Headwaters Bank Run set for July 27

This Saturday will be an excellent opportunity for area residents to help raise money for the Headwaters Trail System.

The 2024 Headwaters Bank Run, which includes a 5K Run/Walk, 10K Run/Walk, and Half Marathon, is scheduled for Saturday, July 27.

The half marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. The 5K and 10K are scheduled for 10 a.m. Same-day registration is also available at the event.

Gene and Pat Townsend discussed the event’s importance for the trail system in an interview earlier this week.

According to Gene, the money raised at the race will help cover costs that grants do not cover, such as engineering for future expansion, chemicals for weed spray, and general maintenance items like cleaning up vandalism and doggie bags along the trail.

Pat said many of the grants they obtain only cover trail construction, and the fundraiser also shows the grant organizations they are trying to raise funds.

“We’re not just dependent on grant organizations handing us a check. We’re doing all kinds of things to raise money,” she said.

The race’s origins date back to 2005, when the Three Forks Lions Club started it as a fundraiser for the trail system. Two years later, the trail system took over management of the race, and after sponsorship from local banks, the name was changed to the Headwaters Bank Run in 2010.

The event is open to both novice and experienced runners and walkers, and according to Pat, it is rewarding to see the variety of people in the race every year.

“We have kids and adults of all ages and abilities that participate in the three events. The philosophy of the Headwaters Trail System is to have a trail that all ages and abilities enjoy using for recreation and training,” she said.

Additional tax-deductible donations can also be made to the Headwaters Trail System on race day.

Gene said they also receive a lot of memorial donations throughout the year.

“The people of Three Forks and the surrounding areas have really supported this endeavor,” he said.

In a 2023 interview, Gene said the event not only raises money but also raises awareness of the trail system.

“It helps get the word out. We get a lot of people who don’t live in Three Forks and are from the surrounding communities every year. Every year we get some donations from runners that don’t live here or people who will round up their entry fee to a higher amount. We get to tell our story about trying to build this trail across the Gallatin Valley and connect to Manhattan and Bozeman. It’s a good way to get the word out to people,” said Gene, who serves as the Director of the Trail System. “Even if they don’t participate in the run, they are aware of the trail system out here and what we are doing. That’s a big thing.”

As far as expansion on the trail, Gene said they will be paving from where the trail ends and towards Logan, which will include putting a bridge over Rae Creek and another bridge a little bit further down over an irrigation canal, with a destination of either the Equestrian Center or Carpenter Road.

He added as part of the City of Three Forks Capital Improvements Plan, they would like to try and make the trail system in Three Forks more connective.

“In other words, we are on the edges of town, but is there a way we can get from over on the west side to over to the east side where people can actually just make a big loop,” Gene said.

Looking towards Saturday, Pat said the weather is hopeful for the predicted temperatures of 54 degrees at the start of the races.

“If it’s 54 and people get up and see that, we will have people come down. They will say, I can handle this. It’s not 80 degrees this morning,” she said.

The event costs $30, and online registration will be available until July 25 at 11:59 p.m. at https://runsignup.com/Race/MT/ThreeForks/HeadwatersTrailBankRun. Same-day registration will be at Veterans Park in Three Forks.