th running of the Governor’s Cup.”
Karen Gall, Billings
Women’s
marathon record-holder; also past winner of 20K, 10K, and 5K
“The Governor’s Cup was our
state’s marathon and the flagship of all the Governor’s Cup races. The return
of the marathon puts the meat back into the event.”
“It is my hope that Governor’s Cup
continues to grow and reach more people through this fun, healthy
lifestyle opportunity. The races at Governor’s Cup helped me set and
realize some personal goals.”
“By running every distance
at Governor's Cup I got to know the lay of the land of our state Capitol and
also just how deficient I was in hill work. Each Governor’s Cup was
memorable and the setting is beautiful. It has always been
the reunion of running friends that I enjoyed most.”
“My fondest racing memory
in Helena was my one run of the Governor's Cup marathon. It was a
beautiful crisp morning in June when we started in Marysville. It was
a day when everything felt right. Great scenery, great volunteers,
and a great event.”
Tony
Banovich, Plains
Past
winner of men’s marathon, 20K, 10K, 5K, and marathon relay
“It's great that the
marathon is being brought back into the race carnival. Having the four events
all taking place on one day creates a race environment that is unique to
Montana.”
“While the 5K may be the
race of the masses, the marathon is the race of the committed distance runner.
It’s also a race that has seen the best distance runners in Montana over the
last 40 years, including Jim Hatcher, Stan Zezotarski, Cyle Wold, Dave
Coppock, Matt Storrud, and Karen Gall. It's exciting to see that the event will
again be part of the Governor's Cup weekend and a new generation of runners can
add their name to the race history.”
“I've always enjoyed the
concept of the Governor’s cup. It’s part social. It’s part
competition. But, most importantly, it’s a great event to encourage a fit,
healthy, active lifestyle. And I want to thank Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Montana for their long sponsorship of this event. It’s certainly been an important
part of my running career, and I know that it’s greatly influenced many other
athletes within Montana.”
“(Entering the 1994
marathon,) I had already won the 5K, 10K and 20K in previous years and was
trying to win the marathon to complete the ‘collection.’ I was in the lead at
about half-way, when my quads got very tight and sore at the top of the
Birdseye Hills. I desperately wanted to drop out, but couldn't bring myself to
drop while in the lead. So, I kept gutting it out – having built about a 10
minute lead by the time we passed Fort Harrison – and got the win. Winning all
four of the races and being the only man to do so is one of my fondest memories
and proudest achievements.”
Dave
Coppock, Billings
Record
five-time winner of men’s marathon (1987, 88, 90, 92, 95)
“My fondest memory would have to be the first
time I won it in 1987. I think it was in the mid 2:30s or so, but I was really
happy to finally get a win. It made it all the better that I, literally, went
home empty handed all those years prior taking a whole lot of seconds and
thirds.”
“I had always heard of the Governor’s Cup
since I went to school at UM in the ’70s. It was the premier marathon and maybe
the only marathon in the state then. The quality and depth of the field
was a lot higher back then because there were a lot of post-collegiate runners
getting into road racing. Plus there was a running and marathon boom taking
place (1976-80s), so it was very competitive out there.
“I remember that
if you placed second or third in the marathon, you didn’t even get recognized
at the event – you just went home. So, I felt like it was all or nothing. It
was a shame for a good marathoner to go home empty-handed like that. I know a
lot of other guys who were a little bitter about running a good, fast marathon,
placing second or third and feeling sort of snubbed. There was no comparison to
what the 5K runners were doing and a guy who could run a sub-2:30 on that
course.”
“People didn’t
realize how tough that course was with the long downhill from Marysville at the
start, the rolling Birdseye Hills in the middle and the uphill finish. If
you didn’t run a smart early race, your legs were shot in the last 10K. It
runs a lot like Boston in that respect.
“I did think it
was great and unique race – starting in Marysville, seeing everyone from around
the state at the finish. It was a great time to be with old running
friends – sort of like a big runners’ convention.”
10 HISTORICAL NOTES
1. Senator Max Baucus became
the first U.S. Senator to finish a full marathon when he crossed the finish
line in Helena in 1979 at age 38.
2.
Dave Coppock, now the head cross country and track and field coach at Montana
State University Billings, is the only five-time winner of the Governor’s Cup
marathon, earning the top spot in 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1995.
3.
Plains’ Tony Banovich and Billings’ Karen Sanford-Gall are the only man and
woman to have won four different individual distances at the Governor’s Cup
(5K, 10K, 20K, and marathon). The 20K gave way to the half marathon in 2000.
Banovich also has a marathon relay victory to his credit.
4.
Deer Lodge’s Nicole Hunt owns three records at the Governor’s Cup. In 1997, she
established the 20-kilometer benchmark of 1:16:00. That distance is no longer
contested. In 2003, she set the 5K record with a time of 17:12, and in 2005,
she established the 10K record at 35:43.
5.
Kirk Keller won a whopping five consecutive 10K championships from 1982 to
1986. Kalispell’s Bill Brist, who won the 5K titles in 1985 and 1986, snapped
Keller’s streak with the 10K title in 1987.
6.
Helena’s own Heather Lieberg won the two most recent women’s marathon titles,
taking the top spot in 2007 with a time of 3:07:49 and winning in 2008 with a
time of 3:00:10. Last April, Lieberg placed 30th among women at the Boston
Marathon in 3:01:00, and in January, she ran a personal best of 2:47:13 at the
Phoenix P.F. Chang Rock and Roll Marathon.
7.
The Governor’s Cup – for many years host of Montana’s only marathon – is now home
to one of seven marathons in the state. It is, however, the first Montana-based
marathon on the 2013 calendar.
8.
Despite the proliferation of marathons in the Treasure State, the Governor’s
Cup remains home to the fastest time posted in the event. In 1982, Helena’s Jim
Hatcher won in 2:20:35 – a pace of 5:22 per mile.
9.
Seventeen runners toed the line for the first Governor’s Cup marathon on May
27, 1974, in Bozeman. Missoula’s Ian Christopherson won that race in 2:49:00.
10.
The Governor’s Cup was first contested in 1974. Here’s a look back at some fun
facts from that year:
- U.S. president Richard Nixon resigned in the wake of the Watergate scandal.
- Hank Aaron became the all-time MLB home run leader on April 8 when he hit his 715th homer.
- George Forman knocked out Muhammad Ali in “The Rumble in the Jungle” for the world heavyweight boxing championship.
- Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song” was named Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards.
- Estimate of the world population reaches 4 billion. The current estimate is nearing 7.1 billion.
- The Rubik’s Cube puzzle was invented.
- The 55 mph speed limit was imposed throughout the U.S. to preserve gas usage.
- “The Godfather, Part II” won Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
