BOZEMAN, Mont., Sept. 22, 2026: Gallatin Valley Regional Park will turn into an endurance racing venue this weekend as the Montana Meltdown Fixed Time Event brings runners to Bozeman for a two-day challenge featuring 4-hour, 12-hour and 24-hour races.
The event is scheduled for Sept. 26-27 at Gallatin Valley Regional Park, with runners competing on a 1.5-mile loop course. Instead of racing toward a fixed finish distance, participants will try to cover as many miles as possible before their allotted time runs out.
Three Races Put Endurance to the Test
The Montana Meltdown gives runners three different ways to take on the course.
The 24-hour and 12-hour races are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. The 4-hour race starts at noon. Race-day packet pickup begins at 8 a.m. at the start and finish area.
The format creates a different kind of competition from a traditional road race. Runners repeatedly complete the 1.5-mile loop while tracking their total distance throughout the designated time period.
Gallatin Valley Regional Park Hosts the Challenge
The race will take place at 5000 Tschache Lane in Bozeman at Gallatin Valley Regional Park.
The course is entirely on unpaved trails, according to the American Trail Running Association. The event is listed as an ultra race and is scheduled as a first-year event for 2026.
The setting also gives participants a chance to compete on a course surrounded by the outdoor landscape of the Gallatin Valley.
Aid Stations and Crew Support
Long-distance runners will have access to an aid station every 1.5 miles as they complete each lap.
Organizers say the aid station will offer typical ultra-race food along with vegan and gluten-free options. Runners can also have crew support every lap, with a designated area near the course available for crews and camping.
Parking at the park is expected to be limited. Organizers are encouraging participants to carpool or use rideshare options when possible.
A Race Built Around the Clock
Unlike a conventional race where competitors finish after completing a set number of miles, the Montana Meltdown is built around the clock.
Participants in the timed events continue accumulating distance until their race period ends. The event listing also notes that the timed races do not use traditional DNF results, giving runners a chance to focus on completing their personal distance goals without a standard finish-or-not-finish outcome.
Awards will go to the top three overall finishers in each race, while all participants will receive finisher swag.
Montana’s New Endurance Event
The 2026 race is listed as the first year for the Montana Meltdown by the American Trail Running Association.
That makes the event a new addition to Bozeman’s endurance-racing calendar and gives local runners and visitors three different ways to participate in a single weekend.
Online registration is scheduled to close Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time, according to the race listing.
Montana Meltdown Race Schedule
The weekend schedule centers on three timed races:
- Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m.: 24-hour race
- Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m.: 12-hour race
- Saturday, Sept. 26 at noon: 4-hour race
- Sunday, Sept. 27: 24-hour event concludes
With runners repeatedly circling the 1.5-mile course, the event is expected to keep the Gallatin Valley Regional Park course active throughout the weekend.